Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:12:21-3:16:36

A monoplane Swordfish changes Fleet Air Arm development

A monoplane Swordfish could eliminate the need for an interim Albacore and pull British carrier fighters toward monoplanes sooner.

Alternate HistoryBlackburn SkuaCarrier AircraftFairey AlbacoreFairey SwordfishFleet Air Arm
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Question

How would the early war change if the Swordfish had been a monoplane?

Short answer

Britain might skip the Albacore and adopt monoplane carrier fighters earlier, but the result would be a fundamentally different aircraft and development path.

Notes

Changing the airframe changes much more than appearance: cockpit, range, endurance, and the surrounding generation of Fleet Air Arm aircraft all move with it. A monoplane Swordfish could encourage an enclosed cockpit and make monoplane carrier fighters appear earlier. It might also remove the need for the Albacore as an interim replacement. The historical Swordfish was only three years into service in 1939 and was technically capable for the specification it had been given.