Illustrious's survival did not remove the problem of having too few fighters and spares to sustain airborne protection. Naval requests competed with the government's priority for home air defence, including demands for engines also used by Spitfires. The Fleet Air Arm wanted both improvements to the Fulmar and a better fighter. Purchasing American Wildcats, initially called Martlets in British service, provided a route toward that replacement while domestic procurement concentrated on other priorities.
Notable Point · 43:04-44:13
Illustrious needed fighter spares as well as armour
The carrier's fighter shortage connects damage prevention to spare engines, domestic procurement priorities, and the purchase of American Martlets.