List of active Royal Navy ships

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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 2025, there are 63 commissioned and active ships in the Royal Navy.

Of the commissioned vessels, fifteen are major surface combatants (two aircraft carriers, six guided missile destroyers and seven frigates) and ten are nuclear-powered submarines (four ballistic missile submarines and six fleet submarines). In addition the Navy possesses eight mine countermeasures vessels, twenty-six patrol vessels, two survey vessels, one icebreaker and one historic warship, Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"..

The total displacement of the Royal Navy's commissioned and active ships is approximately 401,600 tonnes.

The Royal Navy also includes a number of smaller non-commissioned assets. The naval training vessels Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". and Hindostan can be found based at the Royal Navy stone frigates Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". 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.[1][2][3] This class of vessel also incorporates an autonomous minehunting variant (known as the Arcims-class),[4] while another autonomous vessel, Madfox, is employed in varied roles including as a testbed for autonomous combat operations.[5] 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.[6][7][8] As of 2025, XV Excalibur, an Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), was also operated by the Squadron[6] while other autonomous surface vessels, for minehunting, were in service and in the process of procurement from Thales Group.[9]

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 673,600 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.[10][11]

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 Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in Bahrain.[12] Until 2025/26, a general-purpose frigate and vessels belonging to the navy's 9th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron were forward-deployed there. However, HMS Lancaster was retired in Bahrain in December 2025, while the last remaining minehunter deployed there is planned for withdrawal in early 2026. This will leave the Royal Navy with no forward presence in the Persian Gulf, at least until (and if) alternative taskings can be arranged.[13] 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.[14]

All ships and submarines currently in commission with the Royal Navy were built in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of icebreaker Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". which was built in Norway and survey vessel Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". 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.

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Ceremonial/Historic ship

Flagship of the First Sea Lord
Classic first-rate
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Ship of the line Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". — 1778[N 1] 3,556 tonnes First-rate ship of the line Portsmouth [15]

Submarine service

Submarine service
Strategic
Class Boat No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S28 1993 15,900 tonnes Ballistic missile submarine Clyde [16]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S29 1995 [17]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S30 1996 [18]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S31 1999 [19]
Fleet
Class Boat Pennant No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S119 2010 7,400 tonnes Fleet submarine Clyde [20]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S120 2013 [21]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S121 2016 [22]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S122 2021 [23][24]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S123 2022 [25]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". S124 2025 [N 2][26][27][28]

Surface fleet

Surface fleet
Aircraft carriers
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". R08 2017 80,600 tonnes Aircraft carrier Portsmouth [29][30]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". R09 2019 [31][N 3]
Destroyers
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Type 45 / Daring class Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". D32 2009 8,500 tonnes Anti-air guided-missile destroyer Portsmouth [32][33]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". D33 2010 [34]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". D34 2011 [35]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". D35 2012 [36]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". D36 2013 [37]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". D37 2013 [38]
Frigates
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Type 23 / Duke class Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". F234 1993 4,900 tonnes Frigate Devonport [39]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". F239 1995 [40]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". F82 1996 [41]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". F81 1997 [42]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". F78 2000 [43][44]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". F79 2001 [45]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". F83 2002 [46]
Offshore patrol
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P281 2003 1,700 tonnes Offshore patrol vessel Portsmouth [47]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P282 2003 and 2021 [48]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P283 2003 [49]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P222 2018 2,000 tonnes [50][N 4]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P223 2019 [51][N 5]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P224 2020 [52][N 6]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P233 2020 [53][N 7]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P234 2021 [55][N 8]
Mine countermeasures
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M30 1981 750 tonnes Minehunter Portsmouth [56]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M31 1982 [57]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M33 1983 [58]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M34 1984 [59][N 9]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M37 1984 [60][N 10]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M39 1985 [62]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M109 2000 600 tonnes Clyde [63]
- Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". M01 2025 6,000 tonnes Specialist mine hunting ship Portsmouth [64][N 11]
Coastal & fast patrol
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Note
Archer class Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P264 1985 54 tonnes Patrol boat, University Royal Naval Units Edinburgh [65]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P270 1986 Liverpool [66]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P272 1988 Portsmouth [67]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P273 1988 Glasgow [68]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P279 1988 Portsmouth [69]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P280 1988 Portsmouth [70]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P291 1988 Portsmouth [71]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P292 1988 Liverpool [72]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P293 1988 Portsmouth [73]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P294 1988 Ipswich [74]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P163 1988 Cardiff [75]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P165 1985 Gateshead [76]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P164 1986 Hull [77]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P167 1988 Portsmouth [78]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P274 1998 Patrol boat Clyde [79][N 12]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P275 1998 [80][N 13]
Cutlass class Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P295 2022 35 tonnes Gibraltar [81][N 14]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". P296 [82][83][N 15]

