Nominal aircraft totals can conceal how many machines are available for each mission. A 48-aircraft group divided evenly among fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers may leave only about 12 or 13 serviceable aircraft for each specialized role. A 36-aircraft group built around one multi-role twin-engine type might maintain roughly 30 available aircraft because stores, spares, and technical skills are shared. Those aircraft could then be reassigned among air defence, dive-bombing, and torpedo attack rather than remaining locked into three pools. The figures are illustrative, but they show why commonality, availability, and role flexibility can matter more than the headline airframe count.
Chapter · 45:48-48:54
Multi-role twin-engine air groups and availability
Air-group arithmetic compares 48 specialized single-engine aircraft with 36 common twin-engine aircraft that can shift between fighter, dive-bombing, and torpedo roles.