Escort carriers were, generally, about the threat of submarines. So a ship carrying ASW helicopters in meaningful numbers* would surely fit the bill?
* Assuming two sorties a day per aircraft, five is enough to have one on station at all times, but six or more would be better.
Whenever there's a discussion like this there are those who will have a rigid perspective that what occurred was all, more or less, inevitable. They'll regale us with all that they have learned about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Germans versus France, Britain and co (which the...
Fourteen to North Africa? Whatever for?
I'm sure if the balloon had gone up they would have thrown everything they had at the Soviets. An army that was, say, two or three what the British had and organised and equipped similarly would have been valuable though than what they fielded.
Fuel is a given. Ammunition does make some degree of sense. Ammunition that can be fired / dropped from different weapons / platforms does make some sense. It may not be standard issue for one NATO army, air force, navy, but the fact that they can use it could come in handy.
More common...
I wonder how they came up with those numbers? They don't seem to reflect population share or relative economic output. e.g. Belgium/Luxemburg to field more, and sooner, than the Netherlands?
In discussions like this, I always see arguments for standardising on particular platforms, weapons or ammunition; even comments about how it was wasteful that more than one tank - for example - was developed. I suggest this is actually really wrong-headed thinking. Competition is good...
The reality is what young people were is largely the same as they are today. HIV spread and continued to spread because young people like to have sex and the idea of wearing a condom did not appeal, in spite of all the confronting messages. It was still thought of as a gay man's disease for a...
Investing an acronym that is entirely unnecessary, doesn't fit with the vernacular of the time, and 88 years or so after the period in question? I'm sorry, but it's ridiculous.
From an Australian perspective, the word "dominion" is basically unknown to us. The fact is we were often included in...