The Roc was conceived as the naval counterpart to the Defiant, with a powered turret intended to attack bombers from a broadside position. Adapting a Skua-like airframe around the turret produced an aircraft slightly slower than the Skua rather than a superior fleet fighter. The fashionable turret idea displaced the forward armament and performance the Navy actually needed. Possible alternatives included retaining two crew for reconnaissance while replacing the turret with forward-firing cannon, but every change affected range and mission capability. The Roc shows why novel armament must be judged against the engine power, reconnaissance needs, and operational role it displaces.
Notable Point · 1:33:37-1:36:19
The Roc and the cost of the turret-fighter concept
The Blackburn Roc adapted a Skua-like airframe to a powered turret, illustrating how a fashionable fighter concept could compromise speed and role performance.