The absolute weight of additional equipment isn’t so important compared to the stability reserves of the vessel. Obviously stability reserve varies according to consumables carried (fuel, water, stores, munitions, ballast condition etc.) but if the stability is already close to acceptable limits then whether the extra equipment is light or heavy is not important, the reserves aren’t there.
In 1982 the Type 42’s were sent South to face a threat of Exocet sea skimming missiles, the Exocet threat was fully recognised, and the RN were well aware of the qualities of Exocet by virtue of having selected the missile themselves for use. The counter measures were already in service, and the UK themselves had developed a SAM with anti-missile capability against the weapon in the 70’s (Sea Wolf), the Phalanx was available. Bearing in mind that the UK suddenly found funds and sources of certain other systems very quickly, for these ships to be sent into combat against air and sea launched Exocet with nothing more than chaff and jamming to protect them was criminal. Most of the developed navies were working on counter measures against this threat in the 70’s, and the development of Sea Wolf is enough evidence that the UK RN was fully aware of the risks and need for a defence. By building these ships to a minimum possible spec, and then settling for a hull design that made even future upgrades dificult, was pathetic.
At least in the Type 45 the RN has avoided this mistake as that design has a large amount of reserve capacity for future upgrades. I’d like to have seen them fitted with Harpoon when new, and the ASW torpedo tubes, in this case though the RN have done it pretty well, concentrated on the core mission (air defence) with adequate in built upgrade potential to imprve the ships capabilities later.
Whilst the RN was well aware of the capabilities of Exocet they were not expecting to go up again that kind of system.
The development of Sea Wolf and Sea Dart was focused on the threat of a saturation attack by dozens of large Soviet Anti Ship missiles possibly armed with nuclear warheads. At the time Soviet weapons dived at high speed onto a target from quite a large distance. The Sea Dart was designed to take down the launch aircraft or at a push the missile which would be flying in a steady albeit quick dive. Sea Wolf is really a Sea Cat replacement with the bonus that it gave a point defence capability against leakers.
The RN in many ways regarded chaff to be one of the most effective defences against AShM after the Falklands war with the ultimate defence being a good CAP with AEW support.
Whilst much has been made of Phalanx and it’s introduction into the RN after the Falklands war in many ways it was added to RN ships to offer better protection against low flying fighter bombers armed with retarded bombs. Arguably Hms Coventry would of Survived if she had been armed with the rapid fire 30mm canon and Phalanx later fitted to her sisters. Many in the RN were unsure of the Phalanx and its performance against Sea Skimmers, its worth noting that the Phalanx itself was a crash program in response to the performance of the SS-N-2 fitted to various Soviet and client state vessels – this missile is far simpler for Phalanx to deal with then a sea skimmer.
Investment in anti sea skimmer missile technology by western navies wasn’t especially prevalent until the mid 80’s after the Falklands and the sinking of the USS Stark in the Gulf. In most cases this either involved more exotic electronic and semi active defence like ECM and programable chaff or upgrades of existing weapon systems to deal with sea skimmers.
Raytheon added a number of new modes and features to the Phalanx system to deal with the threat and the UK’s Sea Dart system was extensively upgraded making it a very potent weapon system now as shown by the succesful shooting down of a Iraqi ASHM during the first Gulf War.
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