In the late 1920s, the spotter aircraft was the carrier's most important contributor to naval gunfire. Torpedo aircraft had not yet achieved their Second World War accuracy, and their weapons were not yet comparably dependable. Dive bombing also demanded substantial technical development, including effective purpose-built weapons rather than adapted warship shells. This helps explain why a fast gun-armed scouting ship could remain dominant during the transition to mature carrier aviation.
Notable Point · 18:33-19:33
Why 1920s carrier aircraft did not immediately replace battlecruiser scouts
Early carrier aviation offered spotting value, but torpedo and dive-bombing systems still lacked their later accuracy, reliability, and striking power.