...Meanwhile, the UK MoD did have the sense to look at carrier operations and recognize that the driver for through-life costs was the crew.
It'll be interesting to see the implications for routine ship hygiene and maintenance of such reduced manning given that the next generation of warships will be as big if not bigger than their predecessors.
Will compartments have to be sealed off to reduce such cleaning regimes to acceptable levels? Will rounds be reduced? Or can we expect to see CPOs and senior officers cleaning the heads and other nooks and crannies? And will this have a knock on effect upon the long term serviceability of CVF, T45 etc.
I’d be interested to hear the opinions of some of you RN types on this practical aspect of ever reducing crews.
Regards,
MM