Ice strengthening gives the Harry DeWolf class unusual collision resilience

The Harry DeWolf class's modest gun attracts criticism, but the hull must withstand the much greater punishment of operating in ice. That strength could be useful during confrontations involving deliberate contact between ships. A hypothetical deployment to the South China Sea therefore raises a different comparison from gun size alone. An ice-capable hull is judged likely to withstand encounters that would be much more serious for an ordinary patrol vessel.