Type 22 frigates and the value of a general-purpose gun

Early Type 22 frigates illustrate the Royal Navy's confidence in missiles as the future of naval armament. They lacked a main deck gun, whose general-purpose usefulness became harder to dismiss after the Falklands War. Missiles usually served particular anti-ship, anti-aircraft, or land-attack roles. Standard Missile had a secondary anti-ship capability, but using it against ships consumed weapons needed for the air battle. The example extends the criticism of technological shortcuts beyond Soviet procurement.