Okay, here's a little tale: the Royal Canadian Navy plays it British.
1. I'm not suggesting that this is a good idea, or an improvement on reality, it's just an interesting one that generates plenty of easy what if modelling opportunities while keeping at least within sight of realistic budgets.
2. I have no real handle on RCN naming policy, so feel free to suggest better alternatives.
3. British export aircraft would probably have Mark Numbers rather than UK letter codes, but I've used the latter to make the equipment standard clear.
1950s
HMCS Bonaventure commissions with a mixed strike/ASW air group as follows:
Air Group (all new)
Fighter/bomber : Sea Hawk
All-weather fighter : Sea Venom
ASW : Gannet AS.1
SAR/plane guard : Whirlwind
1960s
The decision is made that Bonaventure's future role will be as a North Atlantic ASW helo carrier with a small fighter detachment for scaring off Bears. There's some debate about whether to keep the Sea Hawks (fewer aircrew) or the Sea Venoms (radar) but the latter's all-weather capability wins. Bonnie serves in this configuration until 1971, by which time the Sea Venoms are looking a bit desperate.
Air Group
All-weather fighter : Sea Venom (refurbished, with Sidewinder capability)
AEW : Gannet AEW.3 (new)
ASW/SAR : Wessex HAS.1 (new)
1970s
Canada snaps up the option to buy HMS Centaur when she decommissions from the RN in 1966. A re-fit to a similar standard to HMS Hermes takes five years, at which point she commissions as HMCS Canada, replacing Bonaventure. A notable feature of the design is two Canadian Sea Sparrow launchers which extend from deck houses on the aft sponsons.
Her role is still primarily ASW so the air group is mostly new Westland Sea Kings, and since the FAA is disposing of it's Sea Vixens, the RCN is able to buy half of the FAA fleet as it's "Bear-scarers" at fire-sale prices. Most of these are RTP'd for spares to support an active fleet of about 18 aircraft, which is far more than Canada ever carries at one time. However there are no Red Tops AAMs available for them since the UK is keeping them all for the Lightning force, so the 18 active Sea Vixens are refitted by Canadair with AN/APQ-120 (F-4E) radars, and Sparrow/Sidewinder capability.
Air Group
All-weather fighter : Sea Vixen (refurbished, with Sparrow/Sidewinder capability)
AEW : Gannet AEW.3 (refurbished)
ASW/SAR : Sea King HAS.2 (new)
1980s
Although not initially impressed with the Harrier carrier concept, the Falklands War makes believers of the RCN. Unfortunately, the only immediately available Harrier carrier, HMS Invincible, is already spoken for by the RAN and the RN isn't going to pay for a fifth ship to make HMS Illustrious available any time soon. The RCN therefore elects to re-fit Canada with a ski-jump along the same lines as Hermes, as a stop-gap while a new vessel is bought. In this form, she re-enters service in about 1984.
Air Group
All-weather fighter : Sea Harrier FRS.1 (new)
AEW : Sea King AEW.5 (new)
ASW/SAR : Sea King HAS.5 (re-built from HAS.2s)
1990s
With no option of getting a new, or at least young, Harrier carrier from Britain in an acceptable time-frame, the RCN turns to America and orders a Gibbs & Cox Sea Control Ship in the mid-'80s, which is similar in design to Spain's Principe de Asturias but slightly larger. Armament is 2 x 8-cell Mk.48 VLS Sea Sparrow launchers and 4 x Vulcan Phalanx guns. With the end of the Cold War, there's much debate about cancelling the project, but she eventually commissions as HMCS Rainbow, although any hope of buying new Sea Harrier F/A.2s for her is dashed by budget cuts.
Air Group
All-weather fighter : Sea Harrier FRS.1 (refurbished with FAA mods)
AEW : Sea King AEW.5
ASW/SAR : Sea King HAS.6 (re-built from HAS.5s)
2000s
Rather than give them a life extension, Rainbow's Sea Harriers are retired in 2005 to save money and sold to India, Rainbow then becoming a pure helo carrier. Current plans are to follow the international fashion and replace her with a 20-knot, multi-purpose LPHA with a docking well, full-length flight-deck and ski-jump for optional F-35s, however these plans are currently stalled in budget/program/political issues.