Ok. Let's assume that through a combination of foresight, high-stakes gambling on the war situation and the intervention of an ASB, the Kaiserliche Marine acquires a working aircraft carrier, figures out a valid operational naval air doctrine and managed to slip the carrier past the North Sea blockade. So what's next?
With only 1918 issue airplanes, and no real offensive weapons, the carrier would be limited to strafing fishing boats and the occasional solo traveling high-speed freighter. Ok, it planes could spot and shadow convoys, but even a 1920's torpedo bomber could only get off one potshot before being turned back by machine gun fire from the escorting destroyers. And if said destroyers fan out and start searching for the planes' base, the carrier, lacking its own guns, will have to run for its life.
Eventually, the Royal Navy, or the US one, will get tired of the carrier's harassment and sent out a battle fleet to find and sink it. My money will be on the battle fleet.
With only 1918 issue airplanes, and no real offensive weapons, the carrier would be limited to strafing fishing boats and the occasional solo traveling high-speed freighter. Ok, it planes could spot and shadow convoys, but even a 1920's torpedo bomber could only get off one potshot before being turned back by machine gun fire from the escorting destroyers. And if said destroyers fan out and start searching for the planes' base, the carrier, lacking its own guns, will have to run for its life.
Eventually, the Royal Navy, or the US one, will get tired of the carrier's harassment and sent out a battle fleet to find and sink it. My money will be on the battle fleet.