Naval Service

Components
Royal Navy Surface Fleet Fleet Air Arm Submarine Service
Royal Marines
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Marines Reserve
History
History of the Royal Navy
Future of the Royal Navy
Ships
Current Fleet
Current deployments
Historic ships
Personnel
The Admiralty
Senior Officers
Officer rank insignia
Enlisted rate insignia

At the beginning of the 1990s, the Royal Navy was a force designed for the Cold War - with its three ASW aircraft carriers and a force of small, though numerous, frigates and destroyers, its main purpose was to search for and destroy Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic. The Falklands War (1982) proved a need for the Royal Navy to maintain a bluewater capability. The Naval Service is the maritime branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... HMS Illustrious (R06), an Invincible class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, and current flagship of the First Sea Lord. ... The Fleet Air Arm is the operational group of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... The Royal Navy Submarine Service - sometimes known as the Silent Service, on account of a submarine being required to operate quietly in order to remain undetected by enemy SONAR (or ASDIC as it was known in the RN pre-1948) - is the collective name given to the submarine element of... The Royal Marines (RM), are the Royal Navys light infantry. ... The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is the service that keeps the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom running around the world. ... Blue Ensign flown by merchant vessels commanded by officers in the RNR. The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The British Royal Navy does not have a well-defined moment of formation; it started out as a motley assortment of Kings ships during the Middle Ages, assembled only as needed and then dispersed, began to take shape as a standing navy during the 16th century, and became a... This is a list of active Royal Navy ships, complete and correct as of 2006. ... Although the majority of the Royal Navy fleet, unless required, remains training and exercising in and around Home Waters, the Navy has a number of standing commitments, including those held for contingent operations, to provide ships for various missions around the world: // Fleet Flagship and R2 Carrier Normally two aircraft... The following is a list of Royal Navy ship names by name in alphabetical order, both past and present. ... Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... This is a list of senior officers of the Royal Navy. ... History Insignia for officers was first introduced in 1748, with differences in rank being seen in the cut of the lapels and the cuffs. ... For Chief Petty Officer both the shoulder tab insignia and the sleeve insignia from the No. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) Translation: Workers of the world, unite!) Anthem: The Internationale (1922-1944) Hymn of the Soviet Union (1944-1991) Capital Moscow Language(s) Russian (the de facto official language), 14 other official languages Government Socialist republic Leaders  - 1922-1924 Vladimir Lenin  - 1924-1953 Joseph Stalin... Combatants United Kingdom Argentina Commanders Sir John Fieldhouse Sir John Woodward Margaret Thatcher Leopoldo Galtieri Mario Menéndez Casualties 258 killed [1] 777 wounded 59 taken prisoner 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner The Falklands War (Spanish: ) was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom... A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ...

However the Royal Navy has had to carry out an ever increasing number of commitments while at the same time seeing the size of its surface fleet gradually shrink over the period of twenty years between 1982 and 2002. Recent cuts have seen the retirement of the Sea Harrier with the Royal Navy sharing RAF's Harrier GR7 until delivery of the F-35. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... See also Hawker Siddeley Harrier The BAE SYSTEMS Harrier FA2 is the latest development of the Sea Harrier fighter/attack aircraft which entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980. ... RAF is an three letter acronym for: Royal Air Force -- the Air Force of the United Kingdom (see also Air Ministry) Red Army Faction (Rote Armee Fraktion) -- a German terror organisation Rigas Autobusu Fabrika -- a factory making buses in Riga, Latvia Rapid Action Force in India Računarski Fakultet RAF... The Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9 and GR9A are all Royal Air Force variants of the BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The programme is a joint development between BAE and Boeing (initially British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas). ...

