Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:25:35-2:25:49

Could stronger Commonwealth links reshape Australian frigates?

Sustained imperial and Commonwealth industrial links could make domestic Adelaide-class construction and a joint Anglo-Australian-New Zealand Anzac design more plausible.

Adelaide Class FrigatesAnzac Class FrigatesCommonwealthCounterfactual HistoryNaval Industrial BaseRoyal Australian Navy
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Question

Could stronger imperial links lead Australia to build the Adelaide class domestically and develop the Anzac frigate with Britain and New Zealand?

Short answer

Yes, if the empire retained enough industrial and institutional links for a joint programme to remain practical.

Notes

This scenario is plausible if imperial decline is avoided and industrial links among Britain, Australia, and New Zealand remain strong. Australia's Adelaide-class ships could then be built domestically, and the Anzac follow-on might become a joint Anglo-Australian-New Zealand project rather than derive from a German MEKO design. The outcome depends on sustained institutional and shipbuilding connections.