Japanese cruiser aircraft were meant to locate, shadow, and help wear down an enemy before the decisive battle. Mogami's reported capacity varied widely, but its two catapults and extensive handling area could support an unusually large reconnaissance group. A ship designed around this mission would benefit more from fuel, anti-aircraft weapons, and additional aviation capacity than from another 8-inch turret. A third catapult and a larger aircraft allowance could have sustained overlapping searches and reliefs. The important measure was whether the fleet could maintain an unbroken track on the approaching enemy, rather than the maximum number of floatplanes carried at one time.
Notable Point · 1:53:04-1:56:28
A reconnaissance cruiser needs aircraft, not another gun turret
Mogami's large floatplane capacity leads to the case for investing in continuous scouting rather than heavier cruiser armament.