Over the course of 1990s and the 2000s, the navy has begun a series of projects to enhance its fleet, with a view to bringing enhance its capabilites. This has lead to the replacing of smaller and more numerous units with fewer, but larger, ones. The main examples of this are the replacing of Type 42 destroyers with Type 45s and the planned replacing of the 20,000 tonne Invincible class aircraft carriers with 65,000 tonne future carriers. Type 42 destroyer HMS Manchester Type 42, also known as the Sheffield class, is a class of destroyers of the Royal Navy. ... Launch of HMS Daring. ... The sixth (and current) HMS Invincible. ... CVF, literally Aircraft Carrier Future,[3][4] but commonly called the Future Carrier is a new generation of aircraft carrier being developed for the United Kingdoms Royal Navy. ...

Major Fleet Units

A major source of naval power projection is the aircraft carrier. The three ships of the Invincible class have limited capabilites, due not only to their small size, but also to the capabilities of the main type of aircraft on board - the Harrier GR7/GR9. In the 1998 Strategic Defence Review the Ministry of Defence announced it would replace the Invincible class with a pair of much larger vessels, in a project that has been designated as 'CVF' (Aircraft Carrier Future). These two ships will displace approximately 60,000 tonnes and will be some 280 metres long, making them the largest ever operated by the Royal Navy. They will be STOVL carriers, operating the STOVL variant of the F-35 Lightning II, which has been ordered by both the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force to replace the Harrier. It will also operate the Merlin ASW helicopter, and a platform for Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC), among the contenders for which are a modified version of the Merlin, the E-2 Hawkeye or a modified version of the V-22 Osprey. USS , and HMS Illustrious, two aircraft carriers on a joint patrol. ... The sixth (and current) HMS Invincible. ... April 7th 2003: an AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet takes off from the assault ship USS Nassau, to engage targets over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom The Harrier II is a family of second generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft of the late 20th... The Strategic Defence Review (or SDR) was a policy document produced by the Labour Government that came to power in 1997. ... CVF, literally Aircraft Carrier Future,[3][4] but commonly called the Future Carrier is a new generation of aircraft carrier being developed for the United Kingdoms Royal Navy. ... STOVL is an acronym for Short Take Off and Vertical Landing. ... The F-35 Lightning II—descended from the X-35 of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program—is a single-seat, single-engined military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat. ... The Fleet Air Arm is the operational group of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... RAF redirects here. ... The RAF Merlin HC3 is a medium support helicopter of the Royal Air Force. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... The Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is the United States Navys all-weather, aircraft carrier-based tactical Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft. ... The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission military aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. ...

A CVF design

Since the mid 1980s, the Royal Navy has been looking at ways of replacing the small and increasingly obsolete Type 42 air defence destroyers, which have been in service since the early 1970s. After two failed collaborative efforts - the NFR-90 project and Project Horizon, a scheme in association with France and Italy, the government announced that a new class of destroyer, the Type 45 would replace the Type 42. Type 45 will displace approximately 7350 tonnes, which is considerably larger than its predecessor, and will be the largest combat ships (except aircraft carriers and amphibious vessels) built since the Tiger class of the mid 1950s. For its primary mission, it will be equipped with the PAAMS integrated anti-aircraft system. As with the Type 42, the Type 45 will also have a limited anti-surface/anti-submarine role, being equipped with a 4.5in gun and a helicopter, which will either be Lynx or Merlin. Although as built it will not be fitted with anti-ship or land attack missiles, its size will allow upgrades to be made if required, giving it an enhanced general warfare role. It was recently announced that the crew of a Type 45 will be in the region of 190 members, around one hundred less than the Type 42. Together with the larger size of the vessel, this will allow better living quarters. The first unit of the class, HMS Daring was launched in February 2006. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (865x609, 95 KB) This is a copyrighted image that has been released by a company or organization to promote their work or product in the media, such as advertising material or a promotional photo in a press kit. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (865x609, 95 KB) This is a copyrighted image that has been released by a company or organization to promote their work or product in the media, such as advertising material or a promotional photo in a press kit. ... Type 42 destroyer HMS Manchester Type 42, also known as the Sheffield class, is a class of destroyers of the Royal Navy. ... NFR-90 (NATO Frigate Replacement for 90s) was a multi-national programme designed to produce a common frigate for several NATO nations. ... The Horizon Common New Generation Frigate (CNGF) is a multi-nationial collaboration to produce a new generation of anti-air warfare frigates. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... Launch of HMS Daring. ... The Tiger-class guided-missile cruisers were the first of such a type in the Royal Navy, indeed they were the last cruisers built for the RN. They were originally designed to be Minotaur-class light cruisers. ... The Principle Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a joint French/Italian/British program for a naval anti-aircraft weapon. ... The Westland Lynx is a helicopter designed by Westland and built at Westlands factory in Yeovil, first flying on 21 March 1971 as the Westland WG.13. ... The RAF Merlin HC3 is a medium support helicopter of the Royal Air Force. ... HMS Daring is the lead ship of the Type 45 or D Class of air defence destroyer (AAW) being built for the Royal Navy and the seventh to hold that name. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

