Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:07:28-4:08:16

Why the Royal Navy needs both destroyers and OPVs

High-end carrier availability and low-end presence require different ships: three Type 45 destroyers and about five OPVs could fit the proposed budget.

Force StructureOffshore Patrol VesselsRoyal NavyType 45 Destroyer
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Question

Would extra destroyers for carrier availability or more OPVs for presence be more useful to the modern Royal Navy?

Short answer

Both are needed; he would add three Type 45s and spend the remaining equivalent budget on roughly five OPVs.

Notes

Limited money still has to support carrier availability and routine naval presence, which require different ship types. Three additional Type 45s would consume about three-quarters of the notional four-destroyer budget. The remaining roughly half-billion could then buy about five OPVs, strengthening high-end escort capacity and routine maritime presence.