(I forgot to click post on the 17th after being interrupted) but here's my two penn'orth anyway.
N_a_b Future Commando Force confuses the hell out of me, but my understanding is that LRG(N) should be composed of a LPD (or similar), an LSS(currently legacy RFA), escort(s) and any additional RFA SSs required, LRG(S) has an small scale anti-terrorist focus so doesn't need an LPD, so Argus and a Bay are appropriate (and Escort(s) if the operational scenario requires) troops to be drawn from Forty or Four Five as required and RW assets as appropriate. Where an LSG fits in I am not sure. Is FCF not a flexibility doctrine? In other words allowing the use of small teams for Grey Zone ops up to a full Commando plus supporting arms amphib/helo op? I also can't quite reconcile FCF with the Rangers as the SF-lite roles seem to overlap to a very large extent.
Asturias et al,
The complement of the QEs is slightly smaller than the Invincibles, the next generation of escorts will wave substantially smaller complements than the legacy ones so the increased capability didn't require increased sailors. I would think having some units that have a proper fighting role is more likely to attract potential recruits. The problem also lies in recruiting in times of high employment from a pool of individuals who have very different expectations as to Ts & Cs of employment to previous generations and with diminishing contact with, and visibility of the armed forces.
Yes, they have subsidiary police, humanitarian, ASW and showing the flag roles but Type 45 destroyers primary role is to provide the Fleet with air defence.
The 23s were primarily built for an ASW role, the end of the Soviet VMF submarine threat partly left them in search of a role - whether they are being used as oversized OPVs or under armed peacetime Cruisers is moot. What worries me is if Op Corporate had been using escorts of similar vintage they would have been Lochs/Bays and the 1944 Daring Class.
The City Class (T26) ships have been specifically designed to hunt for enemy submarines.
The Type 31 general purpose frigate will undertake missions such as interception and disruption of those using the sea for unlawful purposes, intelligence gathering, defence engagement and providing humanitarian support.
Although not finalized the T32s are clearly intended to use AVs in ASW, ASuW and MCM roles
We can't change history but a the potential T26s for Norway issue is a result of the failure to preserve warship building capacity, presumably in part a side effect of failing to build replacement escorts when due and the reduction in fleet size due to the mythical peace dividend. In the not too distant past Cammells would have been building whole T26s not supplying sections for HMS Birmingham (granted ship building techniques have changed). Although the bulk of T22s (10) were built by Yarrow, Swan Hunters built 3 and Cammell Laird 1, simiilarly T23s Marconi Marine (ex-Yarrow) 12 , Swan Hunter 4. I am not sure the move to competitive bidding (with an aim of cost reduction) replacing DCNC + Primary Contractor and a sharing out the hulls wast he best thing from a defence manufacturing sustainability perspective. Where the six cancelled T45s would have been built is pure speculation.