How the Swordfish and Fulmar combined compatible roles

The Fleet Air Arm's TSR label meant torpedo-spotter-reconnaissance, distinct from the tactical strike reconnaissance title used by the later RAF TSR-2. A Swordfish could carry a torpedo or bombs, spot naval gunfire for capital ships and cruisers, including HMS Warspite, and scout for the fleet. The Fairey Fulmar paired fighter and reconnaissance duties in a two-seat aircraft after the proposed spotting role was dropped. Combining compatible duties reduced the number of specialized types competing for limited carrier hangar space. An illustrative comparison suggests that six groups of six aircraft might each supply only two available machines, whereas two groups of eighteen might each supply about twelve. These figures illustrate the maintenance argument rather than a fixed readiness formula. Larger groups of fewer types concentrated engineering expertise, spares, and stores and could generate stronger strikes and air defence.