Interest in battleships did not imply blindness to other forms of naval power. During the 1930s, aircraft and carriers were advancing quickly, but their ability to find, strike, and return from a moving target was not yet a proven basis for the whole battle fleet. Long range and speed were insufficient without reconnaissance, targeting, command, and control. Battleships therefore remained attractive because navies already knew how to concentrate and direct their firepower. Dependable operational systems shaped interwar procurement more than a simple conservative preference for battleships.
Chapter · 1:18-3:00
Why battleships remained credible before carrier aviation matured
Before carrier aviation matured, reliable targeting and command made battleships the safest available ship-killing choice. The caricature of battleship-obsessed admirals misses that operational logic.