The Type 23 frigates are considered too worn after prolonged service and debate over their replacements to provide a useful reserve. Recreating spare capacity therefore requires building up the fleet first. One proposed route is to proceed with Type 32 so that Type 31 could eventually supply the reserve or light-frigate capacity. This is a future force-structure proposal, dependent on additional construction.
Notable Point · 55:40-56:31
Why restoring frigate reserves would require new ships
A proposed route back to spare frigate capacity links additional Type 32 construction to an eventual reserve role for Type 31.