Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:40:28-4:41:06

Keep Type 45s or fund more replacement ships?

A preference for retaining four Type 45s is weighed against buying more Type 83s, alongside an aspirational fleet of twelve ships in each planned class.

Force StructureNaval ProcurementRoyal NavyType 26 FrigateType 31 FrigateType 32 FrigateType 45 DestroyerType 83 Destroyer
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Question

Should the Royal Navy retain and refit Type 45 destroyers instead of replacing them?

Short answer

The preference is to retain four if possible, but to buy more Type 83s if funding requires a choice. The wider aspiration is twelve each of Types 26, 31, 32, and 83.

Notes

Keeping four Type 45 destroyers after the Type 83 enters service is an attractive option, although the preference here is to fund more Type 83s if that is where the money must go. More Type 26 frigates would also be welcome. The desired force mix is twelve each of the Type 26, Type 31, Type 32, and Type 83 classes. These are personal preferences for fleet size rather than announced procurement totals.