In the March 2026 discussion, the oldest serving Type 23 is described as 34 years old and the youngest as 26. Their intended service life was about 24 years, with twenty years preferred, while the larger Type 22s and proposed NFR-90 ships were intended to last longer. A ship expected to retire after twenty years can tolerate a tighter layout because its original systems may remain adequate throughout that period. Thirty or forty years of service demands more room for replacement equipment and major refits as requirements change. Future governments cannot be bound to the replacement schedule assumed when the hull was designed. The argument for a larger, more expensive ship therefore includes the service life it is likely to endure.
Notable Point · 38:10-40:43
Twenty-year frigates and forty-year refit demands
Type 23's intended service life illustrates why ships expected to remain useful for thirty or forty years need room for major changes.