Force Z was not sent into an unknown form of warfare. Britain had spent two years attacking ships in harbor and at sea with aircraft, so the capabilities of naval air power were familiar. Prewar doctrine even covered multi-carrier operations, though the Royal Navy had rarely assembled such a force and could not fully employ one off Norway. Limited aircraft numbers and deployment experience restricted what Britain could do. The loss of Force Z therefore reflects a shortage of usable air power in the theater rather than ignorance of the threat.
Notable Point · 11:10-12:06
Britain knew the naval-air threat
Two years of naval air warfare had already shown British commanders what aircraft could do to ships in harbor and at sea.