The naval force of the United Kingdom is officially known as the Royal Navy. It is one of the oldest branches of the armed forces tracing its origins all the way back to the 16th Century over 470 years ago. It was once the most powerful naval force in the world, having beaten out the competing Dutch, Spanish and French Naval forces, and is one of the major reasons why Britain became one of the world’s great powers – Britannia ruled the waves.
The British Empire helped the Royal Navy remain globally operational and powerful thanks to the presence of imperial fortress colonies as well as other bases and coaling stations around the world, and which allowed the British to more easily remain superior at sea and keep check over its domains.
Although it is no longer the most powerful navy in the world, it is still a formidable branch of the armed forces, especially with the recent introduction of two new aircraft carriers. The Royal Navy is still capable of operating globally and takes part in various operations around the world alongside the US and other allies. The Royal Navy also contributes to NATO missions, deterrence and defence.
Today the Royal Navy has over 34,000 personnel and over 8,000 reserves. The Navy operates 76 ships or 87 when also including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The Royal Navy also operates over 170 aircraft. Ships of the Royal Navy include nuclear fleet and ballistic missile submarines, amphibious transport docks, aircraft carriers, guided missile destroyers, frigates, mine-countermeasure vessels, and patrol vessels.
Three Royal Naval bases operate in the UK, at Portsmouth, Clyde, and Devonport. Devonport itself is the largest naval base in Western Europe. There are also two bases in the UK for maritime aircraft, RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Culdrose. The Royal Navy also has a naval base in Bahrain (HMS Jufair) and a joint logistics support base in Oman. A British naval facility also exists in Singapore, formally was the much larger HMNB Singapore naval base.
The Royal Navy is a part of numerous operations globally and at home. This includes various patrolling operations including the Antarctic Patrol conducted by the icebreaker HMS Protector. It surveys and gathers data on the seas around Antarctica and supports the British Antarctic Survey operation in and around the British Antarctic Territory. The Royal Research Ship RRS David Attenborough is also stationed in the region, the very same that people wanted to be named BoatymcBoatFace.
Another patrolling operation involves the Falkland Islands for the purpose of reassurance to inhabitants and to maintain British sovereignty over the islands.
There is also the Fishery Protection Squadron which has a mission of protecting the British fishing industry, securing oil and gas fields in the North Sea, and other tasks within the UKs Exclusive Economic Zone, such as keeping those pesky French fishing boats away.
East of Suez, which means in areas that include the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, wider Indian Ocean and the Far East, there are two combined task forces, 150 and 151. The combined taskforces are multinational coalitions, one of which provides maritime security and counter-terrorism (150) and another that performs anti-piracy operations (151).
Operation Kipion exists within the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean with a goal of keeping and promoting peace and stability in the region, as well as the safe flow of oil and trade.
Operating globally, Trident includes four Vanguard-class submarines which continually deploy around the globe, armed with 16 Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles and 48 nuclear warheads for reasons of nuclear deterrence and security.
These are just a few of the many other operations and tasks performed globally by the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy also takes part in a number of naval exercises globally as well.
Now let’s take a look at what they use.
The Royal Marines
The Royal Marines is an arm of the Royal Navy whose origins go all the way back to 1664. They are an elite highly specialised and adaptable light infantry force that can be rapidly deployed worldwide when needed and can deal with various threats. Being that they are an infantry force they use a variety of guns and other weapons similar to the British Army.
There are over 7,700 Royal Marines with an additional 750 in reserve.
They use the SA80 A2 which can also include an underslung grenade launcher. They also use a 9mm pistol which is probably the Glock 17. They also use L109A1 grenades. For support they use both 60mm and 81mm mortars, and use the Javelin and NLAW for anti-tank purposes.
Other weapons they use are the 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun, the .50inch Heavy Machine Gun, the L110A2 5.56mm Light Machine Gun, and the L96 Sniper Rifle.
You can read up about these weapons in the British Army post.
Viking Armoured Personnel Vehicle
An amphibious vehicle used by the Royal Marines is the Viking Armoured Personnel Vehicle. These vehicles are used by 3 Commando Brigade and are designed for amphibious operations, being able to be used to land troops ashore or cross rivers and lakes. The vehicle is able to move rapidly to outmaneuver the enemy.
The primary usage of the vehicle is for protected mobility, but it can also be used for battlefield reconnaissance, fire support, and command platform. The vehicles are all-terrain and tracked. They can operate anywhere in the world in pretty much any cold or heat. They are especially prized for their ability to be rapidly deployed in jungle, desert and arctic conditions.
The Viking is made up of two tracked vehicle units. They can be transported via being lifted by a Chinook helicopter, can be driven onto a C130 Hercules, and can be placed upon landing craft. The Viking can also be split into two sections within 20 minutes so that it can be transported by the Merlin helicopter.
A machine gun can be mounted on top of the front section of the vehicle for reasons of self-defense and fire support.
Aircraft
The Royal Navy also use a number of aircraft as well. For example, they will soon be using the 5th-generation F-35 Lighting fighter (specifically the F-35B variant) and strike jet of which you can read up about in the previous Royal Air Force post, it will be a great complement to the new aircraft carriers. They also use the Wildcat helicopter of which you can read up about in part 2 of the British Army post.
The Royal Navy uses the Hawk Mk1 jet and Grob 115E Tutor plane for training purposes.
There are two aircraft, well actually one aircraft that has two variants used exclusively by the Royal Navy. Let’s take a look at them.
Merlin Mk2
The Merlin Mk2 came into operation in 2014 replacing the Merlin Mk1. Its primary roles are supplying the UK’s Maritime Force Protection, including round-the-clock maritime patrol, and to conduct anti-submarine warfare from the air. There are currently 30 Merlin Mk2s in service. The helicopters are crewed by five and can lift up to 3.8 tonnes.
The new Merlin Mk2s included a redesigned cockpit and aircraft management computer system, as well as a new open-architecture tactical mission system. Enhanced radar and sonar capabilities enable the helicopter to remain one of the best for hunting submarines.
The helicopter is armed with Stingray Torpedoes, Mk11 Depth Charges, and an M3m .50 calibre machine gun. The helicopters additional roles can involve ferrying troops, evacuating casualties, search and rescue, acting as a medium-lift helicopter for underslung loads, among other contingency tasks.
The Merlin Mk2 has also since replaced the Sea King Mk7 helicopter which was used in an airborne surveillance and control role of which the Merlin Mk2 can perform instead, which involves looking for things like aerial threats and suspicious ground movements. The replacement of the Sea King helicopter is quite significant as it had been in operation with the Royal Navy for almost five decades.
A new system called Crowsnest were fitted to the Merlin Mk2s to provide the surveillance and control role to them, it is another complement also to the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.
