Spitfires and Hurricanes could rely on the Chain Home network and centralized control to launch, climb, intercept, and recover from land bases. A Fulmar instead waited on combat air patrol, searched for ships and submarines, and supported strikes at range. Royal Navy plans placed the two-seat aircraft on larger strike carriers that operated farther back. Single-seat fighters were intended for fleet carriers closer to the action, but wartime disruption prevented the full combination from appearing on schedule.
Notable Point · 44:24-47:58
Why a Fulmar was not meant to be a naval Spitfire
The Fulmar belonged to a different operational system from short-range land interceptors, pairing long-range fleet work with planned single-seat carrier fighters.