Barracuda development: structural weight and changing engines

Did combining torpedo and dive-bombing duties cause Barracuda's development problems?

The roles added weight and complexity, while repeated engine changes forced redesign.

The torpedo required fuselage reinforcement, while four 1,000 lb bombs demanded strong wings. A heavy airframe raised engine demands and lengthened take-off. The dual role is accepted as a complication, but repeated engine changes receive particular emphasis. Each change required the design to be worked through again. In the delayed-war scenario, keeping the same design team together through 1941 and allowing more consistent engine work are expected to ease those problems. No performance improvement is quantified.