Invincible's designers considered an aviation ship without its own weapons, but an unverified anecdote credits a senior admiral with rejecting an unarmed flagship. Shipboard weapons brought operational costs alongside their defensive value. Fragments left on the flight deck needed removing before aircraft could operate safely. Firing also made parts of the deck unusable, with the affected area depending on the weapon and its position. Large missiles such as Sea Dart and Bazalt created particularly severe exhaust hazards for aircraft and personnel.
Notable Point · 7:49-10:14
Carrier weapons could interrupt flight operations
Missile exhaust and debris imposed flight-deck restrictions even when shipboard weapons improved a carrier's self-defence.