Why an affordable Type 23 production line still stopped

Why did Britain stop building more mature escorts despite their lower production cost?

Reduced orders under the peace dividend took precedence over the operational and maintenance benefits of a larger escort force.

The British explanation centers on the peace dividend and reduced orders for both Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers. A hypothetical force of 24 Type 23s and 12 Type 45s would have spread operations over more hulls. Individual ships would have accumulated less wear and could have entered refit when required. Enough spare capacity would also let the fleet absorb an unexpected commitment without postponing other work. The value of additional ships therefore includes the maintenance opportunities created throughout the fleet.