List of active Royal Navy ships
The Royal Navy is the principal naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. As of June 2020, there are 77 commissioned ships in the Royal Navy.
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Her Majesty's Naval Service of the British Armed Forces |
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Components |
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History and future |
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Ships |
Personnel |
Auxiliary services |
Of the commissioned vessels, twenty-three are major surface combatants (six guided missile destroyers, thirteen frigates, two amphibious transport docks and two aircraft carriers), and eleven are nuclear-powered submarines (four ballistic missile submarines and seven fleet submarines). In addition the Navy possesses thirteen mine countermeasures vessels, twenty-three patrol vessels, four survey vessels, one icebreaker and two historic warships, Victory and Bristol. The total displacement of the Royal Navy is approximately 448,605 tonnes.
The Royal Navy operates four bases where commissioned ships are based: HMNB Portsmouth, HMNB Devonport and HMNB Clyde and the Royal Navy’s newest base, HMS Jufair in Bahrain.[1] In addition, a number of commissioned vessels belonging to the University Royal Naval Units (URNU) are stationed at various locations around the United Kingdom, and two patrol vessels form part of the Gibraltar Squadron and are permanently based there.
Besides the Royal Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and the Royal Marines operate their own flotillas of naval vessels which complement the assets of the Royal Navy, however they are not included in this list or the above figures (the Royal Navy and RFA combined have 90 vessels with a total displacement in excess of 824,600 tonnes). In addition, the naval training vessels Brecon and Cromer can be found based at the Royal Navy shore establishment HMS Raleigh and the Britannia Royal Naval College, respectively, along with a number of P1000's and Motor Whalers.[2][3] As a supporting contingent of Her Majesty's Naval Service, the civilian Marine Services operate many auxiliary ships (including coastal logistics, tugs and research vessels) in support of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary operations.[4]
All ships and submarines currently in commission with the Royal Navy were built in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of icebreaker Protector which was built in Norway and survey vessel Magpie which was substantially built in Ireland. All vessels of the Royal Navy bear the ship prefix "HMS", for Her Majesty's Ship.
List of ships
Flagship of the First Sea Lord | |||||||
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Classic First-rate | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Ship of the Line | HMS Victory | — | 1778[N 1] | 3,556 tonnes | First-rate ship of the line | Portsmouth | [5] |
Submarine Service | |||||||
Strategic | |||||||
Class | Boat | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Vanguard class | HMS Vanguard | S28 | 1993 | 15,900 tonnes | Ballistic missile submarine | Clyde | [6] |
HMS Victorious | S29 | 1995 | [7] | ||||
HMS Vigilant | S30 | 1996 | [8] | ||||
HMS Vengeance | S31 | 1999 | [9] | ||||
Fleet | |||||||
Class | Boat | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Astute class | HMS Astute | S119 | 2010 | 7,400 tonnes | Fleet submarine | Clyde | [10] |
HMS Ambush | S120 | 2013 | [11] | ||||
HMS Artful | S121 | 2016 | [12] | ||||
HMS Audacious | S122 | 2020 | [13] | ||||
Trafalgar class | HMS Trenchant | S91 | 1989 | 5,300 tonnes | Devonport | [14] | |
HMS Talent | S92 | 1990 | Clyde | [15] | |||
HMS Triumph | S93 | 1991 | Devonport | [16] | |||
Surface Fleet | |||||||
Aircraft Carriers | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Queen Elizabeth class | HMS Queen Elizabeth | R08 | 2017 | 65,000 tonnes | Aircraft carrier | Portsmouth | [17][18] |
HMS Prince of Wales | R09 | 2019 | [19] | ||||
Amphibious Warfare | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Albion class | HMS Albion | L14 | 2003 | 19,560 tonnes | Amphibious transport dock | Devonport | [20][N 2] |
HMS Bulwark | L15 | 2004 | [21][N 3] | ||||
Destroyers and Frigates | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Type 45 or Daring class | HMS Daring | D32 | 2009 | 8,500 tonnes | Guided missile destroyer | Portsmouth | [22][N 4] |
