Who had the most effective maritime strike air power?

Which country had the most effective land-based maritime air power in World War II?

The British and RAAF both have strong cases, but no definitive ranking is offered because national figures are not compiled on the same basis.

The Swordfish had an exceptional cumulative record and the Beaufighter a major anti-shipping role. The Battle of the Bismarck Sea illustrates the Royal Australian Air Force's effective employment of Beaufighters. Pound for pound, the RAAF receives a tentative preference here, while British totals benefit from the duration and breadth of their war. A definitive cross-national ranking is difficult because American results are divided among Navy, Marine Corps, and Army Air Forces records rather than tabulated on the same basis.