Conventional deterrence begins with a ship being present as a constant factor. A crisis then calls for something visibly larger or stronger, backed by the implication that still more force is available. The US Navy's dependence on Arleigh Burke destroyers can weaken this ladder because the response to one Burke is often another Burke. Earlier fleets could begin with an older destroyer or Oliver Hazard Perry frigate, reinforce with a Spruance, and then threaten the arrival of a carrier or amphibious group. That differentiation allowed naval diplomacy to express increasing concern without immediately deploying the most expensive formation. The long history of small presence ships, larger reinforcement ships, and finally a fleet shows why force variety can have diplomatic value separate from raw combat power.
Notable Point · 1:09:26-1:13:18
Conventional deterrence needs visible escalation options
A fleet signals interest by maintaining presence and then sending a visibly stronger ship, but a force dominated by one excellent class can lose that intermediate escalation step.