Royal Navy

The Royal Navy (RN) is the principal naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Tracing its origins to the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service. From the end of the 17th century until well into the 20th century it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power. Due to this historical prominence, it is common – even among non-Britons – to refer to it as "The Royal Navy" without qualification. Following victory in the First World War the Royal Navy was significantly reduced in size, although at the onset of the Second World War it was still the largest in the world. By the end of the Second World War the United States Navy had emerged as the world's largest. During the course of the Cold War, the Royal Navy transformed into a primarily anti-submarine force, hunting for Soviet submarines, mostly active in the GIUK gap. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union its focus has returned to global expeditionary operations. The Royal Navy operates a "blue-water" fleet of technologically sophisticated ships including three supercarriers, four light aircraft carriers, two helicopter carriers, four landing platform docks, four ballistic missile submarines (which maintain the UK's nuclear deterrent), twelve nuclear fleet submarines, nine guided missile destroyers, 20 frigates, 25 mine-countermeasure vessels and 24 patrol vessels. As of August, there were 121 commissioned ships in the Royal Navy, plus 35 commissioned ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The RFA primarily serves to replenish Royal Navy warships at sea, and also augments the Royal Navy's amphibious warfare capabilities through its four Bay-class landing ship dock vessels. The Royal Navy is part of the Naval Service, which also comprises the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve. The professional head of the Naval Service is the First Sea Lord, an Admiral and member of the Defence Council of the United Kingdom. The Defence Council delegates management of the Naval Service to the Admiralty Board, chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Royal Navy currently operates six bases in the United Kingdom where commissioned ships are based; Chatham, Clyde, Devonport, Portland, Portsmouth and Rosyth with Devonport being the largest operational naval base in Western Europe.

Statistics

 * Active Duty Personnel: 105,750
 * Reserve Personnel: 79,560
 * Royal Marines: 13,500
 * Active RN Vessels: 129
 * Active RFA Vessels: 33
 * Naval Fixed Wing Aircraft: 347
 * Naval Helicopters: 142
 * Number of Active Bases: 7 (Chatham, Clyde, Devonport, Pembroke, Portland, Portsmouth, Rosyth)
 * Number of Active Installations: 20
 * Lord High Admiral: HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
 * First Sea Lord: Admiral Sir Philip Jones
 * Second Sea Lord: Admiral Ben Key
 * Commander of the Fleet Air Arm: Admiral Keith Blount
 * Commander of the Royal Marines: Major General Robert Magowan

