List of active Royal Navy ships

The Royal Navy is the principal naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Its assets include both commissioned warships and non-commissioned vessels. As of December 2024, there are 62 commissioned and active ships in the Royal Navy.

Of the commissioned vessels, sixteen are major surface combatants (two aircraft carriers, six guided missile destroyers and eight frigates) and nine are nuclear-powered submarines (four ballistic missile submarines and five fleet submarines). In addition the Navy possesses seven mine countermeasures vessels, twenty-six patrol vessels, two survey vessels, one icebreaker and one historic warship, Template:HMS. The total displacement of the Royal Navy's commissioned and active ships is approximately 393,000 tonnes.

The Royal Navy also includes a number of smaller non-commissioned assets. The naval training vessels Template:HMS and Hindostan can be found based at the Royal Navy stone frigates Template:HMS and the Britannia Royal Naval College, respectively. Non-commissioned Sea-class workboats, procured under Project Vahana, are operated by the Royal Navy in various support, survey and training roles, replacing previous P1000 Class Picket Boat vessels.<ref name="auto3">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Steve Bush 2014">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This class of vessel also incorporates an autonomous minehunting variant (known as the Arcims-class),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while another autonomous vessel, Madfox, is employed in varied roles including as a testbed for autonomous combat operations.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref> Madfox and other experimental vessels, including XV Patrick Blackett and APAC-24 (a crewless Pacific 24 rigid-hulled inflatable boat), are operated by the Fleet Experimentation Squadron within the Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2025, XV Excalibur, an Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), was also operated by the Squadron<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while other autonomous surface vessels, for minehunting, were in service and in the process of procurement from Thales Group.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Besides the Royal Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and the Royal Marines operate their own flotillas of vessels which complement the assets of the Royal Navy. These vessels are not included in this list or the above figures. Nevertheless, combined, the Royal Navy and RFA have 73 vessels with a total displacement of about 671,000 tonnes, with the principal landing craft of the Royal Marines having an additional combined displacement of about 2,200 tonnes.

As a supporting contingent of His Majesty's Naval Service, the civilian Marine Services operate nearly 100 auxiliary ships (including coastal logistics, tugs and research vessels) in support of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary operations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy operates three main bases where commissioned ships are based: HMNB Portsmouth, HMNB Devonport and HMNB Clyde. A number of commissioned vessels, belonging to the University Royal Naval Units (URNU), are stationed at various other locations around the United Kingdom.

The Royal Navy's principal overseas base is Template:HMS in Bahrain.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A general-purpose frigate and vessels belonging to the navy's 9th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron are forward-deployed there. Two fast patrol boats, together with a forward-deployed River-class offshore patrol vessel, normally form part of the Gibraltar Squadron and are permanently based there. Four other River-class vessels are also forward-deployed: one in the Falkland Islands, one in the Caribbean and two in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the United Kingdom maintains a Joint Logistics Support Base in Duqm, Oman.<ref name="Duqm">Template:Cite news</ref>

All ships and submarines currently in commission with the Royal Navy were built in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of icebreaker Template:HMS which was built in Norway and survey vessel Template:HMS which was substantially built in Ireland. All commissioned vessels of the Royal Navy bear the ship prefix "HMS", for His Majesty's Ship or His Majesty's Submarine.

Ceremonial/Historic ship

Flagship of the First Sea Lord
Classic first-rate
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Ship of the line	Template:HMS	—	1778<ref group="N">Launched in 1765 and commissioned in 1778, making Victory the world's oldest warship still in commission.</ref>	3,556 tonnes	First-rate ship of the line	Portsmouth	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Submarine service

Submarine service
Strategic
Class	Boat	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Template:Sclass	Template:HMS	S28	1993	15,900 tonnes	Ballistic missile submarine	Clyde	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	S29	1995				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	S30	1996				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	S31	1999				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Fleet
Class	Boat	Pennant No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Template:Sclass	Template:HMS	S119	2010	7,400 tonnes	Fleet submarine	Clyde	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	S120	2013				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	S121	2016				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	S122	2021				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
	Template:HMS	S123	2022				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Surface fleet

