The closing design assessment separates the merits of individual programs from the balance of the fleet around them. After the Littoral Combat Ship's problems, Constellation's conservative approach is understandable and potentially sound. Type 26 and Type 31 are also useful frigates, but the Royal Navy is not buying enough of them. Below those ships, the River-class OPVs are too few for an expanded presence burden and would need more weapons and crew if pushed toward a higher threat level. Each such upgrade adds cost, weight, and personnel demand, so a missing adjunct cannot be repaired simply by asking a patrol vessel to become a frigate.
Notable Point · 1:32:50-1:34:39
Conservative frigates still leave a missing lower tier
Constellation's conservative design and Britain's useful new frigates do not solve the shortage of hulls or the missing tier between frigates and patrol vessels.