Making sense
Coward.... you make the most sense of anyone here. I love the idea of a carrier-based strike force, quickly deployable and packing a punch. But with the UK's two flat tops, 'quickly' was rarely possible, and when choices have to be made, the fast jets win out I guess.
The US Marines are getting quite a bargin tho, what with 10 small deck carriers, many permanently forward based they can show up, rattle the saber and calm things down before they get out of hand.
There is after all only one superpower left on the planet. (even if they can no longer afford it either!)