Planned hull extensibility differs from physically lengthening an older ship during refit. The Type 26 family is described as having a section where extra length and associated capacity could be inserted, but changing an active program would still pause construction. Once a ship has aged, cutting it apart introduces mismatched structural wear and much more remedial work, so the build phase is the preferable moment for a stretch. The Australian Hunter and Canadian River variants are only about 1.5 metres longer than the British City class, not the much larger medium hull sometimes implied. Modular design claims therefore need to be judged alongside the production and maintenance consequences of using them.
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When to lengthen a Type 26-derived hull
The Type 26 family may accommodate inserted hull sections, but the least disruptive time to change length is during design and construction rather than after years of service.