Type 22 Frigate is acctualy larger than the type 42 destroyers, they are very powerful units even though old the type 22 is an excelent vessel they can double up as destroyers because of thier sheer fire power and size.
Type 42's are old but still very very effective, back in the 1991 gulf war it was a type 42 who fired and shot down two missiles fired from the iranians i believe directly at the US battle ship iowa, the most modern US navy ships failed to detect or engauge this threat.
Type 23's again are heavily armed infact they are over armed for what we need sea wolf harpoon's they make a perfect small frigate / escort ship (which is why they seen as over armed).
Both type 23 and 42's are routinely deployed to escort american warships the ones in the gulf right now are probably escorting american carriers, so they are not past it just yet.
Also did you know british SSN's can carry Exocet missiles?
|