Why did an ASW-focused Royal Navy retain the Fairey Gannet, and were the S-2 or S-3 considered for CVA-01?
Short answerThe emphasis is on the Gannet's dependable British equipment and availability; consideration of the Viking for CVA-01 is recalled tentatively, while the S-2 receives no separate assessment.
NotesThe Gannet is valued here for useful ASW equipment, robustness, and reliable availability. Familiar British equipment could remain attractive even as newer aircraft appeared. Carrier aviation needs aircraft ready for operations, so a mature design can outweigh a newer specification that is harder to sustain. The reply tentatively recalls consideration of the Viking for CVA-01, without detailing an S-2 evaluation. The reasoning concerns availability and reliability rather than a full comparison of candidate aircraft.