Did the Fairey Fulmar have a realistic chance against German or Italian aircraft?
Short answerYes in its intended role: it avoided turning fights and used diving attacks and heavy machine-gun fire to break up strike formations threatening the fleet.
NotesThe Fulmar was large and comparatively slow, yet several successful Royal Navy aces flew it. Its eight machine guns and ample ammunition suited fast diving attacks rather than prolonged dogfights. Fleet defence prioritized breaking up coordinated bomber and torpedo-aircraft formations because those aircraft posed the greater danger to ships. The Fulmar's design served a specifically naval mission: disrupt the strike so shipboard defences faced a less coherent attack.