Graf Zeppelin’s intended task-group role

Graf Zeppelin was not meant to fight destroyers alone in narrow Baltic waters. German plans placed the carrier behind cruisers and destroyers in a task group, much like British carrier doctrine. The carrier would supply air power from the rear while escorts and heavier ships handled the close surface fight. The original designer envisaged half as many heavy guns, but a misreading of the plans doubled the battery and allowed a contingency feature to dominate the ship. Its armament and layout make more sense when judged against the intended mission.