Graf Zeppelin’s octagonal lifts might have helped move aircraft, but their shape created unusable space around them. A larger square platform could have offered more room with less wasted volume. The ship’s greatest effect might have been strategic rather than technical. British planners would have to assume it was as capable as HMS Ark Royal and redirect forces accordingly, even if its real performance disappointed. That response could reduce British carrier availability in the Mediterranean or elsewhere.
Chapter · 37:39-42:31
Ingenious design versus operational effect
Graf Zeppelin’s unusual lifts and machinery illustrate a larger question: whether clever technical solutions improve aircraft operations enough to justify their space and maintenance costs.