American alpha strikes and British continuous operations

American doctrine emphasized finding the enemy and committing the whole air group in a decisive daylight alpha strike. British planners instead developed continuous operating cycles and long-range night attacks. Reliability, stability, and straightforward handling mattered when crews had to navigate, launch, and attack in darkness. The Swordfish's tension-wire torpedo gear also helped weapons enter shallow water correctly, making the apparently old-fashioned aircraft a sophisticated answer to British doctrine.