After the naval treaty displacement limitations were lifted and heavier aircraft appeared, the Admiralty was prompted to build carriers with significantly larger dimensions than those of their predecessors. This is how the Audacious class appeared: The designers took the successful Implacable class and increased the displacement by 50%. The ship received a full-fledged double-level hangar of increased size and reinforced armor for the flight deck, whereas the hangars armor protection remained the same.