Naval aviation's rise looks clearer with knowledge of the 1940s than it did to planners in the 1930s. Aircraft and carriers offered a strong prospect of future dominance, while the timing of that transition remained uncertain. The case for building battleships alongside carriers was to retain a dependable answer to enemy battleships while developing the next capability. Waiting exclusively for a promising system to mature risked leaving forces unable to meet immediate threats.
Notable Point · 1:47:48-1:48:46
Battleships, carriers, and the risk of a capability gap
Parallel interwar investment illustrates retaining present capability while developing a possible successor.