The Albacore was steady in a dive of up to roughly 215 knots and had flaps intended to make recovery manageable. The Swordfish provided the operational precedent, including bomb-carrying aircraft that made dive attacks during the Taranto operation. Some Taranto bombs, especially those aimed at fuel tanks, failed to detonate, so flexible delivery did not guarantee weapon effect. Neither type was a specialized dive bomber. Their ability to attack by bomb or torpedo shows the flexible strike methods retained in Royal Navy carrier aircraft.
Notable Point · 3:00:07-3:00:49
The Albacore's dive-bombing capability
The Fairey Albacore was designed as a torpedo bomber that could also make controlled dive attacks, continuing a flexible Royal Navy strike tradition.