Warship ambition must match support infrastructure

Britain may need a larger destroyer than current concepts suggest, but the largest American proposals would exceed its present support capacity. British comparisons with France can create political pressure for size, while sustainment sets a firmer limit. A single combatant that consumed the capacity now used to support much of the Royal Navy would weaken the fleet around it. Credible expansion requires long-term investment in yards, logistics chains, research, skilled employment, and manufacturing. Naval spending can return money to the economy through those networks, many of which contracted when the infrastructure supporting the service closed.