Among several proposals, a Supermarine naval fighter project appears to have been the strongest candidate and was probably a gull-wing Spitfire derivative. The Air Ministry's alarm over land-based fighter requirements redirected effort away from the naval programme, leaving the Fleet Air Arm without the planned replacement. This was an inter-service production and priority problem rather than evidence that the Navy had failed to seek modern fighters. Shipboard radar also mattered because it allowed fighters to be directed instead of relying on airborne observers scanning with binoculars.
Notable Point · 44:10-45:53
Why the Fleet Air Arm's fighter did not arrive
A promising single-seat naval fighter programme was lost when the Air Ministry redirected scarce capacity toward Royal Air Force needs.