Merlin Mk4
The Merlin Mk4 is one of the newest aircraft a part of the Royal Navy. It is part of the Commando Helicopter Force of the Royal Marines, who will be the primary user of the Merlin Mk4. It is one of the world’s most advanced amphibious battlefield helicopters.
New additions include rotor blades and tail that can be folded away, flares and a laser turret that can protect against guided missiles, and a digitalized cockpit. The folding rotors and tail mean that more helicopters can be stored within the same-sized place whether it be a hanger or an aircraft lift on the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier.
Another upgrade to the defense suite includes the laser warning system which gives early warning to laser weapons that may be targeting the helicopter and also gives the capability to track the weapon/s down. General Purpose Machine Guns can also be mounted on to the helicopter for self-defense.
The Merlin Mk4 also includes ISTAR capability which likely means it also utilises the Crowsnest system. The helicopter also has improved range with it being able to travel up to 5 hours on its fuel. It is possible to perform air-to-air refueling of the Merlin Mk4 but the capability is not currently funded by the Royal Navy and there are no signs it will be anytime soon.
Submarines – 3 Classes (+1 Class in Development)
The Royal Navy has a number of Submarines that it uses. These include one type of ballistic missile submarine and two types of attack submarines. Ballistic missile submarines are fairly self-explanatory, they are meant to attack from far away by surfacing and firing missiles at targets. Attack submarines on the other hand are for tracking down enemy submarines and surface vessels and taking them out using weapons such as torpedoes, and also can be armed with cruise missiles for longer ranged attacks on land targets. There is also a possible future submarine that the Royal Navy may one day use.
Vanguard Class Submarine
The Vanguard Class Submarine is the UK’s ballistic missile submarine. Trident uses these submarines for the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent, able to fire ballistic missiles fitted with nuclear warheads (Trident 2 D5 nuclear missiles). All four of the UK’s Vanguard Class submarines are a part of Trident.
The Vanguard, like all Royal Navy submarines, is nuclear powered and so its reactors convert water into steam which powers the engines and generates electricity to be used on the submarine. The submarine is also fitted with what the Royal Navy calls world-beating Sonar sensors, capable of hearing vessels up to 50 miles away.
The Vanguard class submarines are fitted with two weapons. First are the Spearfish torpedoes, a weapon for anti-submarine and anti-ship defense and offense. The torpedo at two tonnes is heavyweight and perfectly capable at destroying enemy submarines and ships. The torpedo at full speed can attack targets up to 14 miles away, while at low speed they can attack targets up to 30 miles away.
The torpedoes can either be guided by copper wire, or can close in on targets using Sonar guidance, the torpedo delivers a 660lb explosive charge to the target. This will detonate either on direct striking of the hull, or is set off by an acoustic proximity fuse right under the target.
The other weapon is of course its main feature, the D5 Ballistic missile which as already said is capable of fitting nuclear warheads. The weapon, also called the Trident missile, can fire on targets up to 4,000 miles away. The missile is ejected via high-pressure gas before it then fires off towards its target. The missile can travel up to 13,000 miles per hour.
Vanguard submarines on patrol will carry up to 40 nuclear warheads and have eight operational ballistic missiles. All of the Vanguard-class submarines have two sets of crews each led by their own captain, one called Port and one called Starboard. While one crew mans the submarine on patrol, the other takes leave and also trains before taking their turn out at sea.
As crews spend long amounts of time on patrol in the submarine (just as they do on other types of submarines and vessels), the vessel contains various areas that make living on the submarine possible, such as kitchens, toilets, showers, bunk cabins, and mess rooms for playing games when on break. There are also medical facilities and regular fire drills.
As it stands there are currently four Vanguard class submarines in operation, the lead is the HMS Vanguard itself which was launched in March 1992, then the HMS Victorious launched in September 1993, the HMS Vigilant launched in October 1995, and finally the HMS Vengeance launched in September 1998.
These submarines are all 150 meters in length, can travel over 25 knots, have a total displacement of 15,900 tonnes, and are able to dive down to depths greater than 250m below the surface, they all have a lifespan of around 30-years and all are due to eventually be replaced in the 2030s by the upcoming Dreadnought Class submarine.
Astute Class Submarine
The Astute Class submarine is one of two types of attack submarine operated by the Royal Navy. The Astute Class is the Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced of its attack submarines and the only one able to also fire cruise missiles. The Royal Navy says the submarine has world-leading sensors, design, and weaponry in what is a versatile vessel.
The Astute Class submarine managed to prove its ability to prepare and launch the Tomahawk Cruise missile in 2012, in which it fired two of them from the Gulf of Mexico which successfully and accurately hit their targets in a Florida test range.
The Tomahawk Cruise missile is a sea-launched missile. The specific type used by the Astute is the Tomahawk IV or TLAM (Tomahawk Land Attack Missile). The missile is able to hit ground targets hundreds of miles away on land with pinpoint accuracy. The Tomahawk IV has a maximum range of over 1,000 miles and is so advanced that it can be directed at a new target mid-flight, and can even beam back images of the target zone/battlefield to the submarine it was launched from.
A literal missile that can conduct reconnaissance before committing seppuku? Who would have thought such a thing exists, sounds very sci-fi!
And as well as that it also uses the Spearfish Torpedo for defense and offense against other submarines and surface vessels.
As it stands there are currently four Astute-Class submarines in active operation with one launched but yet to be commissioned and two more yet to be launched: these are the HMS Astute launched in June 2007; the HMS Ambush launched in January 2011; the HMS Artful launched in May 2014; the HMS Audacious launched in April 2017; and the HMS Anson launched in April 2021 but is yet to be fully commissioned into active service.
The HMS Agamemnon and HMS Agincourt are the two yet to be launched.
The submarines have 7,800 tonne displacement, are 97m in length, have stowage for up to 38 weapons, can travel up to 30 knots, and can dive down to below 250m under the surface of the ocean.
Trafalgar Class Submarine
The other older type of attack submarine still operated by the Royal Navy comes from the Cold War era. But don’t let that fool you, thanks to modern upgrades the submarine is still perfectly capable at taking on its adversaries and keeping up with its tasks. Originally during the Cold War era their modus operandi… if ever needed… was to hunt down and destroy enemy nuclear-missile capable submarines and surface vessels, luckily this was never needed otherwise we’d probably all be dead right now.
Now a days the Trafalgar class has been kitted out to act in different roles such as performing covert surveillance and inshore reconnaissance of installations and landing beaches. It also includes world-beating sonar for this task, able to detect vessels up to 50 miles away.
But if anything goes wrong… or if they are needed for offensive operations for whatever reason, they are fitted out with and capable of using Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and Spearfish Torpedoes similar to the Astute-class, which are slowly replacing the Trafalgar.
There is only one Trafalgar-class submarines in active operation today (there were originally seven): it is the HMS Triumph which was the final one to be launched in February 1991. The HMS Trenchant, first launched in January 1989 is currently laid up waiting to be decommissioned, having been taken out of service in 2021, while the HMS Talent was the most recent to be taken out of service in April 2022 and also waiting to be decommissioned.
