Originally Posted by
Heathrow Harry
True but day-to-day also counts - and in many people's eyes it counts for more
We've only really need carriers once in 67 years whereas patrol vessels and frigates are in use every day.
OF COURSE we should finance both but .............
This misses a basic and fundamental point, which is the carriers' role in peacetime diplomacy. 90% of the time (and hopefully 100% of the time) they won't be being used in a hot war. But their role as a visible asset shouldn't be underestimated. Witness the disproportionate hoo-hah when the wheezy old Kuznetsov passed through the North Sea recently, ditto Liaoning in Hong Kong, and the number of major nations currently investing in the capability. The carriers provide a powerful and highly visible presence and offer the visible potential to deliver substantial military effect, in a way that escorts - whose main capability is to defend themselves and escorted assets - cannot. Other countries understand this, and it's good that the UK is showing signs of understanding it too. Given just how parlous the world is likely to become over the next 50 years, the cost of the carriers amortised over that period will prove to be a considerable bargain.