British planning assumed that land-based aircraft could protect the fleet while also defending northern Scotland and the North Sea. The same air forces were expected to support operations in Scandinavia and Germany. Large Cold War aircraft inventories made these simultaneous commitments appear feasible. Soviet planners likewise expected naval aircraft based ashore to cover task groups operating within the bastions. Both carrier designs therefore developed in a setting where extensive land-based support was assumed to be available.
Chapter · 1:52:38-1:54:16
Large Cold War air forces made land-based fleet cover seem practical
British and Soviet carrier planning assumed substantial shore-based air support, despite the competing tasks assigned to those aircraft.