Royal Navy today.... and forever!
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:28 pm
In other threads the issue of the RN cames once and again. The oldest contemporary navy, the one that has faced the greatest menaces in History, many times alone has saved our western civilization from:
1. Spanish Inquisition
2. French barbarism
3. Napoleon (he wasn´t french)
4. Colonial threats
5. Kaiser Willy
6. Adolf Hitler
7. Argentinian military Junta
8. Cold War
9. War on Terror
I have never think that it´s existence is unjustified or that it´s purpose is to give a sort of a job to the royal family members. It´s gradual weakness process is not inherent of the institution itself but that of narrow minded politicians like Ramsey McDonnald and nowaday Labor party officials that tend to see more important to strike out the Holocaust fron History Books in order not to be offensive to muslims crowding the low life neighborhoods of Rosyth than to maintain a necesary military presence in the emperil seas of the world.
In 1960 the Royal Navy had 202 ships, including 6 aircraft carriers plus 3 light carriers to a total in 1990 of 160 ships (end of Cold War) to just 85 now. The vital submarine force has shrinked from 43 SSN, SSBN, SS and SSK in 1970 to 12 nowadays.
From wikipedia we obtain this (not my favorite source because as an internet one is a lesser one compared to specialized text books, but it will suffice):
"This is a list of active Royal Navy ships, complete and correct as of 23 July 2009.
In total there are 88 commissioned ships in the navy, including 3 which are permanently stationed, plus one submarine which has been delivered to the navy but not formally commissioned yet. 24 of the commissioned vessels are major fleet escorts (7 guided missile destroyers and 17 frigates) and 12 are nuclear powered submarines (4 ballistic missile submarines and 8 attack submarines). In addition the Navy possesses 2 aircraft carriers, 1 helicopter carrier, and 2 landing platform docks. A third aircraft carrier is in reserve.
The ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service are not included in this list or above figures.
Invincible-class aircraft carriers (2)
HMS Ark Royal (R07) - Flagship of the active fleet
HMS Illustrious (R06)
In Reserve
HMS Invincible (R05)
Type 45 destroyer (1)
HMS Daring (D32)
Type 42 destroyers (6)
HMS Nottingham (D91) - Extended readiness
HMS Liverpool (D92)
HMS Manchester (D95)
HMS Gloucester (D96)
HMS Edinburgh (D97)
HMS York (D98)
Type 23 frigates (13)
HMS Argyll (F231)
HMS Lancaster (F229)
HMS Iron Duke (F234)
HMS Monmouth (F235)
HMS Montrose (F236)
HMS Westminster (F237)
HMS Northumberland (F238)
HMS Richmond (F239)
HMS Somerset (F82)
HMS Sutherland (F81)
HMS Kent (F78)
HMS Portland (F79)
HMS St Albans (F83)
Type 22 frigates (4)
HMS Cornwall (F99)
HMS Cumberland (F85)
HMS Campbeltown (F86)
HMS Chatham (F87)
Amphibious assault ship (LPH) (1)
HMS Ocean (L12)
Albion-class landing platform docks (2)
HMS Albion (L14)
HMS Bulwark (L15)
Vanguard-class submarines (SSBNs) (4)
HMS Vanguard (S28)
HMS Victorious (S29)
HMS Vigilant (S30)
HMS Vengeance (S31)
Astute-class submarine (SSNs) (1)
HMS Astute (S119) - On sea trials; expected to be commissioned in the spring of 2010.[1]
Trafalgar-class submarines (SSNs) (7)
HMS Trafalgar (S107)
HMS Turbulent (S87)
HMS Tireless (S88)
HMS Torbay (S90)
HMS Trenchant (S91)
HMS Talent (S92)
HMS Triumph (S93)
Swiftsure-class submarines (SSNs) (1)
HMS Sceptre (S104)
Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels (8)
HMS Walney (M104)
HMS Penzance (M106)
HMS Pembroke (M107)
HMS Grimsby (M108)
HMS Bangor (M109)
HMS Ramsey (M110)
HMS Blyth (M111)
HMS Shoreham (M112)
Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (8)
HMS Ledbury (M30)
HMS Cattistock (M31)
HMS Brocklesby (M33)
HMS Middleton (M34)
HMS Chiddingfold (M37)
HMS Atherstone (M38)
