Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:09:05-5:10:09

What the US Navy could do after cancelling Constellation

Cancelling Constellation would delay the escort the US Navy needs; the proposed emergency fallback is to copy Type 26 without redesign.

Anti-Submarine WarfareConstellation Class FrigatesType 26 FrigateUS Navy
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Question

What does the US Navy do if the Constellation class is cancelled?

Short answer

Restarting would take too long, so the proposed fallback is an existing anti-submarine design such as Type 26, copied without modification.

Notes

Constellation is treated as the closest available programme to meeting the US Navy's need for an anti-submarine escort. Cancelling it would force the service to restart that work and delay an urgently needed ship. The proposed fallback is an existing design capable of the required anti-submarine role, with Type 26 singled out. To enter service quickly enough, the ship would have to be copied without modification. This is a warning about the consequences of cancellation, conditional on the programme being abandoned.