Q&A ยท 31:41-32:03

Choosing the Skua for carrier landings

The Skua remains the preferred 1939 dive bomber when carrier landings are part of the requirement.

Question

Would an air group of F3Fs, Swordfish, and Hs 123s be a good choice for 1939?

Short answer

The Skua is still preferred over the Hs 123, chiefly because of carrier landings.

Notes

A proposed 1939 air group combines Grumman F3F fighters, Swordfish torpedo bombers, and Hs 123 dive bombers. The dive-bomber choice remains the point of disagreement. The Skua is preferred chiefly because the aircraft must land on a carrier, making suitability for shipboard operation decisive in this comparison.