U.S. Navy Is Short One Amphibious Assault Ship. The Royal Navy Has Two Carriers. Could They Combine Forces?

HMS Prince of Wales, left, alongside sister vessel HMS Queen Elizabeth, at HMNB Portsmouth. CROWN COPYRIGHT 

Forbes: The U.S. Navy Is Down One Carrier. The Royal Navy Has Two. They Could Combine Forces.

The U.S. Navy will decommission and scrap USS Bonhomme Richard, which burned while pier-side in San Diego in July, the service announced on Tuesday. 

The 843-foot BHR is one of 10 big-deck amphibious assault ships in the U.S. fleet. Her decommissioning, nearly 20 years ahead of her original out-of-service date, leaves a big hole in the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps’ deployment plans. 

It’s not clear yet how the Navy will compensate for BHR’s loss. But there’s a tantalizing opportunity across the Atlantic Ocean—in the form of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers. 

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WNU Editor: The Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers have problems .... UK Royal Navy’s New £3bn Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Will Be At Port For Six Months After Second Flood Wrecks Its Electrical System (December 7, 2020).