Why did aircraft carriers become more important than battleships during World War II?

During World War II, the aircraft carrier superseded the battleship primarily due to its vastly superior operational range. While conventional naval guns were limited to a range of approximately 20 miles, aircraft carriers could launch strikes from distances of 200 to 300 miles, allowing fleets to project power far beyond the reach of traditional surface guns.12

By the late 1930s, advancements in aviation—including improved engine payloads, mature dive-bomber and torpedo-plane designs, and refined carrier flight-deck operations—enabled carriers to deliver decisive combat power. This shift transformed naval warfare, making effective scouting, radar-supported command and control, and the ability to strike first the dominant factors in fleet engagements.2

Although battleships remained part of the fleet, they were relegated to supporting roles, such as providing antiaircraft screens for the carriers. Ultimately, the carrier’s ability to deliver shock attacks against both enemy ships and shore-based targets made it the primary instrument of naval power, fundamentally altering the strategic landscape of the war.2