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Sorry, no...the British have three Invincible class Carriers. The Invincible has been mothballed but the other two, Illustrious and Ark Royal, will be held until the two new carriers come on line. The Ocean and two Albions amphibious assault ships are new and are not the ones being cut. As to the frigates and destroyers, what I listed are all what are in operation now.

Go to the Royal Navy site and see for yourself.

As to the Darings, I simply mentioned that two had already been floated and one is in sea trials. That is a fact. How many they end up with is still in question, but I bet it will be at least eight if not more.

Right now, and for the next couple of years, the UK could deploy exactly the task force I described if they wanted to.

Sorry, no...the British have three Invincible class Carriers. The Invincible has been mothballed but the other two ...

Invincible has been stricken, is being retained as a source of spares for Lusty and Ark Royal. She's apparently in pretty bad shape - she has a lightweight hull, although not nearly as lightweight as Ocean - and isn't even considered a candidate for transfer to a foreign navy (Hermes still operates with the Indian Navy, and I think Australia - which was supposed to buy her right before the Falklands - desperately wants a carrier).

There's still the issue with organic air cover. The Marines recently operated a det of AV-8Bs from Lusty (I think it was Lusty). While part of the Marine Harrier force has the APG-65 installed, they haven't integrated AIM-120 yet ... but the Italians have. Theoretically the US could do a lend-lease deal on some of its AV-8Bs. But that would only take care of the hardware side of the equation - could the RN/RAF get it's pilots back up to speed with counter-air fast enough?

One historical reminder ... the Argies went for the Falklands shortly after the RN announced that it was going to downsize its forces (Invincible going to Australia, for instance) because they saw it as a sign of weakness and a possible window of opportunity (also, it is widely assumed that the Argies would never have even tried to make a play for the islands had the RN retained the old Ark Royal with her Phantoms and Buccs). The fact that the Brits no longer have air cover flying from their CVLs is pretty significant, and well-known. With the CVFs at least five years away if someone wants to make a play for the islands the next few years is a great time to do it.