Alex Clarke introduces the comparison through his father's comments on hull strength. In that account, the Type 42 was thin, the Type 22 thinner, and the Type 23 pushed hull thinness further to save money. The Type 23s subsequently needed repeated hull work. Reports about Type 26 construction suggest a reversal of the trend, with Type 45 also included in the comparison and Type 31 mentioned less certainly. No measurements are supplied.
Notable Point · 1:04:25-1:05:23
Reported hull-thickness changes in Royal Navy designs
A secondhand comparison links thin Type 23 hulls with repeated structural work and reports thicker construction in newer designs.