Should the Royal Navy choose Type 31 or an Italian patrol ship, and how should it be armed?
Short answerChoose Type 31, ideally with three rapid-fire 76 mm guns and additional wing-mounted 40 mm weapons.
NotesThe Type 31 better matches worldwide Royal Navy patrol and presence requirements than the Italian patrol-vessel alternative. Its actual 57 mm gun and two 40 mm mounts form an unusual battery for a general-purpose frigate expected to contribute to task-group air defense. The proposed alternative uses three rapid-fire 76 mm guns with common ammunition and Vulcano rounds. If space permits, 40 mm weapons would remain on the quarters. The result creates overlapping defensive arcs and gives the presence frigate a heavier, more coherent gun system.