Agreed. Royal Navy aircraft are part of a ship, first. They become weapons only when they are not on the ship, but they are pointless without the ship. It’s possible to fly fighter and attack aircraft from anywhere to anywhere because of in-flight refueling, but why do it when there are carriers that can sail right up to the combat zone and project force on a few minutes’ notice? They conserve fuel, conserve manpower, and reduce fatigue.
This sounds like a classic power play. Both services are essential and both should be left to the men who spent decades mastering them.
The other problem is if Naval ships are under attack, the carriers are there to protect them. It would take to long to get land based Army Air to the scene.
Perhaps in theory, but try flying an F-16 from the U.S. West Coast to cover the Straits of Taiwan. At 500 kts, thats 12 hours each way.
“This sounds like a classic power play.” Exactly. Not unlike what happens regularly within our own DoD. It’s all about rice bowls.
TC