The first of the class to be launched was the HMS Trafalgar in July 1981. It was also the first to be decommissioned in December 2009, it is still awaiting disposal. The HMS Turbulent launched December 1982, the HMS Tireless launched March 1984, and HMS Torbay launched March 1985 were decommissioned in 2012, 2014, and 2017 respectively and all also waiting to be disposed.
Dreadnought Class Submarine (upcoming)
The Dreadnought Class submarines are currently being built to replace the Vanguard-class submarines that currently provide nuclear deterrence as part of Trident for the UK. These new Dreadnought Class submarines will take up Trident themselves at some point in the future. The first are not expected to go into operation until the 2030s.
Naturally the first one will be called HMS Dreadnought, four are planned in total with the other three being HMS Valiant, HMS Warspite, and HMS King George VI. All of them will displace 17,200 tonnes and be 153.6m in length, and last at least into the 2060s.
The submarines will be the largest in the Royal Navy. Each submarine will have 130 crew members which will also include three chefs and a doctor. Each submarine will have a sickbay for checkups and medication, crew cabins, toilets, washing facilities, study area, and gym facilities. The submarines will be able to produce their own oxygen and fresh water and will have special lighting that simulates day and night onboard.
The submarine will use the same advanced sonar 2076 system as the Astute class, providing advanced acoustic detection which will improve visual and situational awareness. The submarine will also have integrated optical, electronic warfare, and communications systems.
They will use the same Trident D5 ballistic missiles as the Vanguard class which are capable of fitting nuclear warheads, there will be eight operational missiles at any given time. The D5 missiles are planned to be kept in service until the 2060s alongside the Dreadnought’s lifespan – the nuclear warheads on the other hand are planned to be replaced with newer ones sometime in the 2040s.
The submarines propulsion will be nuclear powered just as the Vanguard and all other Royal Navy submarines are. But the Dreadnought submarines will be upgraded with fly-by-wire technology typically seen with modern aircraft which replaces conventional manual controls for submarine movement with an electronic alternative that is more intelligent, responsive and intuitive.
Ships
The ships of the Royal Navy cover various different types. This includes one type of Aircraft Carrier; one type of Landing Platform Dock; one type of Destroyer; two types of Frigates; four types of vessels within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which covers tankers, floating hospitals, mechanics and amphibious landing docks; five types of Patrol and Mine Countermeasure vessels; and one type of Survey vessel.
The Survey Vessel – Echo Class
The Royal Navy has one type of Survey Vessel which is the Echo Class. Survey Vessels are used to explore the world’s waters and ensure that maps and intelligence information are all kept up to date, which can have various uses from scientific to strategic, and helps to ensure safe passage for mariners in the deep oceans and in and around harbours.
The primary purpose of surveying for the Royal Navy is in support of submarine and amphibious operations. Secondarily the ships can also be used in mine countermeasures.
The Royal Navy’s Echo Class as well as being a Survey Vessel can also be used for Ice Patrol, meaning it is capable of breaking through sea ice around the poles when needed. The Echo Class makes up the Royal Navy’s Surveying Flotilla. The Echo Class also carries two smaller boats that can be deployed from the ship for further operations, these are the Survey Motorboat and the 8.5m Ramped Workboat.
The Survey Motorboat can be deployed to survey shallower waters that the Echo Class itself cannot safely enter. These smaller boats can also carry state of the art surveying equipment including the 2040 Multibeam Echo Sounder, the EA400 Single Beam Sounder, and the GeoAcoustics 2094 Side Scan Sonar, all used for the updating of charts and the taking of scientific readings.
The 8.5m Ramped Workboat on the other hand is deployed for utility purposes: transporting equipment, stores, vehicles, and people from the ship to the shore and vice versa, and they are capable of working within difficult environments.
There are currently two of the ships that exist, the HMS Echo being the first launched in March 2002 and is currently on low readiness/reserve, and the HMS Enterprise launched in May 2002 which is actively operational.
The ships also have two Oerlikon mounted 20mm autocannons, two M134 Miniguns, and four General Purpose Machine Guns for self-defense.
The Oerlikon 20mm autocannon is a light weapon that can be used to defend against surface vessels and aircraft, it can also be used as deterrence against potential threats by firing warning shots. For the Royal Navy the Oerlikon is mounted on a GAM-B01 which is a large pedestal mount developed in the UK in the 1980s. The mount is highly robust and reliable able to remain operational even in areas where high electronic countermeasures are being used or even if the gun sustains damage in battle.
The Oerlikon autocannon itself is a belt-fed weapon operated by a single person strapped to the mount, the gun can hold a single 200-round belt using 20x128mm ammunition. Ammunition is supplied by other operators, who will also help the main operator in where to adjust the gun to and target spotting. The sight on the gun used by the main operator helps to calculate where they need to shoot in order to hit a moving aerial target.
When used against aerial targets its max range is 2km while against surface targets its max range is reduced to 1.5km. The weapon is less effective against fast moving jet aircraft and incoming missiles. It is not designed for close-in defense which is better suited to other weapon systems such as the Phalanx. The autocannon has a 900-1000 rpm rate of fire, and the mount can traverse 360 degrees, and can elevate anywhere from –10 degrees to over 55 degrees.
The M134 Minigun is an electrically operated rotary-barrel machine gun known for its high rate of fire which can be varied from 2,000-6,000 rpm. These guns use belt-fed 7.62x51mm ammunition with both ball and tracer rounds and are manually operated by a single person. The guns are best for provision of fire support and close-in defense. They are especially good at countering small vessels, particularly those that may be operated by terrorists or pirates of which were one of the main reasons they were adopted on many modern-day naval ships to better defend against such attacks. The gun itself has origins in the US with it first emerging in the early 1960s.
Albion Class – Landing Platform Dock
The Albion Class is a landing platform dock that can transport Royal Marines into combat zones to deliver them ashore either by sea or air. The vessels hold landing craft inside of it that can be deployed to ferry Royal Marines, equipment and vehicles and there is a flight deck on the ship that can ferry Royal Marines and equipment via the air, the flight deck is large enough for it to have space for two helicopters up to Chinook size.
Each ship can hold four landing craft and in the case of the Albion Class they hold two each of two different kinds of landing craft – The Mk10 Landing Craft Utility (Mk10 LCU) boat and the Mk5 Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (Mk5 LCVP).
The Mk10 LCU has been in service since 1998. They are 29.82m in length, can move up to 10 knots at max speed, can travel up to 600 nautical miles and each one can hold 120 troops or one main battle tank or four vehicles (such as 4 Armored Viking Personnel Vehicles). The landing craft can operate anywhere in the world including tropical or arctic climates. One major improvement over the Mk9 is that they can be loaded from the backend without first needing to be launched.
