What a Short Hellcat missile would add to Royal Navy escorts

Would a Short Hellcat anti-fast-attack-craft missile give Royal Navy escorts a capability they lacked?

No; the 4.5-inch gun already covered the target, but the missile would provide a cheaper guided alternative to a full-size anti-ship weapon.

The hypothetical asks whether adopting a light Short Hellcat missile would give Royal Navy destroyers and frigates a missing capability. The panel answers that their 4.5-inch guns could already defeat fast attack craft. A small guided weapon would nevertheless cost less than expending a large anti-ship missile and would offer another engagement method. Its value would therefore be added choice rather than remedying a fundamental gap.