Submarines overloaded the fleet before they scored a hit

The exercise logged 78 flying hours and 34 deck landings while tracking reconnaissance, fighter, and torpedo-bomber strength, forced landings, and sortie duration. Argus carried spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and fighters but no torpedo bombers, an allocation that helps explain the later appeal of the Fairey Swordfish. Eagle maintained a continuous anti-submarine patrol, showing that submarine pressure consumed air effort even before a successful attack. The Admiralty concluded that fleet submarines forced aircraft and light forces away from their main tasks, congested communications, complicated the withdrawal of the ASW screen, and could delay a favorable attack. They also threatened to reduce battle-fleet speed or damage valuable advanced units such as battlecruisers and carriers. Together, the reports and competing dangers created operational overload for any commander without a staff able to filter and act on them.