Aircraft carrier (1918): Argus, Hosho, Langley · 264

The carrier is an industrial-political system -- air wing, escorts, and a state's decision to be present at sea -- told as history. Experiments, the Washington Treaty's carrier clauses, and the 1940-41 shocks (Taranto, Pearl Harbor, Bismarck's air wound). Battleship admirals lost an argument the wrecks then settled.

Midway, the Philippine Sea, kamikaze as a late reply. Escort carriers as a second type for convoys and landings (Inchon's air came from decks). Nuclear propulsion (Enterprise, 1961), the US supercarrier as alliance theatre, the RN's political retreat, the Soviet Kiev/Kuznetsov path.

Vietnam and later crises used decks as diplomacy. Chinese carrier public progress, Indian and French large decks, ROK LPX/aviation debates in open press -- dated as politics, not as a building guide or a threat table. After 1991 stays dated: 1941-12 (Pearl Harbor) in From the North Sea experiments to the Pacific and later US forward presence. Jackie Fisher / early RN (RN pioneer context) is a named witness -- The RN's early aviation-at-sea culture -- Argus as a British first. Cost band: not a war -- sailor and aircrew deaths sit on the battle pages (Midway, etc.). Encyclopedia, not a method.