At least, I never say so. I do not know about others here.Pongoglo wrote:Here here to that - Bravo Zulu in fact ! Ron has just hit the nail on the head. Far too much of the debate on here seems to be based around a few contributers who insist on defining a ships designation and capability based purely on its cost. If we were to follow that logic to its extreme then the Chinese 'Super Destroyers' that they are currently churning out by the dozen would in their eyes be defined as OPV's - this based simply on the fact that in real terms they probably cost about half the price of Donald's beloved FTI !
- I never compared Chinese ship building vs UKs. Labor cost, infrastructure, what is included in the contract, ship standard, ALL DIFFERS. Comparing Chinese Destroyers with their Frigates and Corvettes will be meaningful, I think. Comparing Chinese vs UK is pointless. So, this is unrelated to, at least, my comment.
- I also am only partly basing my assumption on cost ("NOT ALL"). My point is, if it is cheap, it has a reason = specification will tell so. For example, hull standard defines the cost a lot, and I am very much interested on it and discussion a lot about it.
- I think comparing T26, T45 and T31 will be meaningful. Also, looking into T26 and FREMM/FTI cost, I judge that the UK and French "cost" is similar, (actually I think French cost is cheaper for "similar" design).
All my point is, in both T45 and T26, they all say "innovative ship building will make these ships cheap" and totally failed. T45 and T26's cost is comparable to, or slightly more than, Horizon and FREMM. This is fact.
[EDIT] I am not saying their cost is bad. Simply, finally it turned out to be "normal" as an escort = comparable to French costs, which I think is very reasonable.
There is no basement to suggest Leander is better than FTI, even though it is half the price.
Note, I DO NOT like FTI (too densely equipped). Also, I like Leander. If you look at all my comment, it is clear.
The point is, I do not think they are in the same class. JMSDF Asahi-class DD is 75B yen/hull, 30FFM is 45M yen/hull. I will never claim that 30FFM must be better than Asahi-class DD.
[EDIT] The cost difference is larger in "FTI vs Leander" than "Asahi-class DD vs 30FFM".
Simple?