The collapse in frigate numbers is due to the 2010s Tory governments. They delayed Type 26 (leading to the purchase of River Batch 2 OPVs to at least get something for the money contractually committed to pay to BAE, originally intended for Type 26 construction, & keep the workforce's skills), & decided to extend the lives of T23s to cover the gap until the delayed T26s started to arrive. But they didn't plan or pay for the work necessary to keep all the T23s in the water long enough, & kept working them hard.
So now the hulls are so knackered they'd need rebuilding to keep operating, & as well as the money, there may not be enough yard capacity to do that while building T26 & T31. Bloody politicians. The Tories claimed to be pro-defence. Hah!
