Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Notable Point · 14:33-16:13

Daring and LCS: learning on the first ship

Daring and the first LCS hulls illustrate construction learning, while a larger Type 45 order changes the average cost per ship.

First Of ClassFleet NumbersFreedom Class Littoral Combat ShipsHMS DaringIndependence Class Littoral Combat ShipsLearning CurveType 45 Destroyer
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Notes

HMS Daring and the first Freedom and Independence hulls illustrate the problems that can accumulate in an initial ship while builders learn how to construct a complex class. Later units benefit from that experience, and repeated construction can reduce cost. Extra Type 45s would also have provided capacity while existing ships underwent upgrades. Using the earlier estimate of £7.8 billion for twelve destroyers gives an average of £650 million each, compared with the billion-pound average for six. The comparison shows how the quoted unit price changes with production quantity and the treatment of development costs.