Why small escort fleets specialise

A large destroyer force can distribute general-purpose ships across carrier groups, but a small force must protect its most important mission first. The Falklands experience made fleet air defence a particularly strong Royal Navy priority. With only six Type 45s, a multi-role label also creates a political temptation to detach scarce escorts for unrelated missions. Specialised air-defence ships are harder to divert, preserving a carrier group's defensive core despite the loss of flexibility. General-purpose capability becomes more attractive when enough hulls exist to keep the primary mission covered.