Aircraft specifications commonly preceded operational service by two or three years. The Swordfish, for example, arose from a 1933 requirement but entered service in 1936. Procurement demanded a forecast of future carrier operations, enemy threats, and aircraft growth. Errors in that forecast could persist into the fleet long after the original decision. The later control and promotion disputes matter because the officers writing requirements were shaping capabilities years ahead.
Notable Point · 42:13-43:01
Aircraft specifications must predict future requirements
A two- or three-year development cycle forces naval planners to specify the aircraft they expect to need when it enters service.