The unbuilt later Type 45s are presented as the cheapest hulls an established production line could have delivered. A twelve-ship force is considered as an alternative to the reduced program. The Type 23 example compares a once-discussed total of 24 frigates with 16 built and three subsequently sold, leaving 13. In the larger-fleet scenario, the remaining ships would still face a reduced force size, but less pressure from the workload. Both examples question the expectation that immediate cuts would produce greater capability later.
Notable Point · 2:14:00-2:14:54
The effect of cancelled Type 45 and Type 23 hulls
Type 45 and Type 23 totals illustrate how cancelled follow-on ships can reduce capacity and increase pressure on the remaining fleet.