The F4F Wildcat was already in development by 1935, but war helped push it rapidly into service after the Buffalo proved inadequate. In a longer peace, there is less pressure to accept an interim design on the historical timetable. A small Buffalo force might remain while the next fighter evolves into something closer to the F6F Hellcat. This remains a procurement counterfactual because extra development time could still produce a different sequence.
Notable Point · 1:39:01-1:42:03
Why the Wildcat might be bypassed
Without the pressure of war in 1939, the US Navy may retain a small Buffalo force while development proceeds toward a fighter closer to the Hellcat.