A floatplane Albacore would scout for battleships and cruisers

Where would a Fairey Albacore floatplane have been used if it entered service?

Primarily as a reconnaissance aircraft from battleships and some cruisers, much like a float-equipped Swordfish.

The floatplane concept worked, but the requirement was disappearing by the time the aircraft became available. Its main employment would have been reconnaissance from battleships and, occasionally, cruisers. In that role it would resemble ship-launched Swordfish floatplanes rather than a carrier strike aircraft. A viable aircraft can fail when the fleet abandons the operating concept around it.