The Fleet Air Arm's use of Martlets and Wildcats in 1941 is sometimes presented as proof that it had no modern fighter plan. The intended Supermarine replacement was cancelled when production capacity went to Royal Air Force requirements. The Barracuda belonged to a broader multirole concept rather than a narrowly defined torpedo-bomber lineage. British torpedo aircraft were also expected to dive-bomb, and the Swordfish could perform that task when required, including attacks on tanks in North Africa. Actual wartime inventories therefore need to be separated from the capabilities the Navy had requested but did not receive.
Notable Point · 1:29:01-1:30:48
Cancelled fighters and multirole naval aircraft
Wartime use of American fighters and older Swordfish did not erase the Fleet Air Arm's cancelled replacement plans or its expectation that torpedo aircraft also perform dive-bombing tasks.