In a hypothetical encounter with a raider such as Graf Spee in the South Atlantic, light cruisers, a carrier, and a battlecruiser would have different jobs. Light cruisers could intercept merchant shipping while carrier aircraft searched for and tracked the raider. HMS Eagle is mentioned as having accompanied parts of the Empire Cruise, although its involvement is described loosely. Once the raider was located, a fast battlecruiser could close and bring its heavy guns into action. Reconnaissance would help the surface force find a target that could otherwise evade it across a large ocean.
Notable Point · 1:52:04-1:52:55
How carrier reconnaissance completed the commerce-war system
Carrier aircraft could search for enemy raiders, allowing light cruisers to police merchant traffic and battlecruisers to deliver the decisive interception.