Bismark
Is this also true for the RN or do they still have the ability to deploy as a singleyton/small TG under RN cmd?
All services have the ability to deply individually (although our Land based colleagues find it difficult to get very far without the help of the other 2) note RAF operational detachment to Baltic.
Again - as you identified with assets - we all contribute to defence: more particularly, given this forum, to contribute to the delivery of air power. The only people who seem to gain from inter-Service bickering (a level above banter) are the Treasury.
So in pythonesque style let's unite against the common enemy (not the Peoples' Front of Judea). Maybe we should be asking -Most effective arm of National Power: Treasury or Armed Forces?
Oggin
If the C130 (of whatever mark) cannot be counted as offensive, how can you count the SK4? Surely both have the ability to deliver stealy eyed killing machines over distance to their objective.