OAP
You are aware they are mostly bought and paid for?
As for our needs - well it might have escaped your attention but the RN recently commanded CTF 50 (normally commanded from a US flat top) for several months. Surely being able to do it and hit the terrorists ashore ourselves would have made much more sense?
Also being able to deal with over flights, and carry out long range ASW with multiple helicopters based aboard the carrier might be useful in facing up to Russia.
HH
As I understand it,
QE and
POW will routinely deploy with a Type 45 destroyer, one or two frigates, an SSN, and a couple of RFAs. This is strangely similar to a USN carrier deploying with a cruiser and a couple of destroyers. See
here for an example.
Remember:
1. The number of ships devoted to protecting the carrier is actually quite low.
2. The carrier provides C3 for other ships in theatre.
3. Ships in a task group can move and be retasked.