The fleet-ready escort remains at high readiness for immediate deployment. HMS Iron Duke had recorded seventeen activations over roughly a year in the role by July 2025, despite being about thirty-four years old. A high-readiness Type 23 often also covers the towed-array patrol duty supporting continuous at-sea deterrence. If a hostile submarine threatens that mission, the frigate can hunt it actively and make its search for the British ballistic-missile submarine more difficult. The precaution avoids relying entirely on the deterrent submarine escaping detection, while placing two demanding duties on the same frigate.
Notable Point · 33:02-35:03
The fleet-ready escort also protects the nuclear deterrent
One high-readiness Type 23 may cover both worldwide response and protection of ballistic-missile submarines, concentrating two critical duties on the same hull.