Historically, the absence of enemy European carriers helped justify cutting a purpose-designed naval fighter effort in 1939. In this scenario, British planners see a German carrier approaching service and retain the gull-wing naval Spitfire program. A compact single-seat fighter allows an Illustrious-class air group to carry more interceptors than an equivalent Fulmar component. Combined with Swordfish and some longer-range Fulmars, that produces a stronger fleet-defense group and alters later operations such as Taranto.
Notable Point · 1:00:56-1:04:51
A German carrier keeps the early Seafire alive
The presence of a near-operational German carrier removes the rationale for cancelling Britain's purpose-designed carrier-fighter program.