HMS Dauntless | D33 | 2010 | [23] | ||||
HMS Diamond | D34 | 2011 | [24] | ||||
HMS Dragon | D35 | 2012 | [25] | ||||
HMS Defender | D36 | 2013 | [26] | ||||
HMS Duncan | D37 | 2013 | [27] | ||||
Type 23 or Duke class | HMS Argyll | F231 | 1991 | 4,900 tonnes | Guided missile Frigate | Devonport | [28] |
HMS Lancaster | F229 | 1992 | Portsmouth | [29] | |||
HMS Iron Duke | F234 | 1993 | Portsmouth | [30] | |||
HMS Monmouth | F235 | 1993 | Devonport | [31] | |||
HMS Montrose | F236 | 1994 | Devonport | [32][N 5] | |||
HMS Westminster | F237 | 1994 | Portsmouth | [33] | |||
HMS Northumberland | F238 | 1994 | Devonport | [34] | |||
HMS Richmond | F239 | 1995 | Devonport | [35] | |||
HMS Somerset | F82 | 1996 | Devonport | [36] | |||
HMS Sutherland | F81 | 1997 | Devonport | [37] | |||
HMS Kent | F78 | 2000 | Portsmouth | [38] | |||
HMS Portland | F79 | 2001 | Devonport | [39] | |||
HMS St Albans | F83 | 2002 | Devonport | [40] | |||
Offshore Patrol | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
River[N 6] | HMS Tyne | P281 | 2003 and 2018 | 1,700 tonnes | Offshore patrol vessel | Portsmouth | [41] |
HMS Mersey | P283 | 2003 | [42] | ||||
HMS Forth | P222 | 2018 | 2,000 tonnes | [43][N 7] | |||
HMS Medway | P223 | 2019 | [44][N 8] | ||||
HMS Tamar | P233 | 2020 | [45] | ||||
Mine countermeasures | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Hunt class | HMS Ledbury | M30 | 1981 | 750 tonnes | Minehunter | Portsmouth | [46][N 9] |
HMS Cattistock | M31 | 1982 | [47] | ||||
HMS Brocklesby | M33 | 1983 | [48][N 10] | ||||
HMS Middleton | M34 | 1984 | [49] | ||||
HMS Chiddingfold | M37 | 1984 | [50] | ||||
HMS Hurworth | M39 | 1985 | [51] | ||||
Sandown class | HMS Penzance | M106 | 1998 | 600 tonnes | Clyde | [52] | |
HMS Pembroke | M107 | 1998 | [53] | ||||
HMS Grimsby | M108 | 1999 | [54] | ||||
HMS Bangor | M109 | 2000 | [55] | ||||
HMS Ramsey | M110 | 2000 | [56] | ||||
HMS Blyth | M111 | 2001 | [57][N 11] | ||||
HMS Shoreham | M112 | 2001 | [58][N 12] | ||||
Fast Patrol | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
P2000 or Archer class | HMS Archer | P264 | 1985 | 54 tonnes | Patrol boat URNU | — | [59] |
HMS Biter | P270 | 1986 | — | [60] | |||
HMS Smiter | P272 | 1988 | — | [61] | |||
HMS Pursuer | P273 | 1988 | Gibraltar | [62][N 13] | |||
HMS Blazer | P279 | 1988 | — | [63] | |||
HMS Dasher | P280 | 1988 | Gibraltar | [64][N 14] | |||
HMS Puncher | P291 | 1988 | — | [65] | |||
HMS Charger | P292 | 1988 | — | [66] | |||
HMS Ranger | P293 | 1988 | — | [67] | |||
HMS Trumpeter | P294 | 1988 | — | [68] | |||
HMS Express | P163 | 1988 | — | [69] | |||
HMS Example | P165 | 1985 | — | [70] | |||
HMS Explorer | P164 | 1986 | — | [71] | |||
HMS Exploit | P167 | 1988 | — | [72] | |||
HMS Tracker | P274 | 1998 | Patrol boat | Clyde | [73][N 15] | ||
HMS Raider | P275 | 1998 | [74][N 16] | ||||
Scimitar class | HMS Scimitar | P284 | 2003 | 24 tonnes | Patrol boat | Gibraltar | [75][N 17] |
HMS Sabre | P285 | 2003 | [76][N 18] | ||||
Survey | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Echo class | HMS Echo | H87 | 2003 | 3,740 tonnes | Multi-purpose survey | Devonport | [77] |
HMS Enterprise | H88 | 2003 | [78] | ||||
— | HMS Scott | H131 | 1997 | 13,500 tonnes | Ocean survey | [79] | |
— | HMS Protector | A173 | 2011 | 5,000 tonnes | Icebreaker & survey | [80] | |
— | HMS Magpie | H130 | 2018 | 37 tonnes | Survey Motor Launch | [81] | |
HMS Excellent | |||||||
Static ship | |||||||
Class | Ship | Pennant No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
Type 82 or Bristol class | HMS Bristol | D23 | 1973 | 7,100 tonnes | Guided missile destroyer | — | Expected to decommission on 31 March 2021.[82][83][N 19] |
Gallery
Flagship of the First Sea Lord
Classic first-rate
Submarine service
Strategic
- Vanguard (Vanguard class)
Fleet
- Ambush (Astute class)
- Trenchant (Trafalgar class)
Surface fleet
Aircraft carriers
- Queen Elizabeth
(Queen Elizabeth class)
Amphibious warfare
In addition, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary possess three 16,160 tonne Bay-class dock landing ships (LSD).
- Albion (Albion class)
Destroyers and Frigates
- Daring (T45 Daring class)
- Northumberland (T23 Duke class)
Offshore patrol
- Forth (River class)
Mine countermeasures
- Hurworth (Hunt class)
- Ramsey (Sandown class)
Fast patrol
The Royal Marines operate three Island-class fast patrol boats (Mull, Rona and Eorsa) from HMNB Clyde.
