Originally Posted by
WE Branch Fanatic
Just think about this - when HMS Hermes operated Sea Harrier FRS1, Harrier GR3, Sea King HAS 2 and a few Sea King HC4 in the South Atlantic in 1982, she launched and recovered jets in some pretty nasty weather. If she had still been operating Sea Vixens and Buccaneers - or a replacement (small) CTOL jet, could she have achieved this? Could the RAF have provided rapid reinforcement without a V/STOL aircraft?
I beleive that had a direct influence in choosing the F-35B......