A chat comment compares carrier fighters with a battleship's armour, prompting plans to strengthen the fighter force. The Buffalo receives a qualified assessment: it performed fairly well in Australian service from land, but its climb rate was inadequate for the carrier role. The United States could seek a replacement aircraft instead of relying entirely on tactics adapted to the existing fighter. Replacing the fighter offered another response to its performance limitations.
Notable Point · 28:44-29:41
Why the Buffalo's climb rate mattered aboard carriers
The Buffalo's limited climb rate prompts a comparison between adapting tactics to an aircraft and accelerating a replacement.