Carriers all at sea

SIR – The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is commencing sea trials, thus bringing the Royal Navy closer to restoring a vital capability lost when HMS Ark Royal and her Harriers were axed in the 2010 defence review.

However, since political expediency has been allowed to override operational requirements, this ship and her sister vessel HMS Prince of Wales do not provide anywhere near the best return for the money spent.

The logic behind building large aircraft carriers is that they can carry more aircraft and that the deck space allow conventional take-off and landing, using catapults and arrester gear. The stated air group in this case will include three dozen F-35B Lightning jet fighters, but it is highly unlikely that this number will ever be embarked. Even if all 36 were aboard, they are the F-35B Short Take-off/ Vertical Landing variety.

This has several limiting factors, not the least of which is that each aircraft carries around a ton of lift machinery only required for take-off and landing and useless for the rest of the flight.

Only other Short Take-off/vertical Landing aircraft can land on the new British carriers, so there is no prospect of cross-decking operations with US and French naval air squadrons.

More seriously, the F-35B is the only combat aircraft operable from these carriers. No other aircraft can be embarked for an efficient operational mix (such as the US Navy plans). Leo Marriott

Weston-super-mare, Somerset