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
— Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". H131 1997 13,500 tonnes Ocean survey Devonport [84]
— Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". A173 2011 5,000 tonnes Icebreaker & survey [85][N 16]
Sea class 18 m variant Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". H130 2018 37 tonnes Survey motor launch [87]
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 [6][88]
— XV Patrick Blackett X01 2022 270 tonnes Experimental vessel Portsmouth [89]
— Madfox N/A 2021 c. 10 tonnes Autonomous surface vessel Portsmouth [5][90]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Brecon M29 1979 750 tonnes Static Training Ship HMS Raleigh [91]
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Hindostan (ex-Cromer) M103 1992 600 tonnes Britannia Royal Naval College [92]
Sea class 34 vessels:[93]
* 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 Workboats — [N 17][94][1][95]
ALN-139 class Sea Harrier
Buccaneer
Sea Vixen
Swordfish		 — 2017 c. 15 - 20 tonnes — [N 18][96]
Arcims class RNMB Hussar — 2021 to 2023 < 10 tonnes (six units); c.10+ tonnes (Hebe)[97][98] Autonomous minehunting/sweeping Clyde [N 19][99][100][101][102][103][104]
RNMB Hazard
RNMB Hellcat [105]
RNMB Halcyon
RNMB Harrier
RNMB Hydra
RNMB Hebe
Thales Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) RNMB Apollo N/A 2021 < 10 tonnes[98] N/A [N 20][106][107][108][109]
RNMB Abdiel 2022
RNMB Ariadne 2025

Gallery

Silhouettes

Silhouettes of major fleet units:

Silhouettes of all Royal Navy and RFA units:

File:RoyalNavy2024.png

See also

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Lists of ships operated by or in support of His Majesty's Naval Service
Related articles

Footnotes

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  1. ↑ Launched in 1765 and commissioned in 1778, making Victory the world's oldest warship still in commission.
  2. ↑ Pre-sea trial testing as of September 2025; may not be fully operational until 2026-27.
  3. ↑ Prince of Wales is the current Fleet Flagship as of late 2024.
  4. ↑ HMS Forth is forward deployed, operating from Mare Harbour as guardship in the Falkland Islands.
  5. ↑ HMS Medway is forward deployed as Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North) guardship in the Caribbean.
  6. ↑ HMS Trent is forward deployed to Gibraltar for operations in the Mediterranean, Gulf of Guinea and Caribbean.
  7. ↑ HMS Tamar is forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region with her primary logistics hub at the British Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore[54]
  8. ↑ HMS Spey is forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region with her primary logistics hub at the British Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore[54]
  9. ↑ HMS Middleton is forward deployed and is the only remaining vessel assigned to 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating from Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in Bahrain.
  10. ↑ As of 2025 HMS Chiddingfold reported in "extended readiness" (uncrewed reserve); used as a source for spare parts for other Hunt-class vessels[61]
  11. ↑ Former vessel of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary serving as mothership for Royal Navy autonomous minehunting/sweeping systems.
  12. ↑ Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.
  13. ↑ Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.
  14. ↑ Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
  15. ↑ Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
  16. ↑ 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".[86]
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ Three assigned as passenger transfer vessels to HMS Queen Elizabeth
  19. ↑ Four vessels (Halcyon, Hussar, Hydra and Harrier) enabled for autonomous/uncrewed operations. Hebe's greater size enables her to accommodate a Portable Operations Centre Afloat; other vessels employed as crewed workboats.
  20. ↑ 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

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References

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External links

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