The battle that demonstrated carrier dominance need not be the one that persuaded a particular navy. Taranto established the carrier's potential, but American observers remained less convinced. Pearl Harbor then appeared to cripple a battleship-centered U.S. fleet, while Midway proved that carriers could still deliver decisive results. Carriers also had an industrial attraction: they required less armor plate than battleships, and aircraft were easier to mass-produce than 16-inch gun systems.
Notable Point · 1:39:33-1:40:58
Taranto and Midway persuaded different navies about carrier power
Taranto demonstrated carrier striking power, while Midway convinced the United States that a carrier fleet remained viable after Pearl Harbor.