The lost five-flight-deck force structure

Should Britain have built a third Queen Elizabeth-class carrier?

Britain effectively paid far more than two hulls should have cost; an earlier concept of two strike carriers and three F-35B-capable LHDs would have provided five interchangeable flight decks and steadier availability.

The proposed structure combined two full strike carriers with three large-deck amphibious ships able to operate the same F-35B pool. At least two decks would usually be available, even when one or more ships were in maintenance, and the force would also retain well decks for amphibious operations. The answer emphasizes fleet-level interchangeability rather than treating a carrier as an isolated prestige platform.