Royal Navy

maritime service branch of the British Armed Forces

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of HM Armed Forces (and is therefore known as the "Senior Service“).

The White Ensign of the Royal Navy.

People of the Royal Navy

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Main category: People of the Royal Navy

Elizabethans

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Dismissed as ill disciplined pirates the swashbuckling Elizabethan navy protected the nation from invasion and filled its coffers.

Generals at Sea

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Usually written out of the history of the Royal Navy are Cromwell's Generals at Sea. It was the Roundhead navy especially their defeat of the Dutch, that began the pre-eminence of the British at sea.

Admirals of the Royal Navy

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Benson and Anson, Hood and Rodney, Howe, Nelson and Collingwood revered and honoured names in the Royal Navy.

 
Recruiting poster for the Royal Naval Division

Science and exploration

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Not all of the Royal Navy's heroes have been the product of conflict. The Royal Navy has always had a place for exploration, technological innovation and science.

Ratings

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Often faceless and nameless in the history books the Royal Navy owes her success to the many thousands of ordinary sailors who have served in her ranks.

Ships of the Royal Navy

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Main category: Royal Navy ships

surface fleet

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The Royal Navy still possesses considerable fire-power in her Surface Fleet. It's main ships are the three aircraft carriers and type 42 destroyers. In the past, the Royal Navy was mainly known for its powerful battleships, especially during the first half of the 20th century.

submarine

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Initially dismissed as "Underhand" and "un-English" the submarines of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, the Silent Service has become the main striking arm of the Royal Navy. The battleships of the 21st Century the nuclear hunter-killer submarines of the Royal Navy are as potent an offensive force as she has ever possessed.

With the retirement of the RAF's nuclear strike role the strategic missile boats of the Royal Navy has been the keeper of the United Kingdom's strategic deterrent.

Conflicts

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Royal Naval Brigades

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With its pre-dominance at sea, for much of the 19th Century the Royal Navy faced very little in the way of ship to ship action, instead its sailors and gunners participated in land actions in Royal Navy Brigades, culminating in the Royal Naval Division that would fight in the trenches of the First World War.

Falklands War

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Caught by surprise and fought 8000 miles from home the Falklands War showed the prowess (and limitations) of British forces and the Royal Navy.

The Future

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The Royal Navy is currently being refreshed with new programs that will see it change from being primarily an anti-submarine Cold War force to one structured for expeditionary warfare. Key to this will be the new amphibious assault ships, the Queen Elizabeth II class aircraft carriers together with the escorts to protect them.

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