Been doing a bit of reading on British battleships and cruisers and was surprised to see just how important float and seaplanes were to the RN plans between the wars. The were requirements for light reconnaissance/spotting (Seafox), long range reconnaissance (Fairey IIIF), floatplane fighter (Flycatcher), reconnaissance fighter (Osprey, later Skua and Roc) and torpedo bomber (Swordfish).
The idea was each cruiser in the force intended to hold the Japanese until the arrival of the Mediterranean Fleet would each carry a number of aircraft and together provide an adequate mix of types in sufficient numbers to be effective. Light cruisers would carry a minimum of a Seafox but the larger ships would have a mix of fighters and reconnaissance types while some would carry torpedo bombers instead of one or more of the other types. The battleships and battlecruisers in particular would carry fighters to defend themselves against torpedo bombers. It was realised that carriers would be more effective but also that due to treaty limitations they would often not be available where needed, hence the requirement for what was basically a fleet unit of a capital ship or two plus several cruisers to be able to put up their own force of reconnaissance, fighter and strike aircraft.
Off topic but pre Washington treaty one option the RN was looking at for operations in SEA was a new large cruiser along the lines of the Courageous class, that, in addition to big guns, torpedos and aircraft, also carried a couple of MTBs (motor torpedo boats) in addition to the ships boats. now that would be a ship and a half, multiple catapults (or at least a midriff one flanked by large hangers) as well as a pair of MBTs on davits.