The Mk5 LCVP has been in service since 1996. They are 15.7m in length, can move up to 25 knots at max speed, can travel up to 210+ nautical miles and each can hold 38 troops plus a vehicle and trailer, or it can be used to transport over 6 tonnes of stores. The Mk5 LCVP may sometimes be used as a patrol vessel by Royal Marines instead of as a landing craft. The craft is capable of mounting general purpose machine guns for defense.
Each Albion class ship can carry 256 troops which during extraordinary times can be expanded to 405 troops. The ships will also carry soldiers combat supplies and vehicles. The ships vehicle deck can support up to 67 vehicles.
Each Albion Class ship is 176 meters in length, can travel up to 8,000 nautical miles, and can move up to 18 knots at top speed. The ships have Phalanx weapon systems for close-in defense which can engage targets up to a mile away, this gatling gun is radar-controlled and fires 20mm shells at 3,000 rounds per minute. The Phalanx’s main purpose is to dispatch of enemy aircraft and missiles that broke through a ship’s or task group’s outer ring of defences. In some cases, the Phalanx weapon systems can be removed from their ships and be used to defend important ground targets and facilities.
Other self-defense weapons include two 20mm Oerlikon autocannons and four general purpose machine guns. The ships also include numerous sensors, radars, electronic warfare systems, and decoy capabilities for further defense, offense, aircraft control, and navigation.
As it stands there are two Albion Class ships in operation the first being the HMS Albion itself launched in March 2001 and the second being HMS Bulwark launched in November 2001.
Patrol and Mine Countermeasure Vessels – 4 Classes
The Patrol and Mine Countermeasure Vessels include four vessels, this includes two used for minehunting; one Fast Patrol Boat; and one Offshore Patrol Vessel. As a whole these ships and boats help to keep waters and shipping lanes safe for all who use them. They may also be used in anti-terrorism or search and rescue operations as well as training.
Hunt Class and Sandown Class – Mine Countermeasures
There are currently six Hunt Class minehunting vessels in active use, down from the original thirteen. This particular type actually combines the more traditional role of minesweeper (where ships cleared actively mined areas as a whole without prior detection) and the minehunter (ships that seek, detect, and destroy individual mines and explosives).
The ships use high-definition sonar to look through the oceans and seabeds for mines and lost explosives (such as explosives from past conflicts/wars, including ordinance from World War II that may be submerged) which pose a risk to other vessels or naval forces. When such things are found they can either be destroyed by the deployment of special clearance diving teams from the ship, or by using the SeaFox Mine Disposal system.
The ships include glass-reinforced plastic hulls to help conceal their presence from sea mines. The ships sonar systems can detect and classify objects as small as a football all the way up to 1,000 meters. These ships as such would protect any naval convoys by patrolling around them for mines.
The SeaFox Mine Disposal system is a remotely-operated submersible that can be deployed from the ship. It can identify the threat of any underwater explosives using fibre-optic cables from the parent ship. The SeaFox, once a mine or explosive is found, will then be guided to the target to place a shape charge on it that will be detonated to destroy the mine/explosive.
Using such a system obviously eliminates the human danger element that are faced by diving teams otherwise used.
The Hunt Class ships are also used secondarily as offshore patrol vessels.
The first Hunt Class (HMS Brecon) was launched in 1978 and the last one (HMS Quorn) was launched in 1988. HMS Brecon still exists within the Royal Navy as a training ship, HMS Quorn was decommissioned in 2017 and sold to the Lithuanian Naval Force in 2020.
Those that remain in service with the Royal Navy are the HMS Ledbury (launched 1979), HMS Cattistock (launched 1981), HMS Brocklesbury (launched 1982), HMS Middleton (launched 1983), HMS Chiddingfold (launched 1983), and HMS Hurworth (launched 1984).
The Sandown Class are newer than the Hunt Class minehunter ships with the first (HMS Sandown) being launched in 1988, it was sold to the Estonian Navy in 2006, and the last to be launched was HMS Shoreham in 2001 which remains in active service with the Royal Navy along with four others – the HMS Penzance launched in 1997, HMS Pembroke launched in 1997, HMS Grimsby launched in 1998, and HMS Bangor launched in 1999. This is down from the original fifteen that had been in service.
Three were sold to the Estonian Navy, three to the Royal Saudi Navy, two that have been decommissioned (the HMS Ramsey and HMS Blyth) will eventually be transferred over to the Ukrainian Navy, the HMS Walney is decommissioned and awaiting disposal, while the HMS Cromer is used by the Royal Navy as a static training ship.
The Sandown Class is purely a minehunter, but like the Hunt Class they are also used secondarily as an offshore patrol vessel. This class also makes use of the SeaFox Mine Disposal system as well as diver teams. It has similar roles and tasks to the Hunt Class, as well as reinforced plastic hulls.
Both the Hunt and Sandown Classes are also armed with the DS30B 30mm (Oerlikon KCB) Gun for self-defense which is a remotely operated gun that is fitted on to a fully automated mount. The gun was originally made for Frigates to defend themselves against short-range missiles, rockets, grenades, and explosives.
Ships are also armed with M134 Miniguns and General-Purpose Machine Guns.
All of the Royal Navy’s Minehunting ships (both the Hunt and Sandown Classes) will eventually be removed from service and replaced by automated systems. This is planned to take place during the 2029-2031 time period.
Scimitar Class and Archer Class – Fast Patrol Boats
The Scimitar was the lighter and faster of the two classes of fast patrol boats, the heavier being the Archer Class which is also called a Fast Inshore Patrol Craft. Alongside the Archer Class, the Scimitar Class had been a part of three squadrons: the Coastal Forces Squadron; the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron; and the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron.
Their unique ability to operate in shallow ports and confined waters that are not traditionally accessible to larger warships means they can conduct roles that involve safeguarding the UK’s nuclear fleet, maritime security, force protection, can support the overseas operations of NATO, and are also used to support the training of the next generation of warfare officers.
The Scimitar had a crew of five, was 15.9m in length, had a maximum range of 260 nautical miles, and a top speed of 32 knots. The main armaments of the Scimitar Class were two General Purpose Machine Guns for self-defense and to defend other maritime units.
There were two Scimitar Class fast patrol boats in active operation – the HMS Scimitar and the HMS Sabre both of which were launched in 2003 and originally performed anti-terrorism operations in Northern Ireland. But they have both recently been decommissioned from service as of 30th March 2022 and are awaiting disposal. The Archer Class was kept in place over the Scimitar Class despite being a lot older.
The Archer Class is the heavier fast patrol boat, coming in at 54 tonnes compared to the Scimitar’s 24 tonnes. This means it is slower than the Scimitar with a maximum speed of 25 knots but it can travel a lot further – up to 550 nautical miles. It is also crewed by 5. There are currently 16 of these boats in active operation, down from 17 with one of them having been sold to the Royal Oman Police.
