weemonkey,
At the height of the Cold War, HMS Ark Royal, the Phantom/Buccaneer/Sea King version, then being described as "the most powerful surface warship the RN has ever had, was armed with two saluting cannon and NOTHING else. Put alongside that the two new carriers look quite heavily armed with Phalanx, 30mm cannon and a plethora of MIniguns, .50 cal and GPMG's.