[Jim O]

Interesting topic and no doubt the Allies suffered for it. Especially interesting is the fact that the Japanese learned from Taranto and the British did not, at least not until after they lost Repulse and Prince of Wales.

It would be interesting to know what might have happened had the US actually figured out that an attack was commencing at Pearl Harbor and had managed to get some/most of the land based planes in the air. Perhaps the outcome would have been different. That the carriers were not at Pearl at that moment was likely fortuitous as they might well have suffered the same catastrophe as much of the rest of the Pacific fleet.

Had Operation Sealion actually been attempted it would also have been interesting to see with the huge British naval advantage but air superiority not necessarily as clear.

Taking it further, it did become clear that he who controls the skies (eventually) will control the ground and the seas. This became true in most if not all fronts and theatres of World War II.

As for whether the surface vessel became obsolete,. the answer is no. Evidence that they are still in use today, though tasked somewhat differently.