Fulmar performance, armament, and the Taranto flare plan

The Mark II paired a Merlin 30 with a constant-speed propeller, reached about 272 mph, and had a range of roughly 780 miles. Its usual armament was eight .303-inch Brownings, although bombs, rockets, or an observer's rear Vickers K gun appeared in some configurations. Royal Navy doctrine normally assigned Fulmars to drop flares for a night strike, freeing Swordfish to carry torpedoes or bombs. Had HMS Eagle joined Illustrious, the proposed package would probably have included about six flare-dropping Fulmars and thirty-six Swordfish, although this is a reconstruction of the larger plan. Taranto's one-carrier force kept the scarce Fulmars on combat air patrol, adapting the doctrine to the aircraft available.