A capital ship needs enough firepower and staying power to carry a major battle. Since the Second World War, aircraft carriers have filled that role and remain the major combatants whose striking power can be replenished at sea. Modern navies possess too few carriers, a shortage compared here with treaty-reduced battleship fleets before the Second World War. The gap encourages interest in other large warships and missile platforms, while complex aviation groups remain difficult to sustain in sufficient numbers.
Notable Point · 1:16:42-1:17:34
Carrier shortages and the capital-ship gap
Carriers can carry a major battle and restore their striking power at sea, but modern fleets lack enough of them to cover every major task.