Immediate reductions to carrier and amphibious capacity left little slack for routine commitments or a new operation. Libya then exposed the practical consequences of retiring Harrier before a replacement carrier air group was available. In this account, land-based fast jets faced long flights, tanker demands, and nearby allied airfields already occupied by other forces. They could conduct strikes but had difficulty sustaining support near the operation. HMS Ocean and its Apache helicopters supplied continuing support from the sea, while the effectiveness of the land-based strikes and the work of their pilots are also acknowledged. Carrier aviation and amphibious shipping therefore need to be assessed alongside the basing and endurance limits of land-based aircraft.
Chapter · 1:53:36-2:00:03
Carrier gaps and the Libya lesson
A force plan built around fewer amphibious ships and delayed carrier aircraft was tested when Libya exposed the value of nearby sea-based aviation.