Did the Royal Navy expect dive-bomber attacks?

Did the Royal Navy expect to face dive bombers?

Yes. The difficulty was securing suitable training and aircraft policy through the Air Ministry, not a failure to recognize the threat.

The Royal Navy expected dive-bomber attacks but had trouble getting Royal Air Force support for realistic training against them. Air Ministry arrangements also complicated the Navy's aircraft requirements. The Blackburn Skua carried a fighter label while serving primarily as the dive bomber the Navy wanted. The Blackburn Roc represented the turret-fighter concept favored by the Air Ministry. Recognizing the threat did not by itself secure the training needed to meet it.