- Raider (Archer class)
- Sabre (Scimitar class)
Survey
The British Antarctic Survey operates two Royal Research Ships which work in conjunction with Protector.
- Echo (Echo class)
- Scott
- Protector
- Magpie
HMS Excellent
- Excellent
Static ship
- Bristol (T82 Bristol class)
Silhouettes
Silhouettes of major fleet units:
![]() Queen Elizabeth |
![]() Prince of Wales |
![]() Albion |
![]() Bulwark |
![]() Daring |
![]() Dauntless |
![]() Diamond |
![]() Dragon |
![]() Defender |
![]() Duncan |
![]() Argyll |
![]() Lancaster |
![]() Iron Duke |
![]() Monmouth |
![]() Montrose |
![]() Westminster |
![]() Northumberland |
![]() Richmond |
![]() Somerset |
![]() Sutherland |
![]() Kent |
![]() Portland |
![]() St Albans | |||||
![]() Vanguard |
![]() Victorious |
![]() Vigilant |
![]() Vengeance |
![]() Astute |
![]() Ambush |
![]() Artful |
![]() Audacious |
![]() Trenchant |
![]() Talent |
![]() Triumph |
See also
- Lists of ships operated by or in support of Her Majesty's Naval Service
- List of active Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships
- List of active Royal Marines military watercraft
- List of ships of Serco Marine Services
- Related articles
Footnotes
- Launched in 1765 and commissioned in 1778, making Victory the world's oldest warship still in commission.
- Albion is the current Fleet Flagship as of 2019.
- Bulwark entered 'extended readiness' in late 2016.
- Daring is acting as a Harbour Training Ship.
- HMS Montrose is forward deployed, operating from HMS Jufair in Bahrain.
- HMS Severn is on sea trials awaiting re-comissioning.
- HMS Forth is forward deployed as guardship in the Falkland Islands.
- HMS Medway is forward deployed as Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North) guardship in the Caribbean.
- HMS Ledbury is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating from HMS Jufair in Bahrain.
- HMS Brocklesby is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating from HMS Jufair in Bahrain.
- HMS Blyth is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating from HMS Jufair in Bahrain.
- HMS Shoreham is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating from HMS Jufair in Bahrain.
- Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
- Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
- Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.
- Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.
- Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
- Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
- Bristol is permanently docked at HMS Excellent. Formerly a guided missile destroyer, now modified to act as a static training and accommodation ship for both Royal Navy and Cadet personnel.
References
- "Navy's new Gulf home almost ready for first sailors". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. p. 119. ISBN 1904459552.
- "New lease of life for BRNC boats". Royal Navy. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- "Vessel Management". Serco Marine Services. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- Farmer, Ben (7 December 2017). "The Queen commissions the Royal Navy's newest aircraft carrier - HMS Queen Elizabeth". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- "HMS Vanguard". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Victorious". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Vigilant". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Vengeance". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Astute". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Ambush". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Artful". Royal Navy. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- "HMS Audacious". UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "HMS Trenchant". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Talent". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Triumph". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "Aircraft Carriers - Future Flagships". Royal Navy. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- "HMS Queen Elizabeth". Royal Navy. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- "Commissioning day for HMS Prince of Wales". Royal Navy. Portsmouth. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- "HMS Albion". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Bulwark". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Daring". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Dauntless". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Diamond". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Dragon". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Defender". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Duncan". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Argyll". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Lancaster". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Iron Duke". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Monmouth". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Montrose". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Westminster". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Northumberland". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Richmond". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Somerset". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Sutherland". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Kent". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Portland". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS St Albans". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Tyne". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Tyne returns to service after being paid off in May". Save the Royal Navy. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- "HMS Forth". Royal Navy. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- "HMS Medway". Royal Navy. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- "HMS TAMAR RAISES HER FLAG ON HER OWN RIVER". Royal Navy. River Tamar. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- "HMS Ledbury". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Cattistock". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Brocklesby". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Middleton". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Chiddingfold". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Hurworth". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Penzance". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Pembroke". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Grimsby". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Bangor". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Ramsey". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Blyth". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Shoreham". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Archer". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Biter". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Smiter". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Pursuer". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Blazer". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Dasher". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Puncher". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Charger". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Ranger". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Trumpeter". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Express". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Example". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Explorer". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Exploit". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Tracker". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Raider". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Scimitar". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Sabre". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Echo". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Enterprise". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Scott". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Protector". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- "HMS Magpie". Royal Navy. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- "Fresh calls to save Portsmouth one-of-a-kind warship from being scrapped". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- "HMS Bristol". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
External links
- Royal Navy (royalnavy.mod.uk)
- Royal Navy — The Equipment — Ships (royalnavy.mod.uk)