Q&A ยท 51:34-52:06

Sea Hurricanes, Wildcats, and 1939 readiness

A large Sea Hurricane force would strengthen Royal Navy aviation in 1939, while hypothetical Wildcats depend on which development standard arrives early.

Question

Would a large force of Sea Hurricanes and Grumman Wildcats put the Royal Navy in a better position in 1939?

Short answer

The Sea Hurricanes would help considerably, while the Wildcats' value depends on whether the counterfactual supplies later-standard aircraft or their weaker 1939 form.

Notes

The counterfactual gives the Royal Navy substantial Sea Hurricane and Grumman fighter strength in 1939. The two aircraft cannot be treated as interchangeable. Wildcats equivalent to late-1940 or early-1941 machines would offer something different from the weaker development state available in 1939. Newly delivered Sea Hurricanes in 1939, by contrast, would clearly improve the Fleet Air Arm's position.