Surface fleet
Aircraft carriers
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Template:Sclass	Template:HMS	R08	2017	80,600 tonnes	Aircraft carrier	Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="HMSQE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	R09	2019				<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref group="N">Prince of Wales is the current Fleet Flagship as of late 2024.</ref>
Destroyers
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Type 45 / Daring class	Template:HMS	D32	2009	8,500 tonnes	Anti-air guided-missile destroyer	Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	D33	2010				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	D34	2011				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	D35	2012				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	D36	2013				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	D37	2013				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Frigates
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Type 23 / Duke class	Template:HMS	F229	1992	4,900 tonnes	Guided-missile frigate	Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">HMS Lancaster is forward deployed, operating from Template:HMS in Bahrain.</ref>
	Template:HMS	F234	1993			Devonport	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	F239	1995				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	F82	1996				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	F81	1997				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	F78	2000				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	F79	2001				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	F83	2002				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Offshore patrol
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Template:Sclass2	Template:HMS	P281	2003	1,700 tonnes	Offshore patrol vessel	Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P282	2003 and 2021				<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Template:HMS	P283	2003				<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Template:HMS	P222	2018	2,000 tonnes			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">HMS Forth is forward deployed, operating from Mare Harbour as guardship in the Falkland Islands.</ref>
	Template:HMS	P223	2019				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">HMS Medway is forward deployed as Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North) guardship in the Caribbean.</ref>
	Template:HMS	P224	2020				<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref group="N">HMS Trent is forward deployed to Gibraltar for regional operations in the Mediterranean and Gulf of Guinea.</ref>
	Template:HMS	P233	2020				<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref group="N">HMS Tamar is forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region with her primary logistics hub at the British Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore<ref name="iiss.org">Template:Cite news</ref></ref>
	Template:HMS	P234	2021				<ref>Template:Cite Twitter profile</ref><ref group="N">HMS Spey is forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region with her primary logistics hub at the British Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore<ref name="iiss.org">Template:Cite news</ref></ref>
Mine countermeasures
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Template:Sclass2	Template:HMS	M30	1981	750 tonnes	Minehunter	Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	M31	1982				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	M33	1983				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	M34	1984				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">HMS Middleton is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating from Template:HMS in Bahrain.</ref>
	Template:HMS	M37	1984				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	M39	1985				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sclass	Template:HMS	M109	2000	600 tonnes		Clyde	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">HMS Bangor is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating from Template:HMS in Bahrain.</ref>
Coastal & fast patrol
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
Archer class	Template:HMS	P264	1985	54 tonnes	Patrol boat, University Royal Naval Units	Edinburgh	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P270	1986			Liverpool	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P272	1988			Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P273	1988			Glasgow	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P279	1988			Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P280	1988			Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P291	1988			Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P292	1988			Liverpool	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P293	1988			Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P294	1988			Ipswich	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P163	1988			Cardiff	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P165	1985			Gateshead	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P164	1986			Hull	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P167	1988			Portsmouth	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:HMS	P274	1998		Patrol boat	Clyde	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.</ref>
	Template:HMS	P275	1998				citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.</ref>
Cutlass class	Template:HMS	P295	2022	35 tonnes		Gibraltar	<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref group="N">Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.</ref>
	Template:HMS	P296					<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.</ref>

Auxiliary vessels

See also: Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and vessels operated by Serco Marine Services

RN auxiliary ships
Survey
Class	Ship	No.	Commissioned	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
—	Template:HMS	H131	1997	13,500 tonnes	Ocean survey	Devonport	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
—	Template:HMS	A173	2011	5,000 tonnes	Icebreaker & survey		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="N">Deployed in Antarctic waters during the regional summer. Official role to: "patrol and survey in the Antarctic and South Atlantic, maintaining UK sovereign presence with wider regional engagement".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref></ref>
Sea class 18 m variant	Template:HMS	H130	2018	37 tonnes	Survey motor launch		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Non-commissioned vessels
Class	Ship	No.	In service	Displacement	Type	Homeport	Note
—	XV Excalibur	N/A	2025	19 tonnes	Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV)	Devonport	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
—	XV Patrick Blackett	X01	2022	270 tonnes	Experimental vessel	Portsmouth	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
—	Madfox	N/A	2021	c. 10 tonnes	Autonomous surface vessel	Portsmouth	<ref name="auto"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Sclass2	Brecon	M29	1979	750 tonnes	Static Training Ship	HMS Raleigh	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sclass2	Hindostan (ex-Cromer)	M103	1992	600 tonnes		Britannia Royal Naval College	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sea class	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> * 8 x 15 m Officer Training Units; * 6 x 15 m Diver Training/Support Boats; * 4 x 15 m Survey/hydrographic Modules; * 3 x 13.8 m Passenger Transfer Boats (PTBs); * 10 x 11 m Standard Workboats; * 3 x 11 m Small Survey Modules || — || 2018 to 2024 || 15 to 23 tonnes || rowspan="2" |Workboats || — ||<ref group="N">Officer training units assigned to Britannia Royal Naval College; Diver support boats at HMNB Portsmouth (three units), Devonport, Clyde and Gibraltar (one unit each); Passenger Transfer units to HMS Prince of Wales; and two or more small survey modules to HMS Protector and HMS Scott.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="auto3"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
ALN-139 class	Sea Harrier Buccaneer Sea Vixen Swordfish	—	2017	c. 15 - 20 tonnes	—	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Arcims class	RNMB Hussar	—	2021 to 2023	< 10 tonnes (five units); c.10+ tonnes (Hebe)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Autonomous minehunting	Clyde	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	RNMB Hazard
	RNMB Hebe
	RNMB Halcyon
	RNMB Harrier
	RNMB Hydra
Thales Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)	RNMB Apollo	N/A	2021	< 10 tonnes<ref name="auto1"/>	N/A	<ref group="N">Apollo and Abdiel are pre-production units within joint UK-France MCM programme; Ariadne first production USV within a complete Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system also consisting of Portable Operation Centre (POC), Synthetic Aperture & Mine Detection Imaging Sonar and Multi-Shot Mine Neutralisation System; three additional USVs to be delivered in 2025 within larger MMCM systems</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	RNMB Abdiel		2022
	RNMB Ariadne		2025

