I think the entire notion that a whole frigging FFG can be treated as a throwaway disposable asset is decades out of date and totally incompatible with what modern FFGs are and the significant value attached to them.
Moreover, modern technology, like the recently revealed anti-torpedo torpedos on the Fujian, means you don’t need to literally throw a perfectly good warship in front of an enemy torpedo to stop it from hitting your carrier.
Totally understandable, these FFGs aren't cheap. And yes, anti-torpedo torpedos is basically the Navy's underwater APS. But just like its army equivalent, it can fail, and when it does, I'd prefer a FFG's sacrifice compared to something even more valuable & expensive.
Similarly, modern DDGs are perfectly capable of conducting ASW without diminishing their AAW capabilities due to the vastly increases in range of both sensor and weapons technology. The USN itself proved that with its pure DDG and CG CSG escorts.
That pure DDG & CG escort was because they got rid of OHP as peace dividend and never bothered to replace them because they didn't have enough high end opponent to fight. PLAN is facing US navy from the get go, which got plenty of Virginias to give nasty surprises.
Where the USN fell down is not having a cheap general purpose FFG for all the other missions a modern navy needs to undertake that isn’t CSG related, and that’s mistake the PLAN is determined not to repeat with the 054A/B and 056 families.
054 & 056 families were also conceived when PLAN barely believes in PLAN CSG, so it absolutely make sense that they aren't designed to accompany CSGs. Now even if PLAN wants them to do CSG torp sponge duty, they can't do it because they're not fast enough to keep up with CSG in the first place.
The PLAN already have CSG more than covered with its 052C/Ds and 055s, it doesn’t need FFGs in the mix as it’s already got superior ships covering all the roles an FFG might perform in a CSG.
I'd say its better to be cautious and not conflate PLAN CSG situation to post cold war peace dividend US Navy CSG. PLAN situation is more similar to cold war USN, which was busy fighting Soviet subs.
In comparison, post cold war USN got nothing to worry about, because the Russians were drowning in economic crisis & their subs readiness took a nose dive.
The threat level is just different, and it's wise to take a look at history to see if past solutions made sense. I think cold war USN solution does, and if you have a different view we can agree to disagree.
The 054As and Bs are for an entirely separate mission set, so it would be a mistake to judge them on a mission set they were not primarily designed to fill.
The fate of the Constellation class is a timely illustration of the pitfalls and costs that could plague a FFG programme if it tries to be too ambitious in what it is supposed to deliver.
Then let me put it simply, the CSG frigate requirement is 054B, but faster. Enough independence to do lower end mission on its own, but cheap enough to act as last ditch torp sponge in the CSG.
Or
You know what, since this is the century of drones, if you hated the concept of CSG frigate so much, how about large arsenal ship USV?
They will be pulling increased magazine depth & torp sponge double duty. Minimal sensor fitment, with basic AD but good ASW.
The CV can take care of the AD job, while USV take care of ASW. No lives lost, sounds even better to me!
