The class is best understood as an early submarine-delivered land-attack system rather than an underwater aircraft carrier. Its small air group was meant to deliver an unexpected blow against refineries, ports, canal locks, or other critical infrastructure. The military effect could be modest in a total war, but the dispersed targets and the burden of defending them could impose costs out of proportion to the attacking force. The modern attack-submarine analogy clarifies why surprise, reach, and target selection mattered more than operating a conventional carrier air group.
Chapter · 0:58-4:21
The I-400 as a surprise strike submarine
The I-400 makes more sense as a long-range submarine strike system intended to appear unexpectedly and hit vulnerable infrastructure.