Gallery

• HMS Victory at dusk. MOD 45143807.jpg

  Template:HMS, Flagship of the First Sea Lord

• Vanguard at Faslane 02.jpg

  Vanguard (Vanguard class)

• HMS Ambush long.jpg

  Ambush (Template:Sclass)

• HMS Queen Elizabeth in Gibraltar - 2018 (28386226189).jpg

  Queen Elizabeth
  (Queen Elizabeth class)

• Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer HMS Daring MOD 45153705.jpg

  Daring (Type 45 destroyer)

• 111024-N-OY799-686 Royal Navy Duke-class frigate HMS St. Albans (F 83).jpg

  St. Albans (Type 23 frigate)

• HMS Forth formally gets commissioned into the Royal Navy 13042018 MOD 45164104.jpg

  Forth (River class)

• HMS Hurworth MOD 45151313.jpg

  Hurworth (Hunt class)

• Sandown Class Mine Hunter HMS Ramsey MOD.jpg

  Ramsey (Sandown class)

• P2000 Class Royal Navy Patrol Vessel HMS Raider MOD 45151351.jpg

  Raider (Archer class)

• HMS Cutlass (P295).jpg

  Cutlass (Cutlass class)

• HMS Scott at Port Lockroy MOD 45151219.jpg

  Scott

• Royal Navy Antarctic Patrol Ship HMS Protector MOD 45153156.jpg

  Protector

• HMS Magpie (H130) on River Dart.jpg

  Magpie (Sea class)

• XV Patrick Blackett, starboard side at sea (cropped).jpg

  XV Patrick Blackett

• FUTURE MINE HUNTING SYSTEM COMES TO CLYDE MOD 45166088.jpg

  RNMB Harrier (Arcims class)

• Madfox Autonomous Surface Vehicle MOD 45167736.jpg

  Madfox

• Aerial photograph of Portsmouth Dockyard taken during a Photex, taken from 2,000 feet. MOD 45144949.jpg

  Excellent

Silhouettes

Silhouettes of major fleet units:

• Queen Elizabeth class silhouette.jpg

  Template:Sclass - (R08) & (R09)

• Type45Destroyer Silhouette.png

  Type 45 or Daring-class destroyer - (D32), (D33), (D34), (D35), (D36) & (D37)

• Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate silhouette.png

  Type 23 or Duke-class frigate - (F229), (F234), (F239), (F82), (F81), (F78), (F79) & (F83)

• Vangaurd class SSBN silhouette.png

  Template:Sclass - (S28), (S29), (S30) & (S31)

• Astute class SSN silhouette.png

  Template:Sclass - (S119), (S120), (S121), (S122) & (S123)

Silhouettes of all Royal Navy and RFA units:

File:RoyalNavy2024.png

See also

Lists of ships operated by or in support of His 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

• List of Royal Navy shore establishments (the "stone frigates")
• List of ship names of the Royal Navy
• Active Royal Navy weapon systems
• Future of the Royal Navy
• Standing Royal Navy deployments

External links

• Royal Navy (royalnavy.mod.uk)
• Royal Navy — The Equipment — Ships (royalnavy.mod.uk)