While there has been a number of interesting WW I and WW II naval what-if's, the post-war era seems to lack attention. I'm trying to provoke discussion with this one.
In OTL the British Royal Navy has been plagued with a lot of failed and overambitious material projects ever since 1945. Part of the failures and delays might be attributed to efforts to make much of the equipment as British as possible.
Now, what if after Suez crisis the RN is given more stringent financial leadership and more focus on forces which might be realistically sustained? Perhaps coupled with adoption of US aircraft (with possibly license building) for carriers and joint SAM program with USN (ie. introduction of T-missiles and their follow-ons)? I don't know if it's possible for pork reasons, but might this lead into a RN which would be able to field conventional carriers after 1970's and perhaps fewer types of surface combatants? What could be the maximum size of post-Suez - late Cold War RN? Would it have any impact besides Falklands, or deterred Falklands?