How might Western Cold War fleets better counter the Soviet Navy?

Knowing what is known now, what changes would improve Royal Navy and U.S. Navy fleets against the Soviet Navy?

Introduce close-in defenses earlier, build larger British and American surface combatants, and retain quiet diesel submarines for chokepoint and barrier operations.

The counterfactual begins with an earlier introduction of close-in weapon systems. Its larger shipbuilding choices depend on knowing whether the Cold War will remain a global contest for presence or become a shooting war. Under the first assumption, modified Type 82 destroyers combining Sea Dart and Sea Wolf would provide the Royal Navy with larger ships for worldwide commitments. The American alternative would retain a larger cruiser above the mass-produced destroyer, rather than treating the Ticonderoga as sufficient for that role. Diesel-electric submarines would complement nuclear boats by concentrating on northern barriers while the latter handled long-range operations. Quiet electric running would complicate Soviet anti-submarine operations and help threaten movements down the Norwegian coast. Continuing the existing Type 42 production programme was easier than making a fresh design choice.