Britain's V/STOL preference suited a force with global tasks but insufficient mass for separate fleets of CATOBAR carriers and amphibious aviation ships. A 1990s concept paired two Queen Elizabeth-class strike carriers with three LHDs, all able to operate combinations of F-35Bs and helicopters. That five-deck pool contrasts with the four-hull rule of thumb needed to guarantee one continuously available ship in a dedicated class. The LHDs could provide limited strike capacity in an emergency, while the carriers could substitute as helicopter assault ships. Common deck procedures, aircraft, logistics, training, and engineering pipelines offered flexibility that two entirely separate aviation systems could not provide on the same budget.
Chapter · 38:45-42:38
Five common V/STOL flight decks offered greater flexibility
A proposed mix of two strike carriers and three LHDs would have used common F-35B-compatible flight decks to stretch a medium power's limited ships and aircraft.