Battleship helicopters replace floatplane handling

Warspite might carry three helicopters, assigning one to gunnery spotting, another to forward reconnaissance, and a third to rear-area anti-submarine protection. Hovering improves observation and visual fall-of-shot correction, although practical laser-guided battleship fire would remain beyond reach at this date. Cruisers save the weight of floatplane catapults and recovery cranes while gaining aircraft that can land with the ship underway. German capital ships and cruisers would likely acquire the same capability, preventing the counterfactual from becoming a one-sided Allied advantage. The operational payoff is persistent shipborne aviation whose missions can rotate without forcing the parent ship to stop. Queen Elizabeth-class refits would also need to decide between an amidships landing area and an easier stern approach.