Impinger
I couldn't agree more. If the cost of the CVF programme is FF/DD "force" of 10 or 11 T23s and 6 T45s and 7 SSNs by 2015, then it's not worth it - the rest of the RN will spend their time protecting the CVF, denuding the RN of its worldwide spread. Much better to have a useful RN operating in coalition rather than a one-trick pony of a smaller version of a USN CVBG.
It's sobering to think that the SDR 98 requirement was for 32+ FF/DD and 10-12 SSN and unless I've missed something, I don't see where the tasking seems to have fallen by more than half since 1998.
Still, we could always have a quick whip round for some pitch and float VICTORY out....
S41