Small navies need purpose-built combat cores

Should a navy without large infrastructure build small specialist warships or convert container ships into its fleet core?

The preference is for small specialists as the combat core and merchant conversions for supporting aviation, drone or amphibious roles.

Small purpose-built specialists are favoured as the combat core for a navy with limited infrastructure. Their weapons can be arranged more efficiently than in a merchant conversion, and the condition of a used merchant hull introduces another uncertainty. Conversions remain useful possibilities for helicopter, drone or amphibious support. The distinction is between expanding supporting capacity and making the conversion the principal fighting ship.