Navaleye,
"grand total of 6 fixed wing aircraft on board" - well how many more would be on board if a whole SHar Sqn from the good old days were on board - and how many pilots would a 'fully' manned SHar Sqn have had over the last few years? Not that many more really...
And, at risk of sounding like a stuck record, a standard Marine Expeditionary Unit on an LHA/LHD generally only floats with 6 AV8Bs. (but of course the USMC boat also carries a shed load of helicopters + grunts to really take the fight to the bad guys..... if only the RN had been as interested in amphibious assault/expeditionary warfare 20 years ago, they may have bought a better boat eh? - who knows they may have even gone down the II+ road and then we wouldn't all be in this pickle would we?)
Regards,
Single Seat, Single Engine, The Only Way To Fly