An earlier concept paired two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers with three landing helicopter docks replacing Ocean, Albion, and Bulwark. Operating F-35Bs from all five ships was part of the rationale given for choosing the aircraft. A five-deck pool was expected to provide roughly two available flight decks, normally a carrier and an amphibious ship. An LHD could also cover limited aviation duties when necessary, although it would be less capable than a carrier. The concept was never implemented.
Notable Point · 36:04-37:01
An unrealized five-deck fleet could have shared F-35Bs
An unrealized combination of two carriers and three amphibious aviation ships would have allowed the same F-35Bs to operate from five flight decks.