Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:15:31-1:16:48

Canadian naval Spitfires and early-war carriers

A naval-Spitfire counterfactual explains how Canadian production could replace the Fulmar and change early Royal Navy carrier choices.

Fleet CarriersNaval AviationRoyal Navy
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Question

If Canada produced a naval two-seat Spitfire in 1939, what changes and how would the RAF react?

Short answer

The RAF likely leaves it to the Navy, while the Fleet Air Arm gains a faster Fulmar replacement and might use carriers to ferry aircraft from Canada.

Notes

The RAF would probably leave a naval two-seat Spitfire variant to the Fleet Air Arm, while the Navy would welcome a faster fighter. Courageous and Ark Royal might also have been more useful ferrying full carrier loads from Canada than conducting early anti-submarine patrols.