t68
Well-Known Member
An ARG is not the answer for every time the ships go to sea and it is not the answer to every strategic situation that the government wants to be involved with. In fact the power projection scenario with two shiploads of grunts will probably be the least common use for the ships. There are a myriad of in-between scenarios that could be dealt with by mixtures of troops and aircraft, thus a tailored air group.
Take the old Melbourne situation where her aircraft mix changed over time and changed within the mix of the post 1968 air group (A4's, S2's and Seakings ). That flexibility existed then so why not repeat that with and over the lives of the LHD's.
We shouldn't confine our thinking by assuming that the ships will only ever be tasked for one strategy, that's for the dinosaurs.
Main diffrence here is Melbourne (R21) as far as I know didnot have to swing from a part time aircraft carrier to a troop ship, we had Sydney(R17) then Jervis Bay (GT-203) for those roles if needed.
I can see the attraction but if they can make a case for an FAA then the case can be made for a ASW carrier which can cross deck with the LHD on a as needed basis