Top ten most powerful navies in the world

[RF]

Technologhy, combined firepower, seaman ship, geographic location all count.

Numbers are worthless. For example, a Chinese destroyer/frigate flotila pose a danger to French naval base in the Indian ocean,

Welcome to the forum.

I can certainly agree with the first sentence quoted, but I am not clear on the context of a Chinese threat to a French base in the Indian Ocean, from two standpoints. One China has no apparent naval ambitions in the Indian Ocean, two France has allies in NATO and SEATO and would not be operating in isolation.
I don't think this proposition is currently realistic.

What I think would be realistic in the context of Red China is the Taiwan situation, particulary if the question of actual military force against Natiolalist China were to be applied, AND particulary if South Korea were brought into the equation along with NATO as a surrogate for the US. But that would be a very complicated situation, probably best considered in another thread.

[Bgile]

Personally, I'm terrified at the idea of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. I don't know what the outcome would be, but the possibilities scare me a lot.

[RF]

It depends Bgile on the response of the US administration.

Ultimately Taiwan can't defend itself properly for any great length of time as Red China has overwhelming weight of numbers and can win by attrition. The deterrence lies in inflicting unacceptable losses on the attacker that makes the attack not worth while.

If there is a shooting war on a purely conventional basis with full US involvement then any attempt to invade Taiwan itself should be smashed, as the Americans have the firepower to do so.
What would be more problematic would be a Red Chinese attack on one of the outlying islands off the mainland coast, such as Amoy. This would be more difficult to defend as the seaborne crossing is so short and the PLA could use such a ploy to draw in Taiwanese forces and wear them down by attrition. It would also be far more difficult tactically for the US.
Militarily I think that is the most likely scenario, but given Red China's continuing rapid economic growth they would probably calculate that their best bet is to bide their time while China gets stronger and stronger relative to the US, as the longer they wait the more favourable it becomes for them.

[IronDuke]

The Royal Navy remains a formidable fleet in world terms with her Nuclear hunter killer subs and almost the only viable amphibious capacity outside of the USN. The two new 65,000 ton Carriers will be the largest and most powerful in the world outside the USN and the 'Darings' are good ships. The 'Duke' Class Frigates are also good ships.

Myself I will wait to see what the next Government there -which is unlikely to be the present Government- does in terms of ships.

But the new Carriers and escorts alongside the now very modern amphibious forces (together with the Royal Marines) will give the RN extremely potent power projection capability.
Ted

[Karl Heidenreich]

IronDuke:

The Royal Navy remains a formidable fleet in world terms with her Nuclear hunter killer subs and almost the only viable amphibious capacity outside of the USN. The two new 65,000 ton Carriers will be the largest and most powerful in the world outside the USN and the 'Darings' are good ships. The 'Duke' Class Frigates are also good ships.

Myself I will wait to see what the next Government there -which is unlikely to be the present Government- does in terms of ships.

But the new Carriers and escorts alongside the now very modern amphibious forces (together with the Royal Marines) will give the RN extremely potent power projection capability.
Ted

I concur with this statement despite the fact that the Royal Navy numbers have been shrinking continuously since the end of the Cold War. However it seems that everybody else`s navies are also shrinking (exceptions as China or Venezuela, etc.) so size it´s not as determinant as power projection. I have faith in the new two capital warships that the RN will comision in this decade.

Best regards,

[RF]

I do too Karl - once they are commissioned.......

[TurkYusuf1]

I don't know much about other navies but where would you guys rank the Turkish Navy? I personally would have it as the 10th in the world? It is a very large and modern navy, definitely the most powerful in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas and the second on the Black Sea after the Russian Navy.

[hammy]

Merhaba !

The rating is rather affected by the particular ROLE that the country assigns it's navy .

While historically the old Ottoman fleet was a seapower to reckon with , for the last hundred years or so the Turkish Fleet has been confined to coastal and local sea area control , rather than blue water operations .
And holding the Bosphorous/Bogaz and the Dardanelles by the throat and so controlling the access to the Black sea .

