Powerful engines such as the Sabre and Griffon, initially ordered with naval money, were reassigned as Air Ministry priorities changed. Repeated engine changes delayed or ended naval fighter projects and helped push the Fleet Air Arm toward American aircraft during the war. By 1942 the Navy had reason to fear that an independent programme could again lose its engine or priority. Folding its requirement into an RAF fighter project gave the Sea Fury line a route through procurement; the RAF version was eventually cancelled, while the naval aircraft reached service.
Chapter · 22:48-25:03
Competition for engines drove the Fleet Air Arm toward a joint programme
Air Ministry reassignment of naval-funded high-power engines disrupted fighter projects and made combined Royal Navy and RAF requirements a pragmatic way to secure an aircraft.