One 1930s hybrid proposal combined Nelson-class battleship guns with an Illustrious-style flight deck. Similar battlecarrier ideas appeared outside the Royal Navy, but the concept created a dangerous employment problem. Heavy guns would tempt commanders to bring the carrier into the battle line, where plunging shellfire could strike its broad deck and central lift. The gunnery role would expose the aviation role to the very risks a carrier should avoid. Adding capabilities to one hull could leave the ship without a coherent way to fight.
Notable Point · 30:32-31:41
The battlecarrier's gun-and-flight-deck employment trap
Combining battleship guns with a carrier deck risked drawing a vulnerable aviation ship into the battle line.