An Italian "Hosho" would also work very nicely, particularly keeping the Improvised ASW ability. Another 14-15 point carrier could get messy in terms of costing, and Italy already has its Expert abilities filled out.
It would also be cheaper than an FAB, and with Freccia Ops you'd have a Harassment, an OPG bomb attack, and OK fighter cover. She could also theoretically work well in a carrier force, with Falco IIs and RE. 2001 CBs.
University Student— Lover of Plato, Aristotle, War At Sea, Palestrina, and Mozart
"The 1932 project called for unit much more conventional of about 15 to 16,000 tons with a full flight deck and an "island" to starboard more toward the bow. Armament, much more adapted for a carrier, was to be constituted by 4 152mm guns and 7 102mm ones and a wing of about 40 to 45 planes. The 1936 project represented and improvement over the preceding one, with displacement around 15,000 tons and armament constituted by three triple 152mm guns in front and behind the "island" and with a large number of anti-aircraft 90mm guns. The wing was to be constituted by 42 planes: 24 fighters and 18 diving bombers-reconnaissance deployable my means of two or three catapults. Armor was to be light, only 60 mm near the most vital parts near the center of the ship and possible near the bow. There was not to be any horizontal protection, impossible to implement which such limiting displacement.
Instead, the ship was to be equipped with underwater protection made out of multiple bulkheads 3 meters apart and creating a second hull, which should have been untouched by eventual damages. The engine was to produces a very high 160,000 HP generating a maximum speed of 38 knots (!). Speed this that was thought necessary for the ship to be effective. However, many noted that if the required speed had bee reasonably kept to 32 knows, the HP requirement would have been cut in half. Hsis would have created less stress on the engine itself, leaving more room for the aeronautical infrastructures, such has hangars, shops, ammo and fuel depot ultimately increasing the operational life of the vessel.
Furthermore, it would have been possible to utilize a diesel engine with the well-known advantages in terms of fuel consumption, reliability and longevity. Regardless, despite the blooming of projects and the favorable opinions expressed by high ranking officers of the Regia Marina, none of these projects ever materialized and the Regia Marina found itself on June 10th, 1940 without an aircraft carrier and, as a matter of fact, without naval aviation." No mention of the 1923 unit ordered but never started.
The 1920-23 ordered ship was reported as 9000t/175. Lets look at time and size equivalent ship. Ignoring the fanciful proposals with seaplane and MAS boat facilities for a pure flattop light carrier.
HMS Argus: 1918 liner conversion (twin shadow squadrons) Displacement normal/full 14550/15750 Length, m 172.5 Breadth, m 20.7 6 mid calibre guns
HMS Hermes : 1924, purpose built (cap 1) Displacement 10,850 long tons (11,020 t) (standard) 13,700 long tons (13,900 t) (deep load) Length 600 ft (182.9 m) Beam 70 ft 3 in (21.4 m) 9 mid calibre guns
IJNS Hosho (cap 1) Displacement 7,470 long tons (7,590 t) (standard) 9,494 long tons (9,646 t) (normal) Length 168.25 m (552 ft) Beam 17.98 m (59 ft) 6 mid calibre guns
USS Langley (cap 1) converted collier 12,700 long tons (12,900 t) (standard, as Langley)[2] 13,900 long tons (14,100 t) (full load, as Langley)[2] Length 542 ft (165.2 m) Beam 65 ft 5 in (19.9 m) 4 Mid Calibre Guns
Comparisons for the later proposal: 1932 Bonfelgetti-Vian
USS Ranger (cap 3) Displacement As built: 14,576 long tons (14,810 t) (standard) 17,577 long tons (17,859 t) (full load) Length 730 ft (222.5 m) (w/l) 769 ft (234.4 m) (o/a) 709 ft (216.1 m) (fd) Beam 80 ft (24.4 m) (waterline) 109 ft 5 in (33.4 m) (overall) 8 mid calibre guns
Ruyjo (cap 2 & modified 1936)
10,600 t (10,400 long tons) (standard) 12,732 t (12,531 long tons) (normal) Beam 20.78 meters (68 ft 2 in) 179.9 meters (590 ft 3 in) (o/a) 20.78 meters (68 ft 2 in) 6 mid calibre guns.
