A possible Taranto-style load shows how Ark Royal could concentrate Swordfish and Skua attack aircraft while still embarking Fulmars for air defence. A short Mediterranean operation could also justify placing extra aircraft on deck. The Royal Navy's reluctance to make deck parking routine came from the risk of losing exposed aircraft overboard in rough Atlantic waters or having them destroyed during an attack. This was a practical doctrine tied to weather, theatre, and threat rather than indifference to large air groups.
Notable Point · 11:20-13:53
Strike air groups and the limits of deck parking
Ark Royal's Swordfish-and-Skua mix shows the Royal Navy's emphasis on striking range, while deck parking depended on sea state, climate, and enemy threat.