A destroyer could rush a dismantled aircraft to Malta

Could a Tribal-class destroyer carry a Swordfish or another aircraft?

A destroyer could not operate it as a carrier, but a dismantled aircraft could fit on deck. One unverified story has a Gladiator rushed to Malta that way.

Carrying an aircraft as cargo is different from operating one at sea. A Tribal-class destroyer had enough deck space to transport a dismantled or flat-packed aircraft when speed mattered. One unverified story has a Gladiator for Malta moved this way, although the available account does not establish proof or identify a destroyer in the relevant area. Fast warships could serve as emergency logistics platforms without becoming aviation ships.