Ive ommitted eagle and bearn as theyre battleship conversions. Rsther than purpose built or merchant conversions. Ark Royal, Akagi, Kaga, Lexington, Saratoga are a class above and not specifically relevant.
Bearing the above information in mind. The Italian navy were in contact with the brits in the late 1910s/early 1920s about naval technology. It is reasonable, in my opinion, to assume they'd take leads from them over the other navies. The granulation is not fine that it makes much difference.
1920 program experimental carrier
Standard displacement 9000t> full load 11000-13000t est. Length 175-190meters maximum Beam 20 meters approx Armament 6x1 4" c.modello 102/45, small calibre aa
Speed 2 Cap 1 AA 5 Mg 3 3 2
A1 V7 H3
Experimental Carrier - Italian aircraft with vital armour of 7 or less may base on this carrier. Patrol bombers can't use this ability.
ASW Fighters - instead of thier normal attack, Fighters based on this carrier may make gunnery attacks against submarines in the air attack phase.
Comment: a less powerful option that represents a experimenal carrier like other navies. By wartime has had exotic design features removed but experimenting with different aircraft is a flexility bonus.
1932 Design Study 15000t
Displacement standard 15000t Length 200m approx Beam 20-22 meters est Armament 4 152mm guns and 7 102mm ones, small calibre aa
Speed 2 Cap 2 AA 7 Mg 4 3 3
A2 V8 H3
STUKA OPERATIONS: The Ju 87B Stuka,Ju 87 R2 Picchiatelli and Ju 87D can base on this unit.
Freccia Operations - The G.50 Freccia can base on this unit
Improvised ASW - instead of thier normal attack, aircraft based on this unit may make a 2 dice ASW attack in the air attack step.
Comments: trades aquilas assumed attack capacity for availability earlier. Works as either the plan put forward in 1932, or the first conversion suggestions from the abbysinian crisis of 1936 which eventually became aquila/spaverio.
Summary, the italians did recognise the value of carriers more so than the "natural carriers" rhetoric. Either of these two would be okay for a speculative unit. I personally, think the lesser proposal is a kinder move for the actual historical events. A 'fleet' carrier amounts to an extra capital ship for the Allies where a little experimental ship isn't going to factor so much.
As for caracciclio, i think that was fleet staff pipe dream to be honest. The only other navy that led carrier development was a conversion of that scale is the french. And bearn is... yes.
I am more in favour of the first option: experimental carrier. A smaller carrier looks more realistic for Italy, and it would allow the Cr. 42 a place to shine (or the G.50, but here bomb attack is already very good).
University Student— Lover of Plato, Aristotle, War At Sea, Palestrina, and Mozart
Standard displacement 9000t> full load 11000-13000t est. Length 175-190meters maximum Beam 20 meters approx Armament 6x1 4" c.modello 102/45, small calibre aa
Speed 2 Cap 1 AA 5 Mg 3 3 2
A1 V7 H3
Experimental Carrier - Italian aircraft with vital armour of 7 or less may base on this carrier. Patrol bombers can't use this ability.
ASW Fighters - instead of thier normal attack, Fighters based on this carrier may make gunnery attacks against submarines in the air attack phase.
I would remove the ASW Fighters and stay with the Improvised ASW. Outside of this set you only have 2 fighters that can make gunnery attacks against subs and 1 of them has a MG value of 1, by going with the Improvised ASW you can now use those Dive Bombers for ASW.
Standard displacement 9000t> full load 11000-13000t est. Length 175-190meters maximum Beam 20 meters approx Armament 6x1 4" c.modello 102/45, small calibre aa
Speed 2 Cap 1 AA 5 Mg 3 3 2
A1 V7 H3
Experimental Carrier - Italian aircraft with vital armour of 7 or less may base on this carrier. Patrol bombers can't use this ability.
Improvised ASW - instead of thier normal attack, aircraft based on this unit may make a 2 dice ASW attack in the air attack step.