The first one – HMS Archer (which remains in active operation) was launched in 1985 and the last two – the HMS Tracker and HMS Raider were both launched in January 1998. The boats can be armed with up to three General Purpose Machine Guns and they can also mount an Oerlikon 20mm autocannon to the forecastle.
River Class – Offshore Patrol Vessel
The Offshore Patrol Vessels are heavier than their inshore and fast patrol boat cousins. They are used for protecting the UK’s interests at home and elsewhere when needed, are used to safeguard territorial waters and protect fishing stocks. They may also be used for constabulary operations by authorities, particularly the second generation can perform anti-terrorism, anti-piracy, and anti-smuggling operations, as well as disaster-relief operations.
The UK currently has one type of Offshore Patrol Vessel in service called the River Class, but it is split into two generations, the first having been active since the early 2000s, replacing the Island Class and Castle Class patrol vessels, which include three ships – the HMS Tyne, HMS Severn, and the HMS Mersey, most of their service lives have seen them actively protect the UK’s fishing stocks but can also be called on for other general duties either in the UK or elsewhere. The first generation used to number four ships but the HMS Clyde, used as a guardship for the Falklands, was decommissioned and given to the Royal Bahrain Naval Force.
The second generation of the River Class are described as being more capable than the first as well as larger and faster, the first entered service in 2017. They number five ships which are the HMS Forth which acts as the UK’s permanent presence in the South Atlantic; the HMS Medway which is used to support the British Overseas Territories located in the North Atlantic and Caribbean; HMS Trent and HMS Tamar that await tasking by the UK Government whenever necessary; and the HMS Spey.
Maximum speed for the first generation is 20 knots which for the second generation it is 25 knots. Range for both generations are 5,500 nautical miles. The first generation can remain operationally active for up to 21-days while the second generation can remain up to 35-days.
Armaments of the first generation include an Oerlikon 20mm cannon and 2 general purpose machine guns. The second generation on the other hand have a Bushmaster 30mm cannon, 2 M134 Miniguns, as well as 2 general purpose machine guns. The generation two also have a flight deck that can be used by a Merlin helicopter. All the armaments help defend the vessels against various munitions and projectiles, other vessels, and also against aircraft.
Daring Class Type 45 – Destroyers
Destroyers are described as the ‘backbone of the Royal Navy’. Destroyer vessels today are described as fast, long-endurance warships that are used to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group, they will defend against powerful short-ranged threats. The Royal Navy has one type of Destroyer – the Type 45 Destroyer which is the Daring Class in the Royal Navy.
The Royal Navy’s website describes the Type 45 as among the most advanced warships ever built. They are suited for various tasks from pirate hunting, defending fleets from airborne threats, and also the provision of humanitarian aid.
The Daring Class Type 45’s have a total displacement of 7,350 tons, are 152 meters in length, can move up to 30 knots at top speed, and can travel up to a maximum of 7,000 nautical miles. The ships have numerous sensors and systems – these include the FICS45 which is a fully integrated communications system that can be used for voice, intercoms, data links, and conference calls either internally or externally. It also has a Meteorology and Oceanography system that keeps it ahead of the game by having total awareness of the ship’s surrounding environment.
The Destroyers also have a Seagnat decoy system for radar jamming and deception against incoming missiles. A ship torpedo defense system also defends against waterborne attacks. Bow mounted medium frequency Ultra/EDO MFS-7000 sonar is used to detect submarines. The Sea Viper missile system has a SAMPSON AESA and S1850M long-range radars to detect and track missiles.
The Type 45 Destroyers have an array of defensive weapons which includes a 4.5-inch Mark8 Mod 1, two 30mm DSM Mark2’s, two 20mm close-in Phalanx weapon systems, two 7.62mm miniguns, and up to six general purpose machine guns. But its main armament is the already mentioned Sea Viper missile system which is capable of tracking and destroying multiple aerial threats at the same time which can be anything from enemy aircraft, the most advanced enemy missiles, and enemy drones – the system can launch up to 8 missiles within 10 seconds and guide up to 16 missiles at one time.
The system has also recently been undergoing a £300m upgrade to ensure it can continue to match and destroy the latest advancements in ballistic missile technology.
As it stands there are six Daring Class Type 45 Destroyer’s in active service with the Royal Navy – these are HMS Daring launched in 2006, HMS Dauntless launched in January 2007, HMS Diamond launched in November 2007, HMS Dragon launched in 2008, HMS Defender launched in 2009, and HMS Duncan launched in 2010.
Frigates – 1 (+3 in development)
What exactly a frigate is varies from one naval force to another. But in general, their size tends to be smaller than destroyers but larger than corvettes and their purpose is to be used as a frontline warship for both defense and offense. The Royal Navy only uses Frigates and Destroyers as frontline warships with the Royal Navy’s last class of Corvette, the Peacock Class, having been discontinued in 1996 and not replaced.
The Royal Navy says its Frigates are primarily built for submarine hunting but can also perform various other tasks. They refer to them as the ‘versatile workhorse of the fleet’.
Duke Class Type 23
The Royal Navy’s Type 23 Frigate, also called the Duke Class, is its current operational frigate. These ships were originally created for the Cold War for the purpose of taking on Soviet submarines. But in the decades since the end of the Cold War the ships have remained highly useful in numerous modern operations, although are eventually scheduled to be replaced by a range of new, modern frigates that are currently being built and planned.
The ships can be operated by a crew of 185 for each with further room for 205. With a top speed of 28 knots and a maximum range of 7,800 nautical miles they are fast warships that can travel far but they are not quite as fast as Type 45 Destroyers, although can travel further in one go. They are 133 meters in length with a total displacement of 4,900 tons making them smaller and a lot lighter than the Type 45 Destroyers as expected of Frigates.
Each frigate can also carry two Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats for ferrying and landing purposes. The ships also include a flight deck and enclosed hanger which can support a single helicopter – usually either a Wildcat HMA2 armed with two anti-submarine torpedoes, or a Westland Merlin HM2 armed with four anti-submarine torpedoes.
As well as being armed with four general purpose machine guns and two miniguns for self-defense each frigate also has either two 30mm DS30M Mk2 Guns or two 30mm DS30B guns. Similar to the Type 45 Destroyers the frigates also have a main gun mounted to the forecastle which is the 4.5inch Mk8 gun that is used for naval gunfire support and bombardment of targets on shores, these guns can fire up to two dozen high explosive 40kg shells per minute which can hit targets more than a dozen miles away or almost 18 miles away when special extended-range shells are used.
There are two twin 12.75inch Sting Ray torpedo tubes on each frigate for the purpose of anti-submarine warfare. There are also two quad Harpoon launchers which are scheduled to be replaced some point this year if they have not already been. After much debate and delay the decision was made that the aging Harpoon launchers will be replaced with the Norwegian Naval Strike Missile which will be both for anti-ship warfare and land-attack cruise missile strikes.
