By May 1942, accumulated top weight had reached the point that Graf Zeppelin needed bulges to remain acceptably stable. The additions also improved underwater protection and created room for roughly 1,500 extra tons of fuel, potentially increasing range. More displacement and wetted surface make the claim of no top-speed penalty doubtful. The six-inch guns were eventually removed to defend occupied Norway while the hull remained unfinished.
Notable Point · 44:23-45:57
Bulges as a late answer to top-weight growth
The 1942 bulges reveal how accumulated changes threatened stability and forced another displacement, protection, range, and performance trade-off.