The design framework distinguishes what a navy needs a ship to do from what it would merely like it to do. It then separates the available budget from the missions a state cannot safely leave uncovered. Keeping those questions separate exposes the trade-offs hidden when a specification tries to demand every capability at once. It also forces planners to compare a single all-capable ship with a larger force of more limited hulls.
Chapter · 10:20-12:20
Four questions that shape a warship
Cruiser design starts by separating required missions, desired missions, affordability, and unacceptable risks.