Protection made sense for a carrier expected to operate within reach of enemy land-based aircraft. The Illustrious class offers a British comparison: planners expected those ships to fight in the Mediterranean and to advance from Singapore through the South China Sea. Both theatres placed carriers within range of shore-based air attack. Graf Zeppelin’s armour should therefore be assessed separately from the quantity and placement of its heavy surface guns.
Notable Point · 13:06-14:15
Why armour made sense on Graf Zeppelin
Graf Zeppelin’s armour addressed the real threat of land-based aircraft, much as the Illustrious class was designed for the Mediterranean and an advance from Singapore.