ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the carrier replacement programme, which saw light at the end of the 1950s in the naval community. It discusses the origins of the Island Strategy and how it became a direct and competing alternative to the Royal Navy's carrier task force concept. The chapter examines the status of the British forces concerning air defence, anti-surface and amphibious capabilities have been made. The intricate inter-service rivalry over strategic concepts available to the British as the garrisons were steadily scaled down, and the new foreign and defence policies, occupied most of the defence debate of 1962-63. The services were forced to cooperate on the issue of new carriers and look into the possibility of common grounds for training, as well as the operations of organic air power. In December 1961, First Sea Lord Caspar John wrote a memorandum on 'Aircraft Carrier Replacement' to the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
