German air superiority would not automatically provide an effective answer to Soviet battleships. German air-launched anti-shipping torpedoes are a particular weakness. Improving those weapons would require funding diverted from other programs. Soviet battleships built as prestige projects would also attract protective investment, including fighters. An air attack would have to overcome both weapons limitations and defended targets.
Notable Point · 2:26:27-2:27:40
Air power needs suitable weapons to answer Soviet battleships
Answering Soviet battleships with aircraft would require better torpedoes and resources diverted from other German programs.