Keeping Type 45 destroyers alongside Type 83

Should Britain refurbish Type 45 destroyers to serve alongside their Type 83 successors?

Keeping upgraded Type 45s available would help fleet numbers, but heavy current use and hull life will determine whether meaningful overlap is practical.

Type 45s are already going through their Power Improvement Project and have room for further upgrades. Retaining them alongside Type 83 would be desirable if enough hull life remained. Keeping some in ordinary, or reserve, is suggested if continued commissioned service proved impractical. Heavy use to compensate for the shortage of escorts works against that ambition. Inserting an additional hull section is technically conceivable, but the remaining life of the existing hull would still govern whether such a refit made sense.