HMS Hurworth (M39)
HMS Quorn (M41)
Antarctic patrol ship (1)
HMS Endurance (A171)
River-class patrol vessels (4)
HMS Mersey (P283)
HMS Severn (P282)
HMS Tyne (P281)
HMS Clyde (P257) (modified River class)
Archer or P2000-class fast patrol boats (14)
HMS Archer (P264)
HMS Biter (P270)
HMS Smiter (P272)
HMS Blazer (P279)
HMS Puncher (P291)
HMS Ranger (P293)
HMS Trumpeter (P294)
HMS Express (P163)
HMS Example (P165)
HMS Explorer (P164)
HMS Exploit (P167)
HMS Tracker (P274)
HMS Raider (P275)
Scimitar-class fast patrol boats (Gibraltar Squadron) (2)
HMS Scimitar (P284)
HMS Sabre (P285)
Archer or P2000-class fast patrol boats (Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron) (2)
HMS Pursuer (P273)
HMS Dasher (P280)
Ocean survey vessel (1)
HMS Scott (H131)
Coastal survey vessels (2)
HMS Roebuck (H130)
HMSML Gleaner (H86)
Echo-class multi-purpose survey vessels (2)
HMS Echo (H87)
HMS Enterprise (H88)
Other ships in commission
HMS Bristol (D23) - Type 82 destroyer - now used as a training ship, permanently docked in Portsmouth Harbour
HMS Caroline - C class cruiser - now used as a shore establishment, permanently docked in Belfast
HMS Victory - First-rate ship of the line - the flagship of the Second Sea Lord, permanently docked in Portsmouth Naval Base"
For this last one, few (I think just the British and the Japanese) could still name their most succesfull flagship that saw action in a desperate battle.
Now, the new heavy aircraft carriers are a need, not a luxury nowadays. Armed with the new F 35 (instead of the aging Harriers) these ships are vital for power projection against the new threats (Russia, China, Iran and french armed Brazil and Venezuela) in times where the US is not likely to handle more things than they have now (with little success, also). Maybe the world depend more in an Perfid Albion set of mind now than in a "peace instrument".
I do suspect that the strategic role of the Royal Navy is far from over, still some rage to unleash at the seas.
Best regards,
Karl
1. Spanish Inquisition
2. French barbarism
3. Napoleon (he wasn´t french)
4. Colonial threats
5. Kaiser Willy
6. Adolf Hitler
7. Argentinian military Junta
8. Cold War
9. War on Terror
I have never think that it´s existence is unjustified or that it´s purpose is to give a sort of a job to the royal family members. It´s gradual weakness process is not inherent of the institution itself but that of narrow minded politicians like Ramsey McDonnald and nowaday Labor party officials that tend to see more important to strike out the Holocaust fron History Books in order not to be offensive to muslims crowding the low life neighborhoods of Rosyth than to maintain a necesary military presence in the emperil seas of the world.
In 1960 the Royal Navy had 202 ships, including 6 aircraft carriers plus 3 light carriers to a total in 1990 of 160 ships (end of Cold War) to just 85 now. The vital submarine force has shrinked from 43 SSN, SSBN, SS and SSK in 1970 to 12 nowadays.
From wikipedia we obtain this (not my favorite source because as an internet one is a lesser one compared to specialized text books, but it will suffice):
"This is a list of active Royal Navy ships, complete and correct as of 23 July 2009.
In total there are 88 commissioned ships in the navy, including 3 which are permanently stationed, plus one submarine which has been delivered to the navy but not formally commissioned yet. 24 of the commissioned vessels are major fleet escorts (7 guided missile destroyers and 17 frigates) and 12 are nuclear powered submarines (4 ballistic missile submarines and 8 attack submarines). In addition the Navy possesses 2 aircraft carriers, 1 helicopter carrier, and 2 landing platform docks. A third aircraft carrier is in reserve.
The ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service are not included in this list or above figures.
