I think something got lost in the translation here...Houshou is a carrier. Maybe it's all referring to a specific kind of carrier?

OOZ662 said:

I think something got lost in the translation here...Houshou is a carrier. Maybe it's all referring to a specific kind of carrier?

I think the problem is that they are talking about it being a FLEET carrier, rather than any carrier. Houshou was once classified as a fleet carrier, but was downgraded to light carrier (trainer, at that) because of her small compliment.

She's imagining being upgraded to have a pose like the 5th carrier div, and then thinks about herself in Zuikaku's damage pose

(There's also a reference to Zuikaku as a turkey, referencing the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.)