Rejecting level bombing would shift aircraft toward torpedo attack

How would early recognition of level bombing's weakness against ships change US naval-aircraft purchases?

It would encourage more torpedo-bomber development and procurement because underwater damage is much more reliable for sinking ships.

Discarding high-level bombing would direct more attention toward aircraft such as B-25 or B-17 torpedo-bomber variants. Ships are sunk by flooding or fires that cannot be controlled, while topside holes more often produce mission kills unless they trigger catastrophic damage. A mission-killed ship is not normally scuttled while it still floats and can be recovered. Admiral Graf Spee was an unusual political and operational case rather than the standard result of topside damage.