Invincible-class aircraft carriers (2)
HMS Ark Royal (R07) - Flagship of the active fleet
HMS Illustrious (R06)
In Reserve
HMS Invincible (R05)
Type 45 destroyer (1)
HMS Daring (D32)
Type 42 destroyers (6)
HMS Nottingham (D91) - Extended readiness
HMS Liverpool (D92)
HMS Manchester (D95)
HMS Gloucester (D96)
HMS Edinburgh (D97)
HMS York (D98)
Type 23 frigates (13)
HMS Argyll (F231)
HMS Lancaster (F229)
HMS Iron Duke (F234)
HMS Monmouth (F235)
HMS Montrose (F236)
HMS Westminster (F237)
HMS Northumberland (F238)
HMS Richmond (F239)
HMS Somerset (F82)
HMS Sutherland (F81)
HMS Kent (F78)
HMS Portland (F79)
HMS St Albans (F83)
Type 22 frigates (4)
HMS Cornwall (F99)
HMS Cumberland (F85)
HMS Campbeltown (F86)
HMS Chatham (F87)
Amphibious assault ship (LPH) (1)
HMS Ocean (L12)
Albion-class landing platform docks (2)
HMS Albion (L14)
HMS Bulwark (L15)
Vanguard-class submarines (SSBNs) (4)
HMS Vanguard (S28)
HMS Victorious (S29)
HMS Vigilant (S30)
HMS Vengeance (S31)
Astute-class submarine (SSNs) (1)
HMS Astute (S119) - On sea trials; expected to be commissioned in the spring of 2010.[1]
Trafalgar-class submarines (SSNs) (7)
HMS Trafalgar (S107)
HMS Turbulent (S87)
HMS Tireless (S88)
HMS Torbay (S90)
HMS Trenchant (S91)
HMS Talent (S92)
HMS Triumph (S93)
Swiftsure-class submarines (SSNs) (1)
HMS Sceptre (S104)
Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels (8)
HMS Walney (M104)
HMS Penzance (M106)
HMS Pembroke (M107)
HMS Grimsby (M108)
HMS Bangor (M109)
HMS Ramsey (M110)
HMS Blyth (M111)
HMS Shoreham (M112)
Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (8)
HMS Ledbury (M30)
HMS Cattistock (M31)
HMS Brocklesby (M33)
HMS Middleton (M34)
HMS Chiddingfold (M37)
HMS Atherstone (M38)
HMS Hurworth (M39)
HMS Quorn (M41)
Antarctic patrol ship (1)
HMS Endurance (A171)
River-class patrol vessels (4)
HMS Mersey (P283)
HMS Severn (P282)
HMS Tyne (P281)
HMS Clyde (P257) (modified River class)
Archer or P2000-class fast patrol boats (14)
HMS Archer (P264)
HMS Biter (P270)
HMS Smiter (P272)
HMS Blazer (P279)
HMS Puncher (P291)
HMS Ranger (P293)
HMS Trumpeter (P294)
HMS Express (P163)
HMS Example (P165)
HMS Explorer (P164)
HMS Exploit (P167)
HMS Tracker (P274)
HMS Raider (P275)
Scimitar-class fast patrol boats (Gibraltar Squadron) (2)
HMS Scimitar (P284)
HMS Sabre (P285)
Archer or P2000-class fast patrol boats (Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron) (2)
HMS Pursuer (P273)
HMS Dasher (P280)
Ocean survey vessel (1)
HMS Scott (H131)
Coastal survey vessels (2)
HMS Roebuck (H130)
HMSML Gleaner (H86)
Echo-class multi-purpose survey vessels (2)
HMS Echo (H87)
HMS Enterprise (H88)
Other ships in commission
HMS Bristol (D23) - Type 82 destroyer - now used as a training ship, permanently docked in Portsmouth Harbour
HMS Caroline - C class cruiser - now used as a shore establishment, permanently docked in Belfast
HMS Victory - First-rate ship of the line - the flagship of the Second Sea Lord, permanently docked in Portsmouth Naval Base"
For this last one, few (I think just the British and the Japanese) could still name their most succesfull flagship that saw action in a desperate battle.
Now, the new heavy aircraft carriers are a need, not a luxury nowadays. Armed with the new F 35 (instead of the aging Harriers) these ships are vital for power projection against the new threats (Russia, China, Iran and french armed Brazil and Venezuela) in times where the US is not likely to handle more things than they have now (with little success, also). Maybe the world depend more in an Perfid Albion set of mind now than in a "peace instrument".
I do suspect that the strategic role of the Royal Navy is far from over, still some rage to unleash at the seas.
Best regards,
Karl