I think the important part would be to fit something similar to the American RAM missile to the amphibs and support vessels – if each ship can basically defend itself, then it makes a task force a lot easier to ‘manage’. One of the weaknesses in the Falklands was the relative inability of individual vessels to defend themselves, which meant that frigates actually had to protect other ships with their defence missiles.

I think that having self-sufficient vessels in the battle group would allow for a more flexible deployment of assets, allowing targets to be further apart – it is great to decoy an Exocet missile, but if all you do is trick it to sink another of your ships, it is not such a great bargain…