Glad Rag the situation may be helped by the fact that the vessels have been designed from the outset to accommodate a company of 250 Royal Marines, including provision for basic bodily functions. Sorry to disappoint
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Bastardeaux in fact the reference to surging to 24 is a more realistic take given the earlier references of a surge to 36, which always struck me as a tad optimistic with a total carrier-based buy of 48 airframes. I see that many who were confidently asserting that the carriers would never be built have now moved on to variations on the tired old "no aircraft" theme, but the fact is the Govt would find it politically difficult to go much south of the 48 they have publically committed to. I imagine you'll disagree with that, but happy to agree to differ.