Well said, Airsound. This is no puff piece press release; it is the views of someone who is always reasoned, coherent, and apparently well informed. Sir Humphrey is no one's poodle and has consistently given deserved criticism. I hope he (or she) doesn't object to me quoting further.
What this deployment of a joint airwing offers is a toolbox of enormous flexibility to British and American policy makers and military planners. It provides an asset that can be used to support NATO or other coalition operations, or if needs must could support bilateral airstrikes instead.
We already know that the airwing will be conducting operations over Syria to take the fight to Daesh in the coming weeks and months.
For the first time since 1942 and the “USS ROBIN” (aka HMS VICTORIOUS)
the combined air forces of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and United States Navy & Marine Corps will be going on operations from the shared deck of one carrier.
This is perhaps the ultimate demonstration of the flexibility of the concept – providing a platform that both nations can use to best effect. It is a good example of just how effective the working relationship is that both countries feel comfortable committing their assets to what are essentially wartime operations on the first operational deployment of the ship.
The deployment of the CSG21 team represents the first of many deployments like this, which could run for decades to come. It demonstrates the incredibly close links between the two nations and
is a timely reminder of the versatility of the carrier platform
https://thinpinstripedline.b l o g s p o t .com/2021/05/the-start-of-something-special-csg21.html remove the spaces.