"Send a carrier group!" Topic

Or not.

There's been a lot on TMP recently about big carriers/small carriers and their effectiveness. One of my points was that lots of operations don't need dozens of planes and a full carrier group, that we need more of what would have been classed as cruisers in the past.

I think this operation illustrates that general principle – a Royal Navy RFA vessel involved in a drugs bust. No carriers involved, an operation where the British supported a US Coastguard operation – but in other areas of the world, a small carrier group may be a better option in some cases, for example if operating away from major bases but not in situations where you expect to face off a major power.

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Send in the LCS.

That's what it's designed for, right?

If the LCS has the sensor package and extra berthing for the Coast Guard LEDet (Law Enforcement Detachment), yeah, it'd be a perfect fit for the job.

Coasties would probably love the trimaran version, too, since it gives a big flight deck for helo ops.

But yes, you don't need to send a carrier group to chase down drug smugglers. You DO need a carrier group to remind Libyans/Iranians/Norks to play nice (with a very loudly *unspoken* "or else").

Well, we'd love too but…

One of my points was that lots of operations don't need dozens of planes and a full carrier group, that we need more of what would have been classed as cruisers in the past.

Quite so. So whom are the new RN carriers targeted at if another generation of small carriers was insufficient?

Possibly the country that has just announced that it is going to increase it;s military budget by £3.00 GBP billion and created a new cabinet post of Secretary for the Malvinas?

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Maybe they can afford to refloat the Santísima Trinidad?