Why Fletcher-scale capability needs large orders

Constellation is judged to resemble the capable ship the US Navy had wanted from the outset, despite language that suggested a simpler escort. The Fletcher comparison then turns on production scale: 175 ships made a substantial design affordable, with a quoted unit price of six million dollars. Ordering one or two ships at a time gives builders much less security than a firm commitment to a large series. A hypothetical up-front order for 50 ships, with competition between yards and the possibility of buying abroad, illustrates how the buyer could seek a better price. The conclusion is conditional: Fletcher-like capability at a low unit cost requires a large order, while small batches call for more modest ambitions. The suggested compromise falls between the Flower or Castle and Fletcher benchmarks, although the intermediate class name is unclear.