Comments by "Sar Jim" (@sarjim4381) on "The Drydock - Episode 065" video.

  1. There are many times as I prepare to retire for the night that this prayer comes to mind. Between my apparent angering the same God is English, there were times when He was prepared to let me know my transgressions in no uncertain terms.
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  2. The main advantage of the Fulmar was it was available when there was a desperate need for a semi modern aircraft compared to the biplane fighters in use, had a devastating forward firing armament far heavier that other naval aircraft at the time, and the structure was such that it was very difficult to shoot down. It had almost no development path to improve the plane but, for the period 1940 to mid-1943, there was no better aircraft available.
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  3.  @WALTERBROADDUS  Firstly, the Wildcat and Fulmar were airplanes designed for different roles. The Fulmar was a typical two seat light bomer and dive bomber of the period, later to roles expanded into reconnaissance and observation. The second crew member and relatively spacious rear cabin allowed the installation of radios, and the Fulmar was able to radio back detailed sightings of enemy forces. That was a nearly impossible task with the single seat fighters of the early war period. Secondly, the Wildcat just wasn't available in July, 1940, when the Fulmar went into service. The FAA recognized the Wildcat was a better fighter, but Grumman was struggling fill a French order for 100 aircraft, a Greek order for 30, a Belgian order for 10 more, plus USN orders for at least 200. Those were huge numbers in early 1940. The Martlet MK 1, which were those other orders taken into British use after the fall of those countries, were useless for carrier operation due to non-folding wings. The FAA had ordered 100 MK II's, but it took Grumman almost eight months to perfect the Sto-Wing system, so the first carrier capable aircraft didn't get into service until August, 1941. From July, 1940 to August, 1941, the only monoplane sort of fighter available, other than a small number of Sea Hurricanes, was the Fulmar. It was either take the Fulmar or try to fight with Gloster Sea Gladiators. You fight a war with you have, not with what you want.
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  4. I was happy to see this request comes from a rando naval "historian" rather than someone worth more reply time than we'd normally see with a guy writing from mom's basement.
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