Because using an amphib that way doesn't get you any closer to the political objective of having 355 ships in the inventory. The OHPs were fairly toothless by the time they were retired, and the USN was willing enough to dump them before they even had a replacement.
We'd either be bringing back an old guided missile frigate with no guided missiles, or doing extensive surgery on the ships to tear out the old MK 13 and drop in VLS cells. Not too mention updating radar, sonar, power distribution, etc. All to put into ships without a ton of service life remaining.
At that point why not just buy FREMMs? You'd certainly get more capability and useful life for what you're spending. Assuming you're serious about needing frigates for an actual mission and not just trying to play the numbers game for Congress.
Man, I'm feeling cynical this morning!
We'd either be bringing back an old guided missile frigate with no guided missiles, or doing extensive surgery on the ships to tear out the old MK 13 and drop in VLS cells. Not too mention updating radar, sonar, power distribution, etc. All to put into ships without a ton of service life remaining.
At that point why not just buy FREMMs? You'd certainly get more capability and useful life for what you're spending. Assuming you're serious about needing frigates for an actual mission and not just trying to play the numbers game for Congress.
Man, I'm feeling cynical this morning!
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