![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OIC4Q23QJ4IDISULOJGBALLHOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=319c58bd74a4b6944b9575689703c87068813b99de87f268e1d8d5f34c17f800&width=400&height=225)
RFA Tidespring arriving in Portsmouth. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SCO3KJO6Z2OV4BFYHDCPPVKUPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f0f726624bf843e67863d9dc73a2bfdaab0d06d7fd6e6512ab209be6aecb0d9&width=400&height=225)
HMS Queen Elizabeth - The £3 billion aircraft carrier will head the group with eight RAF F35B stealth fighter jets on board. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T6XCVJ4H74ZX2BTF3L5O6G4BGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fed04439826bfbfede70fbbe7639699174c4fdaca61f0cb1d0a77c4b0ecb669f&width=400&height=225)
HMS Defender (above) and HMS Diamond - The Type 45 air-defence destroyers are two of the most advanced warships ever built, appearing virtually invisible on enemy radar.
Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7F45UXLBXHQXMRG2V7HHZB6QHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d2ea89c1c86940d7998b3789f5055c4671c2317fc6b8ebafe80a248915378e9&width=400&height=225)
HMS Diamond moored in Portsmouth Naval Base. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2KEXRDYGT4IH4VZMP3H4Z6G6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d96d0c4227f9b16f42e4724d5f16d8278e30124ec288e3da4240fbdcd61ee95&width=400&height=225)
HMS Kent (above) and HMS Richmond - Two anti-submarine frigates will join the voyage. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/55KIYAX6SS6EZBJXZXJFUQBQBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ad64df00a5c7d10c1ca71a87cb51604de3f09c472e07b9179aa35dfc5f70daa&width=400&height=225)
Family members wave to loved ones aboard HMS Richmond as she returns home to Portsmouth. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XZP4XTGIA3VVITFJBWS2MXBQBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=67964999fc30d1a792708eb6267d2997d8421f72c4fd542c746e9f8d5ceabe32&width=400&height=225)
Astute-class submarine - A Royal Navy submarine will be armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/52GNJ6ACF7LRSDKCZHJGCTRLJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b15e28bab07fb0add9fdc4299e9beb3b44d17c480970c3f8d770a6209435c45&width=400&height=225)
RAF F35B stealth fighter - The fifth-generation Lightning combat aircraft can carry out air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence missions and air-to-air missions. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YX6IO3CFOYHW3MGGUX2OBWBMJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=aba077eb33a32844396267b889b78c16b092b3e8d31de3006a36dfbc0373f68d&width=400&height=225)
Naval helicopters - Fourteen Royal Navy helicopters will join the group. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2BBO6OCLX5VLEI3L35TEDWA3NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e8ee3c9c9223bcd50a4a7b7183fdabf62241ed57db27f7b4f725e584f252bb5&width=400&height=225)
RFA Fort Victoria undergoes maintenance in Merseyside. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OIC4Q23QJ4IDISULOJGBALLHOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=319c58bd74a4b6944b9575689703c87068813b99de87f268e1d8d5f34c17f800&width=400&height=225)
RFA Tidespring arriving in Portsmouth. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SCO3KJO6Z2OV4BFYHDCPPVKUPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f0f726624bf843e67863d9dc73a2bfdaab0d06d7fd6e6512ab209be6aecb0d9&width=400&height=225)
HMS Queen Elizabeth - The £3 billion aircraft carrier will head the group with eight RAF F35B stealth fighter jets on board. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T6XCVJ4H74ZX2BTF3L5O6G4BGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fed04439826bfbfede70fbbe7639699174c4fdaca61f0cb1d0a77c4b0ecb669f&width=400&height=225)
HMS Defender (above) and HMS Diamond - The Type 45 air-defence destroyers are two of the most advanced warships ever built, appearing virtually invisible on enemy radar.
Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7F45UXLBXHQXMRG2V7HHZB6QHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d2ea89c1c86940d7998b3789f5055c4671c2317fc6b8ebafe80a248915378e9&width=400&height=225)
HMS Diamond moored in Portsmouth Naval Base. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2KEXRDYGT4IH4VZMP3H4Z6G6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d96d0c4227f9b16f42e4724d5f16d8278e30124ec288e3da4240fbdcd61ee95&width=400&height=225)
HMS Kent (above) and HMS Richmond - Two anti-submarine frigates will join the voyage. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/55KIYAX6SS6EZBJXZXJFUQBQBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ad64df00a5c7d10c1ca71a87cb51604de3f09c472e07b9179aa35dfc5f70daa&width=400&height=225)
Family members wave to loved ones aboard HMS Richmond as she returns home to Portsmouth. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XZP4XTGIA3VVITFJBWS2MXBQBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=67964999fc30d1a792708eb6267d2997d8421f72c4fd542c746e9f8d5ceabe32&width=400&height=225)
Astute-class submarine - A Royal Navy submarine will be armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/52GNJ6ACF7LRSDKCZHJGCTRLJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b15e28bab07fb0add9fdc4299e9beb3b44d17c480970c3f8d770a6209435c45&width=400&height=225)
RAF F35B stealth fighter - The fifth-generation Lightning combat aircraft can carry out air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence missions and air-to-air missions. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YX6IO3CFOYHW3MGGUX2OBWBMJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=aba077eb33a32844396267b889b78c16b092b3e8d31de3006a36dfbc0373f68d&width=400&height=225)
Naval helicopters - Fourteen Royal Navy helicopters will join the group. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2BBO6OCLX5VLEI3L35TEDWA3NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e8ee3c9c9223bcd50a4a7b7183fdabf62241ed57db27f7b4f725e584f252bb5&width=400&height=225)
RFA Fort Victoria undergoes maintenance in Merseyside. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OIC4Q23QJ4IDISULOJGBALLHOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=319c58bd74a4b6944b9575689703c87068813b99de87f268e1d8d5f34c17f800&width=400&height=225)
RFA Tidespring arriving in Portsmouth. Alamy
To pack a punch: UK’s maritime strike force must double in size
Influential chairman of defence committee tells 'The National' of his doubts over carrier strategy
![Thomas Harding](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F384edce7-d64f-494d-bcc0-406f934ad51d.png?smart=true&auth=8a909847700683429f8bc49fba9592513058d9a433fbdd0e6b812909d2e147c6&width=70&height=70)
Thomas Harding
05 May, 2021
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