Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 30:06-30:27

How an earlier Sea Hawk could change Fleet Air Arm orders

An earlier Sea Hawk would probably displace the Sea Vampire, while the Sea Fury might remain and the Attacker outcome is uncertain.

De Havilland Sea VampireFleet Air ArmHawker Sea FuryHawker Sea HawkNaval AviationNaval ProcurementSupermarine Attacker
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Question

If the Royal Navy received the Sea Hawk several years early, would it still order the Sea Vampire, Sea Fury, and Attacker?

Short answer

Probably not the Sea Vampire; the Sea Fury might remain, while the Attacker is uncertain.

Notes

An operational Sea Hawk several years early would probably reduce the case for buying the Sea Vampire. The Sea Fury could still survive because it filled a different carrier requirement. The Attacker's fate is harder to judge from the available information. An earlier jet would alter the procurement sequence without automatically replacing every aircraft already in development.