Originally Posted by
Heathrow Harry
WEBF - the carriers certainly made a contribution to the listed conflicts but, TBH , they were only NECESSARY for the FI
They're a nice to have rather than a necessity - I'd far prefer more T45's, T26's, Astutes and some decent replacements for the Bulwark/Ocean fleet
Escorts' main job is to escort and protect themselves and other assets. I guess a lot turns on what you want the UK to be capable of, and whether you value the ability to carry your air power and air cover with you, or whether you're happy to depend on air cover from land bases or kindly provided by others. And content to have lots of escorts that are good at turning up but far more limited in terms of the military effect they can deliver.
I guess this argument will rage forever, because in reality peoples' views on such things don't tend to shift that much.