A Sea Control Ship works as a limited-mission vessel until additional duties enlarge its requirements. Strike and anti-ship missions need suitable weapons and magazine capacity. Command duties add accommodation and facilities for an admiral's staff. Amphibious ships can remain smaller because they have a different and more focused mission set. A small carrier using vertical or short-takeoff aircraft also needs an airborne early-warning solution, since operating Hawkeyes would be difficult. The options discussed include Sea Harriers and Sea King airborne early-warning helicopters.
Notable Point · 1:40:22-1:43:23
How added missions enlarge a sea-control ship
Strike weapons, command facilities, and airborne early warning make a limited sea-control carrier harder to keep small.