German plans placed the carrier within a surface task force. A likely force included at least two capital ships, perhaps Bismarck, an H-class design, or Scharnhorst, plus a cruiser and destroyers. That arrangement gave Graf Zeppelin a scouting and strike role instead of sending it to sea alone. It also weakened the case for allowing the carrier’s own heavy casemate battery to dictate the whole design.
Chapter · 17:42-19:23
The escort force a German carrier would need
A plausible German carrier force would pair Graf Zeppelin with capital ships, a cruiser, and destroyers instead of sending it to sea alone.