Originally Posted by
Sunk at Narvik
WEB
Don't forget though that the RN isn't standing still, after the blip in build activity for the two CVF's, there will be a return to escort construction- the DIS stating that its planning a "drumbeat" of one major escort every 18 months (or so), so even though older escorts are going, they'll be made up again in time- hopefully with larger more capable ships (I.m hoping for a BMT pentamaran cruiser, but expecting a T45 derivative).
The DIS (and specifically the MIS) is one of the more astonishing pieces of lunacy to emerge from this lot recently. It is a plan to prevent BAeS getting out of the shipbuilding game and is essentially based on telling them they can have a clear run at a monopoly and the rest of industry had better line up and agree or else. Unfortunately, it's based on a false premise - that further downsizing and consolidation will somehow cure the root problem - insufficiently regular exercise of UK design capability. Can't work, won't work and the result will be the sort of exponential cost explosions seen for relatively simple ships in the US.