Q&A · 2:33:53-2:34:18

Ordering Sea Hurricanes and Martlets before the war

A large ready carrier-fighter force in 1939 would require committing to orders around 1937 rather than improvising after war began.

Question

What would the Admiralty need to do for the Fleet Air Arm to begin the war with hundreds of Sea Hurricanes and one hundred Martlets?

Short answer

Place the orders around 1937 so production and delivery can be completed before war begins.

Notes

The answer makes lead time the decisive requirement rather than proposing a wartime shortcut. Sea Hurricanes and American Martlets would need to be ordered around 1937 to arrive in strength by 1939. That commitment requires leaders to fund production before the operational crisis proves the need. The counterfactual therefore turns on early procurement timing, factory capacity, and accepting risk before the war.