> The lack of ability to do it during a "Real War" means that if the engine has problems, that fighter is now sitting in the hangar useless, except for parts to

> The lack of ability to do it during a "Real War" means that if the engine has problems, that fighter is now sitting in the hangar useless, except for parts to cannibalize. If it has problems severe enough that the engine can't be repaired and must be replaced, and they don't have sufficient replacement stock, yes. But what I was trying to get at with my question about replacing the wing is that having an aircraft return to the carrier damaged severely enough that it's unflyable and unrepairable must be a somewhat routine/normal occurrence during "real war". (Of course the more you can repair while underway the better, all else being equal).