Claims for a single, independent air service run into the operational demands of a task group. Aircraft still need somewhere close enough to land, rearm, refuel, and return after using their weapons. A distant airfield may provide occasional coverage, but it cannot guarantee continuous combat air patrol or on-call reconnaissance over ships far at sea. A carrier or nearby base therefore becomes part of the fleet's fighting system, with direct consequences for reconnaissance and air defence.
Notable Point · 5:42-7:36
Why naval air power cannot be treated as placeless
Air-power theory overlooks a practical naval problem: aircraft must land, rearm, and remain close enough to sustain reconnaissance and combat air patrols.