Graf Zeppelin’s defenders pointed to the ship’s need for surface weapons, but Royal Navy carriers carried their dual-purpose guns above the casemate level. The 4.5-inch batteries in the Illustrious class and Ark Royal remained usable in the sea conditions expected in the North Atlantic. Earlier designs such as Hermes and Eagle had mounted guns lower in the hull. British experience gradually pushed those weapons higher because low casemates lost effectiveness when a carrier rolled and shipped water.
Notable Point · 18:24-19:23
Why British carriers moved guns higher
Royal Navy experience with Hermes, Eagle, Ark Royal, and the Illustrious class showed why low casemate guns gave way to higher dual-purpose mounts in rough Atlantic water.