Gerald R. Ford class: one island, better close-in guns

Would dual islands and 40 mm or 57 mm guns improve the Gerald R. Ford class?

Twin islands are unnecessary because the design lacks the exhaust-routing problem that helped produce the Queen Elizabeth class's two islands, but stronger medium-calibre defensive guns would be useful.

The Gerald R. Ford class has little need for twin islands because its large single island does not require separate funnel structures for exhaust gases. The Queen Elizabeth class faces a different exhaust-routing problem, which helps explain its two islands. Extra 40 mm or 57 mm defensive guns are a more attractive change and would also be useful on the Queen Elizabeth class. An aside about an Italian LHD notes that a consulting naval architect faced a similar flight-deck problem and reused a similar solution.