Frigate delays and the cost of interrupted shipbuilding

What explains the Royal Navy's frigate delays?

The criticism centres on late orders, loss of specialist capacity and a construction schedule that no longer matches the Type 23 fleet's remaining life.

Late orders and lost specialist capacity are blamed for the gap between the frigate construction schedule and the Type 23 fleet's remaining life. Dr. Clarke argues that ordering was postponed for about a decade after the design was substantially available. He also alleges that governments repeatedly rejected offers to accelerate procurement and construction. Continuing at the earlier pace therefore leaves the replacement programme working to assumptions made when the existing ships had much more life remaining. The number and terms of the alleged acceleration offers are not documented in the exchange.