Aircraft carriers are objectively a ridiculous concept.

I mean, they happen to exist and work, but just imagine they didn't and someone pitched them to you.

"I'm thinking we should put some airfields in the water."
"What, extend the runway with an artificial island? We've done that a few-"
"No, I mean, like, middle of the ocean."
"On an island in the middle of the ocean?"
"NO! I'm saying we put it on a boat. Like a real big boat. And that boat is the airfield. So we can move it!"
"But that... how would that even... even if the boat is huge, how could you possibly get enough runway?"
@rygorous
It's even more ridiculous:
...
"We will throw planes in the air from the steam-powered catapults!"
@gemelen I was already getting into that downthread!