The development of flattop vessels produced the first large fleet ships. In 1918, HMS Argus became the world's first carrier capable of launching and recovering naval aircraft. As a result of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which limited the construction of new heavy surface combat ships, most early aircraft carriers were conversions of ships that were laid down (or had served) as different ship types: cargo ships, cruisers, battlecruisers, or battleships. These conversions gave rise to the Lexington-class aircraft carriers (1927), Akagi and Courageous class. Specialist carrier evolution was well underway, with several navies ordering and building warships that were purposefully designed to function as aircraft carriers by the mid-1920s, resulting in the commissioning of ships such as Hōshō (1922), HMS Hermes (1924), and Béarn (1927). During World War II, these ships would become known as fleet carriers.[citation needed] COUNT 5
QSN1 What develpment produced the first large fleet ships? ANS1 flattop vessels QSN2 What was the world's first carrier capable of launching and recovering naval aircraft? ANS2 HMS Argus QSN3 What did the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 limit? ANS3 the construction of new heavy surface combat ships QSN4 What caused early aircraft carriers to be made up of conversions of ships that were previously cargo ships, cruisers or battlecruisers? ANS4 Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 QSN5 What type of aircraft carriers did these ship conversions give rise to in 1927? ANS5 Lexington-class