The earlier British concept described here combines two carriers with three LHDs able to use the same STOVL aircraft. Five compatible flight decks were intended to support the availability of two at a time. An LHD could provide a reduced strike-carrier capability when the carriers were unavailable. A carrier could alternatively serve as a helicopter assault platform when the LHDs were unavailable, although it would not acquire a well dock. The comparison with French ships concerns this interchangeability of air groups.
Notable Point · 1:40:53-1:42:15
The proposed British five-flight-deck force and aircraft commonality
Common aircraft could let carriers and LHDs cover some of each other's roles during refits or damage.