Small Sea Control Ships appeal to one participant as compact carriers with a handful of aircraft. Clarke responds with a personal recollection of American officers reacting strongly to the programme and its institutional history. Six Harriers are defended as a useful striking force. The disagreement then broadens to ship names: calling a vessel a Sea Control Ship or Global Combat Ship can obscure the more familiar carrier or frigate category. Type 26 provides the frigate example.
Notable Point · 4:21:45-4:24:15
Sea Control Ships and names based on intended roles
A disagreement over small Sea Control Ships leads into criticism of labels that describe an intended mission more clearly than a ship's type.