The old cutter-frigate concept is examined as a small-to-medium frigate, substantially lighter than the Constellation design being discussed. Drachinifel argues that fitting Constellation's full weapons requirement into that smaller hull would demand a major reduction in ambitions or enlargement of the ship. The launcher details remain uncertain: Alex Clarke recalls space for sixteen cells, while Drachinifel finds a proposal for twelve Mark 56 cells firing ESSM. Replacing that with Mark 41 would add weight and extend deeper into the hull, requiring other equipment to move. Their conditional assessment is that a primarily ASW ship with self-defence could work, though it would offer less than a successful, lightly modified FREMM.
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A smaller cutter hull limits the replacement frigate's fit
The cutter concept has potential as a smaller ASW escort, but fitting a deeper launcher would recreate some of Constellation's layout problems.