Can the RAF operate from the O boat into the long term with Merlin? Ans Yes of course they could, but they would need to invest in the maritime environment.
This means more time working up the ship and ship's company in maritime Ops and taking the ship through BOST/OST etc. This will require time away even before the deployment of many months. Naturally the harmony rules will have to be revised as the RN currently requires up to 660 days away in a 3 year period. All perfectly achievable and on this point all of the forces should have been aligned ages ago.
This will also mean that the posts of Wings, Little F, F2 (argggggh) should be manned by RAF aircrew over the 2-3 year tour, pretty much permanently at sea. But all achievable in time.
The AAC have worked extremely well in Libya and from baby steps have worked up to be more than proficient in the maritime environment - albeit in the med lol
(with the help of embedded exchange RN crews). However, this has taken a while and with the RIP of the new Sqn, this process will start all over again. This demonstrates that if we want a credible amphib capability able to respond to whatever our lords and masters throw at us, it must be practised and maintained into the long term; no lilly-padding! The RAF could achieve this and it could be made to work.
I simply believe that CHF are the right people to take on this task. Whether you want to give them the Merlin or as some of you have pointed out a much better answer would be the CH47. They have the experience in depth, from aircrew to AEM, and once the current war and financial restraint has passed, the appetite to go to sea.
Giving the task to the RAF is surely a riskier venture; for the RAF as well as Amphib capability. However, I am pretty sure they could make it work, but it would be a poisoned challis for them.
The whole watchkeeping ticket is an absolute red herring as the ship never relies on wafus to sustain the roster. However, the RN philosophy is very much all of one company and understanding other roles and integration of the FAA is very important for greater understanding of the maritime environment and avoiding a them and us culture.
It looks to me as though these points have been weighed up and the answer that fell out was in favour of CHF!
H