Type 23 hull options and cuts to the building programme

Why was the revised Type 23 equipment not fitted to the larger hull considered earlier?

The studies covered many sizes, and the adopted design was already one of the larger options. Later cuts reduced ship numbers.

Early Type 23 options ranged widely, down to little more than a tugboat carrying towed-array sonar. The adopted frigate was among the larger options, although it was not the largest. It was intended as a relatively cheap light frigate with several cost-saving measures. The subsequent reduction affected production numbers: an ambition of 24 ships fell to 18, with 16 built. Three were later sold to Chile. The selected hull itself was not shortened.