At the present time , with the unrest in the north and east of the Black sea , and the (regrettable) continuing ill-feeling between Turkey and Greece along the aegean and levantine littorals , Turkey is obliged to keep a sharp eye on two widely seperated potential maritime conflict zones , neither of which can be reinforced quickly except by an extended round trip which leaves the other weaker .

it's as if Britain was faced with hostilities by Spain at Gibraltar , while at the same time the Iceland Cod war was in full swing .

That may well be the reason for the Turkish navy's current strength .

In the case of the so-called major naval powers , their ocean going projection of sea-power is what ranks them higher , rather than gross numbers of ships/personnel .
Having seen something of the Turkish Armed Forces on my holiday to Istanbul a couple of weeks ago , I would say the Turkish navy is perfectly competent , but that the tasks and security threats in the region mean it doesnt get out of area much .
I know they assign vessels regularly to the standing joint NATO Mediterranean naval squadron , but I am not sure that they have a ship away on the Somali Pirate patrols -- understandably , Arab<-->Turk relations are sensitive , given that most were formerly Ottoman Empire territories , that Turkey and Israel are presently Allied , and that Turkey remains a firmly secular state , with a population which (to fundamentalist eyes) appears to be tainted with "western lax morality" .

[RF]

it's as if Britain was faced with hostilities by Spain at Gibraltar , while at the same time the Iceland Cod war was in full swing .

This is a wholly disproportionate comparison. To compare Iceland's military capability to Greece is an insult to the Greeks. And no way does Spain bear any comparison to Russia. And both these countries are a lot futrher away from Britain than Russia and Greece are to Turkey. And that does not even consider that the RN is more powerful than the Turkish Navy.

[hammy]

? ? ? ? ?

Who is comparing any one to anyone ? Or insulting anyone ?

All I said was they have seperate situations to deal with in opposite directions , " AS IF ....... "

Why is it every post in this forum , no matter what the subject , is inevitably followed by some spam-addition from you ? Fine if it added to the sum of human knowledge .......................

[RF]

You made the statement hammy, I responded to it not as spam but as a summary of the situation you outlined.

[hammy]

Quod Erat Demonstrandum ................

[yellowtail3]

Quod Erat Demonstrandum ................

does typing it in Latin mean, 'I'm smarter than you, so I win!' or something like that?

[Karl Heidenreich]

At least it shows some degree of culture.

[harryc1989]

Here is my list and then my reasoning for it.

1- USA: No country comes close to the US$ 650 billion yearly defence budget. The next highest is the UK with about US$ 57 billion. This, coupled with the fact that the USA has 300 million people, 12 nimitz class super carriers and countless nuclear weapons suggests with no doubt that the US has the most powerful navy.

2- UK: The UK has always been a sea faring nation. The UK has arguably the best trained navy in the world, certainly better trained than the US and French navy. Man for man, the royal navy is the most powerful navy in the world. The UK is ahead of France due to the number of aircraft carriers (3 plus another which can be used for aeroplanes). The Royal Navy also has the best trained and strongest marine force, this being the Royal Marines. Technology, training and commitment place the UK in 2nd place. The ownership of four stealthy nuclear submarines with the capability of destroying china without them knowing is also another huge reason.

3- France: Very similar to the UK but it falls short simply on the special forces side and the aircraft carrier size. The French navy has one 50 000 tonne carrier. The Royal Navy of the UK will receive two 70 000 tonne carriers this year, carrying the F-35 fighter jet.

4- China: Numbers matter to an extent, and although not technologically advanced as the top three, China does have numbers, and this does come into play eventually. China also has significant air power in her navy.

5- Russia: Always a naval superpower, Russia still has technology and good training although numbers and ship numbers are dwindling. Commitment and hard work contribute to this formidable world power.

Then I believe there is a large gap between these and the next batch of navies.

Don't forget that the Royal Navy of the UK fought and won a war 7000 miles from home in 1982. They are the last navy to win a major skirmish / war.