River-class hulls as reserve and industrial insurance

Would it make sense to keep River-class patrol ships in reserve or continuous production?

Yes. Keep the production line moving and retain older hulls for reserve, training, or other government roles.

Older River-class vessels could remain available for reserve, training, or other government-agency duties instead of being disposed of immediately. A steady rhythm of roughly one new patrol ship each year would sustain yard skills and predictable production. Older ships could still be sold when genuinely surplus, while temporary retention would create a pool from which numbers could expand during a crisis. The recommendation links force resilience with continuous industrial activity and flexible ownership.