The NSM is currently the only 5th-generation long-range precision strike missile in the world (at least in 2017 this may have since changed). The missiles are more maneuverable which enable them to better counter air defences and have a max range of 185km.
But although the Harpoon is aging it is still not to be underestimated, first developed by the US with it going into operation from 1977, the anti-ship missile system is able to strike targets up to 80 miles away and uses both inertial guidance and active radar homing to hone its accuracy. The missile moves at Mach 0.9 and delivers a large high-explosive warhead.
Finally, the frigate has one 32-cell Sea Ceptor surface-to-air vertical launching (VLS) missile system that holds up to 32 missiles at once. The Sea Ceptor replaced the Sea Wolf SAM system and enables the frigates to be the master of air defence with it able to defend an area up to 500 square miles or 1,300 square kilometers in size, and it is able to engage multiple targets at the same time. As well as aircraft and missile defence it can also be used to defend against small surface targets if required. The system is very modern having only come into service in 2018. It uses inertial guidance, is able to course correct, and also uses radar homing.
The ships naturally also have a bunch of systems such as sensors, radars, electronic warfare systems, and decoys. It has a Seagnat control system, its decoys include the Type 182 towed torpedo decoy and the Surface Ship Torpedo Defence system.
There were originally 16 Type 23 Frigates in operation with the Royal Navy with that number having gone down to 12, three of them were decommissioned and given to the Chilean Navy – this includes the first one to have been launched – the HMS Norfolk launched in 1987 – as well as the HMS Marlborough launched in January 1989 and the HMS Grafton launched in May 1993. Another, the HMS Monmouth launched in November 1991 was decommissioned in June 2021 and is awaiting disposal.
Those currently still in service are the HMS Argyll launched April 1989, the HMS Lancaster launched in 1990, the HMS Iron Duke launched in March 1991, the HMS Montrose launched in July 1992, the HMS Westminster launched in February 1992, the HMS Northumberland launched in April 1992, the HMS Richmond launched in 1993, the HMS Somerset launched in June 1994, the HMS Sutherland launched in 1996, the HMS Kent launched in 1998, the HMS Portland launched in 1999, and the HMS St Albans launched in 2000.
City Class Type 26 (Under development)
The Royal Navy website describes the upcoming Type 26 City Class frigates, of which 8 are being developed, as a 21st Century warship and a ‘Global Combat Ship’ that will replace the Type 23 Frigates as the ‘workhorse of the Fleet’. It will have three core roles of warfighting, maritime security, and international engagement on the world stage. The programme for the development of these ships is in cooperation with Australia and Canada who will also be receiving some of these vessels.
The ships will have each have at least 161 crew members, less than that is needed for the Type 23, and can travel at a top speed of 26+ knots and can travel up to 7,000 nautical miles in one go. Like the Type 23’s, the Type 26’s with have many anti-submarine capabilities but also weapons and systems that enable various other multirole operations. The vessels will be quite a bit heavier than the Type 23’s at 6,900-ton displacements. It will be 149.9 meters in length.
The Type 26’s will have particular priority on protecting the UK’s strategic deterrent (Trident) and also protecting the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers. The ships can also be used for various operations across a large spectrum such as complex combat scenarios, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The Type 26 will have an improved flight deck that is capable of supporting a medium-lift or light-lift helicopter or a single Chinook-sized helicopter which will enable the Frigate to be able to use a Chinook to support ship-to-objective maneuvers. The Chinook or other heavy-lift helicopters will not be able to make use of the enclosed hanger as it would be too small for them. There will also be facilities that can support unmanned aerial vehicles for enhanced intelligence, surveillance and targeting capability.
The medium helicopter can either be a Wildcat or a Merlin and these helicopters with include more arms not only for anti-submarine capability but anti-ship and surface targets as well. A Wildcat helicopter for this ship can be armed with four Sea Venom anti-ship missiles, two Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, 20 Martlet air-surface missiles, and Mk11 Depth Charges. The Merlin on the other hand will only be armed with four Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes.
Its weapons will include two 30mm DS30M Mk2 guns, 2 Phalanx close-in defense systems, 2 Miniguns, as well as either four General Purpose Machine Guns or four 0.50 calibre Heavy Machine Guns. It will also have two 24-cell VLS Sea Ceptor anti-air missile systems, and one Mark 41 VLS missiles systems for ship and surface targets with the system able to support numerous missile types including modern missiles that are under development giving it wide multirole flexibility. There will also be a 5-inch 62-calibre Mk45 Mod 4 naval gun mounted to the forecastle of each Type 26 Frigate – the naval gun of US origin is now owned by the British BAE Systems company; the guns are slightly older (both originating in early 1970s) but have more modern upgrades, and it possibly may be upgraded in the future to use smart munitions.
Other systems include the Artisan 3D surveillance radar with significant detection capabilities and also electronic countermeasures against sophisticated jamming attempts. The vessels will also have a flexible modular mission bay which can be used to carry multiple ferrying boats and autonomous vehicles or transport stores for things like disaster relief, the reconfigurable space enables matching of numerous scenarios.
Each ship will also have acoustically quiet hulls and less noisy propulsion systems that will make it harder for enemy submarines to detect them. A towed sonar array will be used to detect enemy submarines and provide torpedo warnings.
The City-Class frigates will have a service life of at least 25-years.
Inspiration Class Type 31 (Under development)
The Type 31 Inspiration Class Frigates are another new and in-development class of frigate that will be replacing the Type 23 Frigates alongside the new and in-development Type 26 City Class and Type 32 Frigates. In total as it stands five of these are planned for the Royal Navy. The ships are being designed and built in cooperation with Indonesia and Poland who will also be getting some of the new vessels.
The vessels will be for deterrence of aggression and maintaining security of the UK’s interests and can provide forward naval presence. The vessels will be used for purpose of disruption and interception of those using the sea unlawfully. They will also be used for intelligence gathering, defence engagement, and humanitarian relief.
The vessels will still have a flight deck and enclosed hanger to support a single medium-lift or light-lift helicopter which will usually either be the Merlin or Wildcat which will have the same arms as those supporting the Type 26 Frigates – but unlike the Type 26 the Type 31’s flight deck will not be able to support a heavy-lift helicopter such as the Chinook. Although some design plans indicate that the flight deck would be able to support a single Chinook sized helicopter so we may have to wait and see on that one.
But the ship will have boat bays for three PAC-24 boats for ferrying, landing and support boarding operations for anti-narcotics and anti-piracy missions and for rendering assistance to other vessels when needed.
There will also be an adaptable mission space on the vessel similar to the modular mission bay on the Type 26’s.
Each vessel will only require up 107 crew and have a max speed of over 26 knots and ability to travel up to 7,500 nautical miles. It will have a displacement of 5,700 tons making it heavier than the Type 23 but lighter than the Type 26. It will be 138.7 meters in length.
