It is quite ironic that Britain's most famous naval aircraft, the Fairey Swordfish (nicknamed the "Stringbag"), would seem more in place in World War I than in a mid-century conflict. First flown in 1934, it was a lumbering and archaic biplane with an open cockpit and fixed landing gear. Still, it was the Fleet Air Arm's most important asset when the war began, and is legendary for its participation in the 1940 Taranto strike where just 20 of these aircraft from the carrier HMS Illustrious sank three Italian battleships in harbor for just two losses, neutralizing Mussolini's fleet and inspiring the Japanese for a similar attack against Pearl Harbor. Swordfishes also fatally crippled the Bismarck in 1941 and tried unsuccessfully to sink the German fleet during the 'Channel Dash' in February 1942. Even though various successors were designed, the Swordfishes were produced until 1944 and served until the end of the war, long after its successor, the Albacore, had been phased out of service.

The first prototype Swordfish, designated TSR.II first flew on 17 April 1934 and was introduced in service as the Mk. I, these included both aircraft with wheel and float landing gear. They served in the torpedo-reconnaissance role on board Royal Navy carriers, battleships and cruisers. The Mk. II had a strengthened lower wing which enabled it to accommodate rockets in addition to a more powerful Pegasus 30 engine which would also be installed in all further marks. Later, the Mk. III had an ASV radar between the landing gear and the Mk. IV (a Mk. II conversion) featured a more modern closed cockpit and was built for use by Canada.