Why battleships remain broadly recognisable

Would a much stronger naval air arm radically change British battleship design?

Not radically. Battleships remain broadly similar, though their dual-purpose and anti-aircraft batteries would probably improve.

A stronger naval air arm does not make every aspect of 1930s technology advance together. Battleships would remain broadly recognisable because their development already took aviation into account. Better air defence is the main change proposed. This could favour more 4.5-inch or 4.7-inch dual-purpose guns, with less emphasis on the range of the 5.25-inch gun.