If great reconstruction is carried out, it becomes a warship (7)

I believe the answer is:

frigate

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'warship' is the definition.
(I know that frigate is a type of warship)

'if great reconstruction' is the wordplay.
'reconstruction' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'reconstructions' mean this).
'if'+'great'='ifgreat'
'ifgreat' anagrammed gives 'FRIGATE'.

'is carried out it becomes a' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for frigate that I've seen before include "Naval escort vessel" , "Warship; -- bird" , "US warship" , "Type of warship" , "Light warship" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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