Future Carrier (Including Costs)

[WE Branch Fanatic]

SASless

Of course we have docks for Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales. Dry docks are different.

Anyway.... Task Groups are at the heart of Western naval strategy, whether there are carrier or amphibious based. I struggle to understand those who would sacrifice the task group capability in order simply to increase the number of hulls. Talking of task groups:

Exercise Joint Warrior reaches its high point Royal Navy

Albion heads a task group including her guardians (HMS Defender against air attack, HMS Kent against submarines and ‘enemy’ ships), amphibious ship RFA Lyme Bay, tanker RFA Tiderace and hundreds of Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade – plus their kit.

If the F-35B was taking part, will they have practiced air defence of the task group? ASW Merlins were also involved, so I wonder if UKCSG are involved? As someone who has worked in several Joint Warriors, I have seen the odd WAFU, but lots of them....