Webf, well spotted. This really does highlight the double standards and hypocrisy in the MoDs thinking. Invincible's task is to provide air defence and CAS to the UK/NL amphibious group landing in North Carolina.
In 2 years time the UK will no longer have this capability. So what happens to expeditionary warfare then? We know that T42 cannot operate near land. So, unless the enemy was willing to stay on the ground, or the Dutch are willing to cough up one of their new AEGIS destroyers which can engage air targets over land, then we place all our forces at risk.
What happens, if in a time of crisis, the Americans send us what they sent us in 1939 - their best wishes?
From what I hear, delivery of HMS Daring has slipped to late 2008. Doubtless she will be involved in first of class trials for three years, so this means that the fleet loses two layers of its layered air defence. That places a lot of risk and trust in Sea Wolf.
Last edited by Navaleye; 28th May 2004 at 13:11.