Armoured carriers and treaty limits constrained British aircraft numbers, though headline comparisons can be distorted by counting disassembled or crated aircraft. Multi-role crews and airframes made each operational aircraft useful for reconnaissance, spotting, shadowing, and strike. During Operation C in the Indian Ocean, reconnaissance found the Japanese fleet but no aircraft established sustained contact. Without a shadow to guide the planned night strike, a detection report became a missed operational opportunity.
Notable Point · 50:14-51:53
Multi-role carrier aviation and the risk of lost contact
British carrier aircraft were expected to shadow and spot as well as strike, a requirement exposed by the loss of contact in Operation C.