Why range can force the redesign of a frigate

Comparing guns, missiles and sensors can obscure whether a ship has the endurance required for its theatre. Spanish F100 and F110 designs provide a comparison with Japanese options, including Mogami, for American frigate requirements. The preference for Japanese designs rests on the greater range needed for Pacific operations. Increasing endurance can require changes to the power plant, fuel storage, internal arrangement and hull dimensions. Those changes can amount to redesigning much of the ship, a criticism also applied to Constellation. Operating radius and the fuel support available to a fleet therefore belong in the initial design comparison.