Carriers.

[zotz]

WRT last night's carrier discussion . . .

The Royal Navy's current carriers are dinky little things - 19 000 tonnes fully loaded. HMS Ocean tips the scales at 22 000 tonnes, which I think makes it the navy's largest current vessel. The next generation of carriers are apparently going to displace about 40 000 tonnes - very significantly larger, although not a patch on the big tankers and bulk carriers. Interestingly, according to a post from yesterday that I unfortunately can't link to, this is about the biggest that will fit through the Panama Canal. I wonder if this was a factor in writing the spec?

Comments

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Almost certainly. Otherwise they'd have to use special steel to be able to go round the south way.

[zotz]

I'd be surprised if they'd build a carrier that couldn't brave the Southern Ocean - after all, what happens if we need to reinvade the Falklands again?