What naval action had the greatest age and technology difference between opposing ships?
Short answerRoyal Navy aircraft carriers operating against sailing junks during interwar counter-piracy patrols are a strong candidate.
NotesHMS Hermes and other early carriers conducted counter-piracy work on the China Station against sailing junks in the 1920s. An aircraft carrier engaging sail-powered craft creates one of the widest visible technology gaps in naval combat, even if the action is described as policing or counter-piracy rather than a formal fleet battle.