Replacement indecision can erode the industry needed to build ships

Britain worked through roughly three or four generations of design studies while Type 23 remained in service. An intended life of about 18 years should have brought replacements into service during the 2010s, making the later timetable a consequence of prolonged indecision in this interpretation. Post-Cold War confidence in technological superiority encouraged the assumption that governments could choose when to fight. Deferring expenditure and avoiding a firm design decision then reinforced each other. Shipyards closed or operated with minimal staffing and single shifts while inadequate capacity was used to explain the lack of new frigates. The criticism is that withholding orders and investment helped erode the industry needed to build the replacements.