TheRoyal Navy is the principal naval warfare service branch of theBritish Armed Forces. Its assets include both commissioned warships and non-commissioned vessels. As of September 2025, there are 64commissioned and active ships in the Royal Navy.
The totaldisplacement of the Royal Navy's commissioned and active ships is approximately 406,500tonnes.
The Royal Navy also includes a number of smaller non-commissioned assets. The naval training vesselsBrecon andHindostan can be found based at the Royal Navystone frigatesHMS Raleigh and theBritannia Royal Naval College, respectively. Non-commissionedSea-class workboats, procured under ProjectVahana, are operated by the Royal Navy in various support, survey and training roles, replacing previousP1000 Class Picket Boat vessels.[1][2][3] This class of vessel also incorporates an autonomous minehunting variant (known as theArcims-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, includingXVPatrick Blackett andAPAC-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, XVExcalibur, 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 fromThales Group.[9]
Besides the Royal Navy, theRoyal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and theRoyal 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 andRFA have 74 vessels with a total displacement of about 678,500 tonnes, with the principallanding craft of the Royal Marines having an additional combined displacement of about 2,200 tonnes.
As a supporting contingent ofHis Majesty's Naval Service, the civilianMarine 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]
The Royal Navy's principal overseas base isHMS Jufair inBahrain.[12] Until 2025/26, a general-purpose frigate and vessels belonging to the navy's9th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron were forward-deployed there. However, these forces are now being withdrawn and it is unclear whether or how they may be replaced. Two fast patrol boats, together with a forward-deployedRiver-class offshore patrol vessel, normally form part of theGibraltar Squadron and are permanently based there. Four other River-class vessels are also forward-deployed: one in theFalkland Islands, one in the Caribbean and two in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the United Kingdom maintains aJoint Logistics Support Base inDuqm,Oman.[13]
All ships and submarines currently in commission with the Royal Navy were built in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of icebreakerProtector which was built inNorway and survey vesselMagpie which was substantially built inIreland. All commissioned vessels of the Royal Navy bear theship prefix "HMS", forHis Majesty's Ship or His Majesty's Submarine.
34 vessels:[94] * 8 x 15 m Officer Training Units; * 6 x 15 mDiver 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
^HMS Middleton is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating fromHMS Jufair in Bahrain.
^As of 2025HMS Chiddingfold reported in "extended readiness" (uncrewed reserve); used as a source for spare parts for otherHunt-class vessels[62]
^HMS Bangor is forward deployed as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron, operating fromHMS Jufair in Bahrain.
^Former vessel of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary serving asmothership for Royal Navy autonomous minehunting/sweeping systems.
^Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.
^Forms part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron providing security to nuclear submarines entering and leaving the waters in and around HMNB Clyde.
^Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
^Permanently based in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Forms part of the Gibraltar Squadron.
^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".[87]
^Officer training units assigned toBritannia Royal Naval College; Diver support boats at HMNB Portsmouth (three units), Devonport, Clyde and Gibraltar (one unit each); Passenger Transfer units to HMSPrince of Wales; and two or more small survey modules to HMSProtector and HMSScott.
^Three assigned as passenger transfer vessels to HMSQueen Elizabeth
^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.
^Apollo andAbdiel 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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