Royal Navy

 * Queen Elizabeth-class Aircraft Carrier (3) - 2007
 * HMS Queen Elizabeth (R10)
 * HMS Prince of Wales (R11)
 * HMS Ark Royal (R12)
 * Ocean-class Amphibious Assault Ship (2) - 1995
 * HMS Ocean (L12)
 * HMS Glory (L13)
 * Albion-class Landing Platform Dock (4) - 2002
 * HMS Albion (L14)
 * HMS Bulwark (L15)
 * HMS Hermes (L16)
 * HMS Centaur (L17)
 * Type 43 Admiral-class Destroyer (8) - 1988
 * HMS Nelson (D111)
 * HMS Fraser (D112)
 * HMS Cunningham (D113)
 * HMS Howe (D114)
 * HMS Jellicoe (D115)
 * HMS Rodney (D116)
 * HMS Somerville (D117)
 * HMS Collingwood (D118)
 * Type 45 Daring-class Destroyer (14) - 2004
 * HMS Daring (D32)
 * HMS Dauntless (D33)
 * HMS Diamond (D34)
 * HMS Dragon (D35)
 * HMS Defender (D36)
 * HMS Duncan (D37)
 * HMS Devastation (D38)
 * HMS Druid (D39)
 * HMS Discovery (D40)
 * HMS Daedalus (D41)
 * HMS Dominion (D42)
 * HMS Dogstar (D43)
 * HMS Destruction (D44)
 * HMS Dagger (D45)
 * Type 22B3 Cornwall-class Frigate (4) - 1988
 * HMS Cornwall (F99)
 * HMS Cumberland (F85)
 * HMS Campbeltown (F86)
 * HMS Chatham (F87)
 * Type 23 Duke-class Frigate (16) - 1990
 * HMS Norfolk (F230)
 * HMS Argyll (F231)
 * HMS Lancaster (F232)
 * HMS Marlborough (F233)
 * HMS Iron Duke (F234)
 * HMS Monmouth (F235)
 * HMS Montrose (F236)
 * HMS Westminster (F237)
 * HMS Northumberland (F238)
 * HMS Richmond (F239)
 * HMS Somerset (F240)
 * HMS Grafton (F241)
 * HMS Sutherland (F242)
 * HMS Kent (F243)
 * HMS Portland (F244)
 * HMS St. Albans (F245)
 * Type 26 Glasgow-class Frigate (4 UC, 16 planned) - 2021
 * HMS Glasgow (F246) - fitting out
 * HMS Cardiff (F247) - under construction
 * HMS Belfast (F248) - under construction
 * HMS Manchester (F249) - under construction
 * HMS Birmingham (F250) - planned for construction
 * HMS Sheffield (F251) - planned for construction
 * HMS Newcastle (F252) - planned for construction
 * HMS Edinburgh (F253) - planned for construction
 * HMS London (F254) - planned for construction
 * HMS Dorsetshire (F255) - planned for construction
 * HMS Surrey (F256) - planned for construction
 * HMS Northumberland (F257) - planned for construction
 * HMS Berwick (F258) - planned for construction
 * HMS Cumberland (F259) - planned for construction
 * HMS Shropshire (F260) - planned for construction
 * HMS Norfolk (F261) - planned for construction
 * Type 31 Fearless-class Frigate (10 planned) - 202X
 * HMS Fearless (F262)
 * HMS Foresight (F263)
 * HMS Firebrand (F264)
 * HMS Fury (F265)
 * HMS Foxhound (F266)
 * HMS Ferret (F267)
 * HMS Firedrake (F268)
 * HMS Falcon (F269)
 * HMS Forward (F270)
 * HMS Frobisher (F271)
 * Trafalgar-class Nuclear Attack Submarine (6) - 1983
 * HMS Trenchant (S91)
 * HMS Talent (S92)
 * HMS Triumph (S93)
 * HMS Thunderer (S94)
 * Upholder-class Hunter-Killer Submarine (6) - 1990
 * HMS Upholder (S40)
 * HMS Unseen (S41)
 * HMS Ursula (S42)
 * HMS Unicorn (S43)
 * HMS Ulysses (S44)
 * HMS Umbra (S45)
 * Vanguard-class Ballistic Missile Submarine (4) - 1993
 * HMS Vanguard (S28)
 * HMS Victorious (S29)
 * HMS Vigilant (S30)
 * HMS Vengeance (S31)
 * Astute-class Nuclear Attack Submarine (10, 4 UC) - 2004
 * HMS Astute (S119)
 * HMS Ambush (S120)
 * HMS Artful (S121)
 * HMS Audacious (S122)
 * HMS Anson (S123)
 * HMS Agamemnon (S124)
 * HMS Ajax (S125)
 * HMS Agincourt (S126)
 * HMS Andromeda (S127)
 * HMS Amethyst (S128)
 * HMS Atlas (S129) - fitting out
 * HMS Arethusa (S130) - fitting out
 * HMS Aisne (S131) - under construction
 * HMS Alacrity (S132) - under construction
 * Dreadnought-class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine (4 planned) - 2028
 * HMS Dreadnought - under construction
 * HMS Valiant - planned for construction
 * HMS Warspite - planned for construction
 * HMS King George VI - planned for construction
 * Hunt-class Mine Countermeasures Vessel (13) - 1980
 * HMS Brecon (M29)
 * HMS Ledbury (M30)
 * HMS Cattistock (M31)
 * HMS Cottesmore (M32)
 * HMS Brocklesby (M33)
 * HMS Middleton (M34)
 * HMS Dulverton (M35)
 * HMS Bicester (M36)
 * HMS Chiddingfold (M37)
 * HMS Atherstone (M38)
 * HMS Hurworth (M39)
 * HMS Berkeley (M40)
 * HMS Quorn (M41)
 * Sandown-class Minesweeper (12) - 1989
 * HMS Sandown (M101)
 * HMS Inverness (M102)
 * HMS Cromer (M103)
 * HMS Walney (M104)
 * HMS Bridport (M105)
 * HMS Penzance (M106)
 * HMS Pembroke (M107)
 * HMS Grimsby (M108)
 * HMS Bangor (M109)
 * HMS Ramsey (M110)
 * HMS Blyth (M111)
 * HMS Shoreham (M112)
 * Scott-class Ocean Survey Vessel (1) - 1997
 * HMS Scott (H131)
 * Echo-class Multipurpose Survey Ship (2) - 2003
 * HMS Echo (H87)
 * HMS Enterprize (H88)
 * Magpie-class Survey Vessel (1) - 2018
 * HMS Magpie (H130)
 * Archer-class Patrol Boat (16) - 1985
 * HMS Archer (P264)
 * HMS Example (P265)
 * HMS Biter (P270)
 * HMS Explorer (P271)
 * HMS Smiter (P272)
 * HMS Pursuer (P273)
 * HMS Tracker (P274)
 * HMS Raider (P275)
 * HMS Express (P276)
 * HMS Exploit (P277)
 * HMS Ranger (P278)
 * HMS Blazer (P279)
 * HMS Dasher (P280)
 * HMS Puncher (P281)
 * HMS Charger (P282)
 * HMS Trumpeter (P283)
 * Endurance-class Icebreaker (1) - 1991
 * HMS Endurance (A171)
 * River-class Patrol Vessel (8, 2 UC) - 2002
 * HMS Tyne (P284)
 * HMS Severn (P285)
 * HMS Mersey (P286)
 * HMS Clyde (P287)
 * HMS Forth (P222)
 * HMS Medway (P223)
 * HMS Trent (P224) - sea trials
 * HMS Tamar (P233) - sea trials
 * HMS Spey (P234) -fitting out
 * HMS Ashburne (P235) - under construction
 * Scimitar-class Patrol Boat (2) - 2003
 * HMS Scimitar (P288)
 * HMS Sabre (P289)
 * Protecteur-class Icebreaker (1) - 2011
 * HMS Protecteur (A173)
 * Special Vessels (2) - 1778, 1973
 * HMS Victory
 * HMS Bristol (D23)

