Good post and some pertinent points, particularly wrt lean manning. However, they are just management issues and like you say, we'll make it work and it will work just fine. Fortunately we are used to lean manning particularly with the experiences of the T23 and of course Ocean.
I’m sure anyone who has served on a T23 will initially have been taken aback at the level of “chipping in” that has to be done. Store ship, TOW, RAS are all “whole ship” evolutions, which (for the RAF readers) includes Officers – yes guys, the Officers have to store ship…OMG.
But I can say from experience that the level of camaraderie on T23’s is the best I have ever witnessed. Despite its lean manning I would willingly serve on a T23 again (and again) if required.