The Fleet Air Arm's daylight-strike weakness is partly a problem of industrial timing. The Fairey Albacore was an interim aircraft intended to serve until the Fairey Barracuda arrived. Candidate engines were repeatedly reassigned to other production priorities, forcing the Barracuda airframe to be redesigned and delaying its entry into service. The preference for a night attack in this scenario reflects aircraft-production constraints as well as British doctrine and tactical choice.
Notable Point · 1:11:58-1:12:45
Engine allocation keeps the Albacore in front-line service
The slow Albacore remains the Fleet Air Arm's main strike aircraft because repeated engine reallocations force repeated Barracuda redesigns.