The Type 45 and Type 42 destroyers provide a modern comparison between war-fighting capability and presence. A highly capable ship may outperform an older one in combat, yet it can only be in one place at a time. Six advanced ships cannot make the same number of peacetime visits or cover the same number of stations as twelve less capable ships. The example shows why battle efficiency and geographic availability must be measured separately.
Notable Point · 50:03-51:22
Combat quality and peacetime numbers are different measures
Better warships can win a battle, but fewer hulls cannot visit the same ports, patrol the same routes, or reassure the same allies in peacetime.