Unlike the Type 23 and Type 26 frigates they will not have a primary purpose of anti-submarine warfare but will be purely a general-purpose frigate, although both the Type 23 and Type 26 can be used in general purpose roles in addition to their anti-submarine focus.
Its weapons will include a 24-cell VLS Sea Ceptor anti-air missile system, its main gun mounted to the forecastle will be the Bofurs 57mm Mk110 naval gun, and as secondary naval guns it will have two Bofurs 40mm Mk4 guns, one elevated behind the main gun and another mounted on the back of the vessel. There will also be four 7.62mm General Purpose Machine guns and four 7.62mm Miniguns.
Although the ship is capable of fitting a Mark 41 VLS Missile System like the Type 26, it is very possible it will not be included on Type 31’s, although the Royal Navy has apparently been considering its addition due to the wide missile capability it provides.
All three of the Bofurs naval guns will be integrated through the Thales TACTICOS Combat Management System which utilises Thales sensors and radars for fire-control and additional situational awareness. The system will be able to react to high-speed threats faster than a human operator.
The ships will also include other sensors and radar systems, electronic warfare systems, and communication systems including satellite communication.
The new ships are expected to enter service by 2028.
Unnamed Type 32 (Under development)
The Type 32 is the most recent Frigate to be announced following the announcements for the in-development Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates. It is so recent that it has yet to be given a class name and there is also the possibility that they may never actually come to fruition. Five are planned currently and they will be general-purpose and modular similar to the Type 31 and Type 26.
The vessels are yet still in their concept phase unlike the Type 26 and Type 31 which have both begun construction. As it stands, they are envisioned to be a platform for autonomous systems with an aim on anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures.
After concerns that the new Type 32 Frigate may be cancelled it was later confirmed that the Type 32 remains a future UK platform requirement although there is yet no confirmation when construction may begin or when we shall see the first Type 32’s entering into service. The most we know is they won’t be seen before 2030.
Although there have been some concept images released of a theoretical Type 32 there is no confirmation on what the final design will be, what systems and sensors it will have, what it can support, and what weapons it will have. But we can speculate that any such ship has a high chance of having a similar design, systems, and weapons to the Type 26 and Type 31.
Aircraft Carriers – 1
Queen Elizabeth Class
The Queen Elizabeth Class ships are aircraft carriers making them the largest and most advanced warships ever built for the Royal Navy as well as some of their newest ships, both the HMS Queen Elizabeth, and HMS Prince of Wales, both in active service since 2017 and 2019 respectively, are the Nation’s flagships. They replaced the former Invincible Class light aircraft carriers.
The decks of the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers are far larger than that of the light aircraft carriers and include numerous other facilities such as decks under the main flight deck and hangers. Its displacement is 65,000 tonnes compared to the Invincible’s 22,000 tonnes. The ships can travel in excess of 25 knots and has a range of 10,000 nautical miles more than that of the Invincible. The ships can hold anywhere from 250-900 troops and has over 670 crew members with a maximum complement of 1,600 crew when the air elements are embarked – this small crew for such a large ship is possible due to extensive automation of many systems on the ship.
One major example of automation is the weapon handling system which is almost entirely automated and capable of moving palletised munitions from magazines and weapon preperation areas, with the system using trackways and several lifts, to forward, aft, port, and starboard areas of the ship, delivering the munitions to magazines, hangers, weapon preparation areas, and the flight deck. The only parts of this process requiring manpower are the initial storing of the munitions and preparing munitions for use.
The carriers are built to support short take-off and vertical landing aircraft. A catapult assisted take-off barrier arrested recovery configuration was considered for the HMS Prince of Wales carrier which would have been able to support aircraft that do not have short take-off and vertical landing capability, but this was abandoned due to cost. The carriers currently will be supporting Merlin helicopters for both utility and airborne early warning roles and will support the new F-35B multirole combat jet aircraft with it holding up to 24 of them under normal circumstances and up to 36 under extraordinary circumstances.
The carrier can also support other aircraft if needed such as chinooks, apaches, and wildcats. For defense the carriers have three Phalanx CIWS weapon systems and six M134 miniguns, it is also capable of fitting four 30mm DS30M Mk2 weapon systems. The aircraft carriers make up the central components of the UK Carrier Strike Group.
The carriers also have a number of boat bays on each side which allow them to carry and lower down small boats into the sea which would be used for ferrying.
The carriers are designed for various types of operations such as high-intensity conflict, provision of humanitarian aid, and disaster relief. Instead of having a single island on the ship where all ship operations are conducted from, there are two smaller separate islands each with its own focus – the forward island focuses on ship control operations while the aft island focuses on flying control of aircraft. Due to the position of gas turbine exhausts the choice had to be made between a single but long island or two smaller islands. The two island configuration also provides some advantages such as reduced air turbulence and the location of the aft island was great for aircraft approaches and deck landings.
Crew facilities on the carriers include a cinema, gyms, four galleys with 67 catering staff, four large dining areas, an eight-bed medical facility that includes an operating theatre and dental surgery with 11 medical staff, and 470 cabins with 1,600 bunks which also includes the ability to accommodate a company of 250 Royal Marines, there are wide assault routes up to the flight deck from the cabins.
For tracking the carriers have a BAE Systems S1850M radar for long-range wide-area search as well as a BAE Systems Artisan 3D maritime medium-range radar which is also used for navigation. The long range radar features automatic detection and track initiation and can track up to 1,000 air targets up to a range of 400km. The medium-range radar can also track air targets down to the size of a softball moving at up to Mach 2 at very low levels over 35km away.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary are a grouping of vessels that are used for and in support of various logistical tasks for operations. It includes things like tankers, floating hospitals, ships used for mechanics, as well as amphibious landing docks. As it stands the fleet currently supports five different types of ships.
Ships a part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are prepended with the abbreviation ‘RFA’ instead of ‘HMS’ like other Royal Navy ships.
Wave Class – Fast Fleet Tanker
The Wave Class is the first we’ll look at from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. It is a tanker vessel used in support of global operations such as amphibious warfare, anti-submarine operations and the protection of important sea areas and shipping. One of its main abilities is to deliver fuel through a Replenishment-at-Sea rig that can deliver fuel either port, starboard or astern. The ships also replenish any dry stores needed, which include essentials like food, fresh water and ammunition. This can also make the ships useful for humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
Outside of that the ships can also be used for anti-piracy operations and deterrent patrols.
The ship can travel up to 20 knots and has a range of 10,000 nautical miles. The ships are large and heavy at 196.5m in length with a displacement of 31,500 tons.
Its armaments include two Oerlikon 30mm cannons and 2 Phalanx radar-controlled Gatling-guns that can fire 20mm shells at 3,000 rounds per minute. These weapons specialize in targeting incoming munitions and projectiles as well as aircraft. In addition to those weapons the ships are also armed with 2 M134 Miniguns and 5 general purpose machine guns.
