Global utility and cost per useful hull

A 74 could serve in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean, or Black Sea. Navies could employ the same hull as a troop ship, store ship, active warship, or reserve vessel returned to service after years in ordinary. In battle, enough 74s could hold larger opponents and deny them the freedom created by a large numerical advantage. Its strong average across firepower, speed, survivability, and utility became especially valuable when weighed against the cost of fielding many ships.