Comments by "Helium Road" (@RCAvhstape) on "Matsimus" channel.

Somewhere, maybe on Drachinifel's channel, the issue of nuclear power was discussed, and it really made sense why the RN didn't go that route. While the RN has nuclear powered subs, they would need a huge upgrade in infrastructure to build the higher powered systems needed for large surface ships, and unless you're building a sustained fleet over decades the way the US Navy has done, it doesn't really pay to spend all that money. The rest of your fleet is using fuel oil, so it's simpler to go that route. There's also the decommissioning cost to consider: It's extremely expensive for the USN to decommission a nuclear carrier, due the fact that the nuclear power plant has to be removed from the ship and handled properly and carefully before being dismantled and discarded as nuclear waste. It will take years for Enterprise to be dismantled and lots of cash. Then there's the fact that when you're finished with a nuclear ship you can't just sell it to India or Australia or somebody like you would a oil burner. Britain has a commonwealth and former colonies who might be in the market for a used carrier someday, and buying a Nimitz class nuke is not an option for a million reasons. So fuel oil is the most practical way to go.
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@davidhouseman4328 Something the RN might consider would be to buy used Harriers from the USMC as they are replaced by F-35s. They are well-maintained and already set up to operate aboard ships. Would give the RN a backup airframe to use in the event the F-35 fleet gets grounded for some problem.
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@davidhouseman4328 No, you didn't. The AV-8B Harrier II flown by the USMC is license-built in St. Louis, Missouri, by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), and was a joint design improvement over the original Harrier by MD and whoever Hawker was merged with. The USMC has never bought second-hand Harriers from anyone; the old AV-8As were built by Hawker bran new and exported to the US. Why your government gave up on funding what was one of the greatest British contributions to post-war jet fighter tech isn't something I can speak knowledgeably about, but it probably is related to why they decided to do without carriers for so long.
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The weird thing is that it's the Americans who are still flying Harriers off of ships. Until the USMC finishes transitioning to the F-35 anyway.
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