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

 * Fort Rosalie-class Replenishment Oiler (3) - 1978
 * RFA Fort Rosalie (A385)
 * RFA Fort Austin (A386)
 * RFA Fort Grange (A387)
 * Diligence-class Fleet Repair Ship (1) - 1984
 * RFA Diligence (A132)
 * Sal-class Large Lifting Ship (2) - 1985
 * RFA Salmoor (A185)
 * RFA Salmaid (A187)
 * Argus-class Training Ship (1) - 1988
 * RFA Argus (A135)
 * Worden-class Moorings Tender (1) - 1989
 * RFA Worden (A368)
 * Moorhen-class Lifting Craft (3) - 1989
 * RFA Moorhen (Y32)
 * RFA Moorfowl (Y33)
 * RFA Cameron (A72)
 * Fort Victoria-class Replenishment Oiler (6) - 1993
 * RFA Fort Victoria (A388)
 * RFA Fort George (A389)
 * RFA Fort alstead (A390)
 * RFA Fort Brockhurst (A391)
 * RFA Fort Nelson (A392)
 * RFA Fort Royal Hill (A393)
 * Impulse-class Coastal Tug (2) - 1993
 * RFA Impulse (A344)
 * RFA Impetus (A335)
 * Sea Crusader-class Vehicle Cargo Ship (2) - 1996
 * RFA Sea Crusader (A96)
 * RFA Sea Comet (A97)
 * Sea Centurion-class Vehicle Cargo Ship (5) - 1998
 * RFA Sea Centurion (A98)
 * RFA Sea Chieftain (A99)
 * RFA Sea Challenger (A100)
 * RFA Sea Cavalier (A101)
 * RFA Sea Centaur (A102)
 * Point-class Sealift Ship (6) - 2002
 * MV Hurst Point
 * MV Eddystone
 * MV Hartland Point
 * MV Anvil Point
 * MV Beachy Head
 * MV Longstone
 * Wave Knight-class Fleet Tanker (4) - 2003
 * RFA Wave Knight (A394)
 * RFA Wave Ruler (A395)
 * RFA Wave Master (A396)
 * RFA Wave Rider (A397)
 * Bay-class Dock Landing Ship (4) - 2006
 * RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
 * RFA Lyme Bay (L3007)
 * RFA ''Mounts Bay (L3008)
 * RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009)
 * Maine-class (Spirit class) Hospital Ship (1) - 2019
 * RFA Maine (A134) - on fitting out
 * Tide-class Fast Fleet Tanker (4, 4 UC) - 2016
 * RFA Tidespring (A136)
 * RFA Tiderace (A137)
 * RFA Tidesurge (A138)
 * RFA Tideforce (A139)
 * RFA Tideflow (A140) - fitting out
 * RFA Tiderange (A141) - fitting out
 * RFA Tidepool (A142) - under construction
 * RFA Tidereach (A143) - under construction
 * Solid Support Ship (6 planned) - 202X
 * RFA Unnamed - planned for construction
 * RFA Unnamed - planned for construction
 * RFA Unnamed - planned for construction
 * RFA Unnamed - planned for construction
 * RFA Unnamed - planned for construction
 * RFA Unnamed - planned for construction

Fighters

 * Eurofighter Typhoon RN.3/5 x 144 (Multirole Fighter)
 * Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II x 16 (Stealth Strike Fighter) - 38 more on order
 * Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II x 16 (Stealth Strike Fighter) - 80 more on order

ELINT Aircraft

 * Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000 x 20 (AWACS Aircraft)

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

 * Boeing Sea Eagle RM.1 x 12 (Patrol UAV)
 * Boeing Poseidon MRA1 x 16 (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) - 8 more on order
 * Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton x 15 (Unmanned Maritime Surveillance Aircraft) - 7 more on order
 * Lockheed Martin Viking RN.3 x 32 (Carrier based ASW Aircraft)

Transport Aircraft

 * Grumman C-2B Greyhound x 12 (COD Aircraft)
 * Boeing Stingray KC1 x 24 (Carrier based Aerial Tanker)

Trainer Aircraft

 * BAe Systems Hawk T1 x 22 (Advanced Trainer)
 * McDonnell-Douglas Goshawk T1 x 16 (Carrier based Trainer)
 * Beechcraft Avenger x 8 (Trainer)
 * Eurofighter Typhoon RN.4 x 24 (Conversion Trainer)
 * Grob G115E Tutor x 10 (Trainer)

Helicopters

 * AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin x 58 (Maritime Helicopter/AEW Helicopter) - 22 more on order
 * AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat x 42 (Maritime Helicopter) - 14 more on order
 * Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II x 6 (Utility Helicopter)
 * Westland Lynx x 28 (Maritime Utility Helicopter)
 * Westland Sea King x 8 (AEW Helicopter) - to be replaced by the AW101 Merlin