A battleship remained lethal to any carrier caught within gun range, but a functioning carrier air group could scout and strike repeatedly from beyond that range. The carrier therefore inherited the battlecruiser logic of outranging what it could not outfight while also gaining reconnaissance and land-attack roles. The transition followed the development of mature air groups: 1939 and 1941 fleets still needed battleships, while by 1944 aircraft capability had changed the calculation. The choice then became financial and operational because one carrier could cover more missions than one battleship.
Notable Point · 1:45:11-1:49:03
How aircraft carriers displaced rather than invalidated battleships
The carrier displaced the battleship through range, versatility, and cost rather than by making a battleship harmless.