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As we have discussed, UK post-war carrier procurement was deeply flawed. Fiscal constraints bear much of the responsibility but there were clearly poor decisions made. Such as the rebuilding of Victorious and delayed completion of Hermes. Cheaper to build more Audacious class or better still, Malta sized carriers.

But, given what carriers the RN did have in the 1950s, it's sadly true that until the arrival of the Buccaneer (1962) its aircraft lagged the USN in performance. The Seahawk arrived as a straight wing jet day fighter/attack aircraft in 1953, six years at least after similar performance aircraft were operational in the USN. The FAA was flying Sea Hornet night fighters while the USN had jets, with the Sea Venom NF only available until 1954. The Sea Vixen (1958) compared poorly as an interceptor to the F-6 Skyway (1956), though as a strike aircraft it probably was OK. (The A4 Skyhawk may not have been as capable until upgrades and I doubt any RN carriers could operate A-3 Skywarrior.) The reasons for these 'gaps' are legion and mostly irrelevant. But delays in moving from prototype to production to operational service were common in the UK.

Could the Admiralty have realised this and decided to purchase or, better yet, get them under MAP from the US instead? Reasoning that short production runs and lack of priority would always inhibit development of UK carrier aircraft for them.

IF so, which US aircraft are most suitable for RN use?

The F-2 Banshee was I believe used by Canada, and the A4-Skyhawks could certainly fly from any carrier the RN had in the 1950s. What other planes? The Grumman Panther and its swept-wing development (Cougar). Could the F-11 Tiger or F-6 Skyway be suitable?
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