The RN, certainly of that era, appear to be crab haters,
What do you mean, that era. With it's two car ferries, three trawlers and a handful of pedallo's, a large element of the RN would knife the RAF in the back at the drop of a hat.
They would very much like to carve up the RAF between themselves and the AAC. Pity they can't mount patrols off the coast of Iraq by sea.
WM lets not forget that the RN at the time was just managing to get back onto its feet having seen its carrier fleet decimated by the Govt. The RAF had persuaded the previous Govt's that the Navy wasn't needed anymore because Air Power could strike anywhere in the World (V Force). This meant the loss of
ALL future Carriers and quite a few Naval Bases throughout the World...so bitter, probably.
Shaun