Originally Posted by FormerFlake
You forget that when the government allocates money they are thinking about who we will be fighting in the future. Ordering only 2 carriers mean not fighting any one who is going to fight back.
Oh really.
We ordered 3 CVS in the 1970s in order to counter the ENORMOUS Soviet Submarine threat - 3!! Just 3. That is what the government gave us to fight the largest military threat (on the high seas) that we have faced since the Second World War. So, numbers of platforms doesn't really mean anything other than we are getting as many as we can afford/man/protect etc.
Acquiring 2 certainly doesn't give an indication that the government will only use them against those countries who aren't going to fight back (and by that I think you mean those without similar capabilities to be able to effectively fight back ie no fighters etc??).
So, IMHO, when HM Govt allocates money they are thinking about how they can best utilise the limited funds available - and that is on 2 CVF. I am sure those that command them, man them and fly from them (as well as EVERYBODY else) would ensure they are used as neccessary!