The Wave Class can also accommodate a Merlin helicopter.
There are two Wave Class tankers, the RFA Wave Knight and the RFA Wave Ruler, in service which standby in extended readiness. The first, RFA Wave Knight, has been active since 2003.
Tide Class – Fast Fleet Tanker
The Tide Class are also fast fleet tankers a part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary but they are much newer than the Wave Class having been in service since 2017. They were made to replace older single-hulled tankers. They perform the same service as the Wave Class although the Tide Class has priority on refueling the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers in addition to supporting warships.
The vessels are larger and heavier than the Wave Class with a displacement of 39,000 tons and 200.9 meters in length.
Similar to the Wave Class they can also be used for things like humanitarian support and maritime security operations.
The Tide Class can also travel up to 20 knots but have a much longer range of 18,200 nautical miles. It also has two Oerlikon 30mm cannons and can also have 2 Phalanx radar-controlled Gatling guns although they may not always be included dependent on operational need. The ship naturally also has machine guns and miniguns for self-defense. And the ship can accommodate either one Wildcat or one Merlin helicopter. It also has a large flight deck that can be used by the Chinook.
The flight deck is capable of handling a Merlin or Wildcat helicopter and is also capable of supporting a Chinook-sized helicopter unlike the Wave Class.
As of now there are four Tide Class ships in service – the RFA Tidespring, the RFA Tiderace, the RFA Tidesurge, and the RFA Tideforce.
Fort II Class (Fort-Victoria Class) – Replenishment Ship
The Fort II or Fort-Victoria Class is a replenishment ship or replenishment oiler that can be used to transport and thus replenish both dry cargo and fuel tanks. The Fort II Class is a replacement for the Fort I Class (Fort-Rosalie Class) solid replenishment ships which were only capable of transporting and storing dry cargo holds but were put out of service in 2021, having been in commission since the late 1970s.
The Fort II Class ships were first ordered in the late 1980s and have been in active service since the 1990s. Although there is currently only one in service, the RFA Fort Victoria, with the former second ship RFA Fort George having been put out of service in 2011 and scrapped in 2013. Six of the ships were originally planned though four were cancelled leading to only two ever being created. The launch of RFA Victoria was actually delayed due to an IRA bomb attack, with the ship having been made in Belfast.
With a displacement of 32,300 tons and a length of 203 meters the vessel is larger than the Wave Class and Tide Class vessels and are heavier than the Wave Class but lighter than the Tide Class.
Self-defense of the ship includes/can support the Seagnat countermeasure launchers used to protect against enemy missiles, a Type 182 towed decoy, 2 20mm Phalanx CIWS automatic weapon systems, and 2 20mm Oerlikon/BMARC automatic cannons. The ship is also capable of fitting 15-cell Sea Wolf vertical launch systems, although they do not actively fit them.
The ship also has a flight deck and hanger for up to five Sea King (now out of service) or Merlin helicopters – up to three in the hanger and two on flight deck.
Bay Class – Landing Ship Dock
The Bay Class Landing Ship Dock ships are used for amphibious landings, able to land troops, supplies and armoured vehicles using two onboard landing craft vessels – the Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel and Landing Craft Utility vessels, it also can hold two Mexeflote rafts. They are described as highly versatile and able to operate in extremely rough weather.
Similar to other ships they have also found purpose in other operational capacity such as humanitarian aid and mine warfare support. The vessels have also been used to hold and launch autonomous vehicles that include aerial, surface, and submersibles.
The Bay Class is able to travel up to 18 knots and has a range of 8,000 nautical miles. The Bay Class replaced the older Round Table Class vessels and are described as being more capable, more flexible, and have twice the capacity. Their design is based off the Royal Schelde Enforcer project of the Netherlands and Spanish Navy with the primary difference being that the Bay Class does not have a permanent hanger for helicopters, although it can have a temporary hanger fitted, and they have a flight deck for helicopters up to Chinook size.
Each ship can have anywhere from a minimum of 70 to a maximum of 158 crew dependent on operational needs. Each ship is capable of holding 1,150 linear meters of vehicles – which can include combinations like up to 24 Challenger 2 tanks or up to 150 light trucks. Its cargo capacity can include up to 200 tons of ammunition or up to 24 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers. The ship holds up to 356 troops as standard but can be overloaded with up to 700 troops if needed. For self-defense each ship can fit 2 30mm DS30B rapid-fire cannons, 2 Phalanx CIWS automatic weapon systems, 4 7.62mm Mk44 Miniguns, and 6 7.62mm L7 General-Purpose Machine Guns.
As of now there are three Bay Class landing ships in operation within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the RFA Lyme Bay launched in 2005, the RFA Mounts Bay launched in 2004, and the RFA Cardigan Bay also launched in 2005. The first to be launched was the former RFA Largs Bay in 2003 but this one was sold to the Royal Australian Navy in 2011 where it became HMAS Choules where it remains in active service.
The Casualty Ship – RFA Argus
The RFA Argus is currently a casualty ship a part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. It is currently the oldest ship in the Navy having first been requisitioned by the Ministry of Defense in 1982 from its original purpose as a civilian container ship called the MV Contender Bezant. This requisition was so the ship could be used in the ongoing Falklands War at the time before being returned to its civilian role until it was outright purchased in 1984 for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to replace the RFA Engadine as an aviation training ship once it had completed a 4-year conversion to fit the role.
The ship would later be fitted with a fully functional hospital in 1991 during the Gulf War to act as a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship, a role that would become its primary function in 2009 with its aviation training usage becoming its secondary function. To the surprise of many the ship has had its service life extended beyond 2030 but is planned to eventually be replaced with multi-role support ships as outlined by the 2021 defence white paper.
Despite this prospect the ship seems yet to go on beyond a casualty ship with plans announced in 2022 for the RFA Argus to be refitted to a new role as part of the Littoral Strike Role alongside some Bay-class landing ships. The purpose of this Royal Navy task force grouping of ships is amphibious warfare from littoral areas (areas of the sea, a river, or lake that is close to the shore). Littoral Strike Groups been active since 2020 with a primary focus on forward-basing, precision strike capabilities, high mobility, modern command and control technology, networked autonomous systems and deception capabilities.
The ship has a flight deck and four hangers that can hold up to six medium helicopters, and can support helicopters such as Chinooks, Merlins, Apaches, and Wildcats. The hospital on the ship supports 100 beds as well as a 4-bay operating theatre, a 10-bed critical care unit, a 20-bed high dependency unit, and CT scanner. The ship can travel up to 18 knots and has a range of 20,000 nautical miles.
For self-defense the ship has 2 Oerlikon 20mm automatic cannons, four 7.62mm general-purpose machine guns, and Seagnat launchers.
Sources
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