An accelerated Illustrious-class programme creates an immediate question: which aircraft could fill the decks? A gull-winged, folding-wing fighter in the Spitfire family is proposed, the Swordfish remains useful for night strikes, and the disappointing Albacore gives way more quickly to the Barracuda. With less production absorbed by the Battle of Britain, British naval designs might receive earlier priority. American industry remains an option when British capacity is insufficient. A later German and Italian threat could still prompt a separate American order, bringing the Mustang into a different version of the Battle of Britain.
Notable Point · 10:12-13:18
Fleet carriers and naval fighters gain priority
Accelerated carrier completion would make Britain's choice of naval fighter and strike aircraft central to the counterfactual war.