Swordfish anti-submarine patrols remained front-line combat

The Swordfish remained in operational service throughout the Second World War even after it left the most glamorous carrier-versus-carrier role. Anti-submarine patrols from escort carriers or land bases were still front-line combat because crews operated under fire in dangerous conditions. Pilots and observers who took part in Taranto later flew Swordfish on Arctic convoy duty, which shows that continuing exposure. The aircraft also retained a genuine dive-bombing capability. Its longevity rested on useful wartime missions rather than nostalgia for an obsolete type.