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Old 5th May 2000, 15:40
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Mycroft
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When Italy declared war there were I believe 4 Sea Gladiators (navalised version; hooks and stonger u/c and longer range). One was lost fairly early; the remaining 3 picking up their nicknames for PR purposes. When monoplane fighters arrived later the Glads were dumped in a quarry and one of them survived the war and is now in Valetta Museum.

Generally britain had a poor record with naval fighters; most (ie Firefly) having poor performance due to FAA lack of confidence in its pilots - they needed a navigator. However they did accept some modified fighters later in the war, along with some american types unsuitable for USN service. There were a few problems; the Sea Hurricane being deemed suitable only for immediate defence against German a/c, catapulted from merchant (CAM) ships and ditched when the fuel ran out. Seafires (navalised Spitfires) largely failed because of the combination of tailwheel u/c and Merlin/Griffon engine; visibility is poor when taxying and weaving is not a good idea on a flight deck.