Both the Fairey Swordfish and Blackburn Shark entered procurement, and the Shark held a speed advantage. The Swordfish was easier to maintain and somewhat easier to fly. Before radar and modern navigation aids, forgiving handling made night operations more practical and reduced the risk of accidents. Easier maintenance also returned aircraft to service more quickly between missions. Reliability and handling therefore counted as combat capabilities rather than merely peacetime conveniences.
Notable Point · 32:49-35:14
Why the Swordfish beat the faster Blackburn Shark
See why easier flying and maintenance could outweigh a modest speed advantage in carrier and night operations.