The point is that everything except Carrier Strike could be handled by cheaper vessels and we could order more of them - say a couple more T45's, 4 more T26's and replacements for Ocean etc
I may have missed something in the posts above but here goes:
I suspect that the actual acquisition decision is much simpler. If the RN orders a Carrier, they will automatically require a protection/support group, either comprised of current or new vessels which are unlikely to be cut. If they had ordered cheaper vessels, in the recent financial climate, they would never have got a carrier, and what vessels they have got could be cut and/or scrapped whether capable or not.
Simples? Moi? Quite possibly, I shall return to the bat cave now.
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