Responsibility for force structure extended across successive governments whose decisions accumulated over decades. Inherited limits did not remove responsibility from the government currently in office, and Churchill slowed carrier construction too aggressively while trying to accelerate escorts. Swordfish, Albacore, Skua, and other carrier aircraft could have added anti-submarine patrol capacity during decisive periods even before escort carriers and sufficient long-range land aircraft became available.
Notable Point · 33:47-35:25
Successive governments and the carrier-priority dispute
In this assessment, successive governments shared responsibility for escort scarcity, while Churchill's wartime carrier slowdown worsened the Atlantic air gap.