“Patrol Frigate 4921 is a more radical redesign with a crew of 141,[28] adding weapons and sensors at the expense of reducing range from 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km) to 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km).[29] It adds a 12-cell Mk56 VLS launcher for ESSM air-defense missiles, just behind the main gun which is upgraded from 57mm to a 76 mm Super Rapid.[28] Two quad launchers for Harpoon (missile) anti-ship missiles and a triple launcher for torpedoes are added to the stern.[29] It retains the SeaRAM/Phalanx CIWS and 6 machine guns of other NSC variants.[28] The stern is closed in and houses a towed-array sonar;[29] there is a hull sonar for mine countermeasures and an ESM suite.[29] The original “National Patrol Frigate” concept had an AN/SPY-1F air-defense radar[31] but by 2012 the PF4921 was being shown with an Australian CEAFAR radar.[28]”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Cutter
I’ve served on a 4000 ton DDG, now 4000 tons is but a Frigate.
The new Arleigh Burke DDG nears 10,000 tons.
We could use 60 of these 4000 ton ships with VLS and Harpoon.
Maybe we need to hire British ship designers for our ships.
I say we build monitors armed with rail guns, small jeep carriers for drones and un-manned fighters, More Subs, quiet ones. Maybe a Battleship—about the size of the USS Maine but with a full array of rail guns, rockets, torpedoes, and Gatling guns.
I served on a couple of tin cans that were 2,250 tons.