Part III - 1941: Cape Matapan and the Bismarck

Summary

Planning and Policy

The emphasis on fighter production dramatically changed during 1941 with the single-seater high-performance type taking top priority. This was largely due to experience gained in the Mediterranean where the performance of the two-seater Fairey Fulmar proved inadequate. While Hurricane Is from the RAF were available to supplement the two-seater Fairey Fulmars, the Navy was unhappy with the condition of the Hurricane aircraft that it received [153] and in any case the Sea Hurricane was far from the ideal carrier fighter [142, 142a, 163]. Some of the deficiencies which had been identified with the Hurricane were also believed to apply to potential Spitfire conversions [163]. Following a visit to the Fleet Carrier Indomitable in September 1941, Churchill expressed astonishment at its complement of Hurricane Is, noting that ‘All this year it has been apparent that the power to launch the highest class fighters from aircraft-carriers may reopen to the Fleet great strategic doors which have been closed against them’ [154]. Problems with the only bespoke British single-seater carrier fighter under development, the Blackburn Firebrand, were exemplified by the First Lord’s complaint that, while he had asked the Ministry of Aircraft Production for three engines for the prototypes, he was told he would receive only two [106]!

The ideal solution was to obtain a supply of American Grumman Martlet aircraft which was the only Naval-designed single-seater fighter that would be available until 1943 [152]. However, these deliveries were problematic due to the US Navy’s own requirements [155, 156] and production delays, which were partially blamed on the diversion of resources into the production of heavy bombers [163, 165]. To make the situation worse fighters would be needed for the new Auxiliary Carriers, originally conceived for use on trade routes, the first nine American-built ships due to carry six fighters as well as TSR aircraft [160, 161]. The requirement for fighter cover for amphibious landings before shore-based air cover was available was also considered and suggestions were made for the use of floatplane fighters or Auxiliary Carriers equipped with up to eighteen fighters [116, 141].

In December 1941, the War Cabinet’s Defence Committee (Supply) decided that fighters to equip the armoured Fleet Carriers should have the highest priority with those for Auxiliary Carriers being of lower significance [165].