General-purpose Type 23s released specialists for harder missions

The closing argument asks whether a ship needs defences against the most advanced threat when its assigned operating area is unlikely to face that threat. The Royal Navy's five general-purpose Type 23 frigates lacked some upgrades and the towed-array sonar fitted to eight anti-submarine specialists. They could still conduct presence and convoy duties or add a helicopter deck, Sea Wolf missiles, and a 4.5-inch gun to a task group. Using them for those jobs kept the specialist frigates available for missions that required their full anti-submarine capability. Honest role labels and differentiated readiness can make an older or less capable ship useful without assigning it to the highest-threat position.