A manageable first step for domestic warship building

What size warship should a country attempt first when creating a domestic naval shipbuilding industry?

About 2,500 tons for an interwar setting, while roughly 5,000 tons may be the modern equivalent once missiles, sensors, computers, and their support spaces are included.

A first domestic warship should require enough skill to develop a shipbuilding industry while keeping the cost of mistakes manageable. About 2,500 tons is suggested for an interwar starting point. The suggested modern equivalent is about 5,000 tons. Missiles, sensors, and computers take up space that changes what a comparable level of capability requires.