The hybrid ships did almost do in the US Navy during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. They were escorting the decoy aircraft carriers and the scout planes mistook them as pure battleships.
As a precaution Admiral Halsey sent the American battleships to escort the fleet carriers. The result was leaving the transport and supply ships open to attack by the Japanese surface fleet. Only heroic action by the escort carriers and destroyers saved the day.
AS they weren't actually carrying aircraft, that means they were mistaken as what they were in reality.