Climbear,
Thanks for keeping me up to date. From what I can gather the RAF are unlikely ever to deploy as an independent unit under their own command. Rather they will always be under a Joint Cdr. Is this also true for the RN or do they still have the ability to deploy as a singleyton/small TG under RN cmd?
With regard to 16B, I am not really worried who owns the jets it is the people who fly (and maintain) them that is important and this is where attitude and efficiency comes in. The fact is that RN/RM aircrew want to fly from the sea the others don't. My understanding is that RAF Sqns have considerably more manpower than an equivalent RN Sqn - is this still the case?