The utility-versus-complexity test for convoy escorts

What is the most important design factor in making an effective escort?

Balance utility against complexity: build the simplest ship that is useful enough, then combine large numbers with a smaller high-capability tier.

The first test is how many useful escorts can be built with the time and resources available. A Flower-class corvette has limited capability as an individual ship, but its short building time makes it valuable in numbers. A Black Swan-class sloop provides more capability at greater construction complexity. That cost means fewer hulls can be completed with the same resources. A balanced force combines simpler ships that fill coverage gaps with a smaller number of more capable escorts.