re: #33 William Barnett-Lewis

Why so many? 2 (one Pacific, one Atlantic) at sea, one repair & resupplying, one training up. There isn’t sufficient threat from anyone in the world to require the attention of more than one carrier group + attack subs.

I won’t reiterate my feelings on the F35 as you’re well aware of them. More F18’s would be a far better use of the money.

A confrontation with China would need more than one CVN. Likely 3-4. One carrier would be sunk, especially know that they’ve completed the shakedown of their first carrier battle group.

As for fighters, I’d be OK with Super Hornets instead of Lightning IIs. The important thing is to build the birds and get them on the decks. Perhaps a full extra squadron of F/A-18Es and a smaller group of F-35s for CAP duty.