At present, the majority of the navy's escorts are Type 22 and Type 23 frigates. Their small size makes equipment upgrades difficult. Work was begun on Future Surface Combatant (FSC), to replace the Type 22 and 23; however, the project was de facto cancelled in late 2004. Three other projects were considered in its place, the Medium Sized Vessel Derivative, the versatile Surface Combatant, and the Global Corvette. It has been suggested that the MSVD would a multi role variant of the Type 45 destroyer. No decision regarding these projects has been announced. A group of Type 22s, with HMS Coventry in the foreground HMS Chatham, the last of the Batch 3 Type 22s, at the International Fleet Review, 2005 The Type 22 Broadsword class frigates are a class of warships built for the Royal Navy. ... The Type 23 frigate is a class of warship serving with the Royal Navy, also known as the Duke class. ... For the bird, see Frigatebird. ... The Future Surface Combatant was the projected succesor to Type 22 and Type 23 frigates in service of the British Royal Navy until the programs de facto cancellation in late 2004. ... Launch of HMS Daring. ...

Amphibious Units

Albion class LPD

In 1990, the Royal Navy's amphibious forces were still centred around the Fearless class LPDs, both of which were commissioned in the 1960s. The end of the Cold War saw a re-evaluation of the navy's amphibious role - not only were replacements for the Fearless class required, but increasingly helicopter assault capabilities were recognised as vital, capabilities which the navy had not had since the 1970s. An unsuccessful attempt to use RFA Argus in this role re-emphasised the need for a specialist vessel, hence HMS Ocean was ordered in 1993. The ship's hull form is based on that of the Invincible class, but she was constructed to commercial specifications and to a modular design (meaning the ship was assembled from pre-constructed blocks). Commissioned in 1998, Ocean is the first purpose built helicopter carrier in the Royal Navy. She has space for an Embarked Military Force (EMF) of up to 800 troops and their associated equipment, or 500 troops plus up to 40 light vehicles and 6 field guns. Her air group is tailored to the operational situation, but would typically include up to 12 Sea King transport helicopters, supported by up to 6 Apache attack helicopters. However, the flight deck is rated to accommodate helicopters the size of Chinook. The Harrier jump jet can also be transported, and flown from the ships flight deck. Troops can also be transported off the ship by one of four LCVPs that are fitted. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x539, 43 KB)HMS Bulwark (L15) in the northern Persian Gulf. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x539, 43 KB)HMS Bulwark (L15) in the northern Persian Gulf. ... The two Fearless class ships, HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, were the first purpose built amphibious warfare vessels in the Royal Navy. ... RFA Argus (A135) is an aviation training ship with a secondary role of primary casualty receiving ship in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. ... The sixth HMS Ocean (L12) of the Royal Navy is a Landing Platform, Helicopter Cruiser, the only one in its class, built by Kvaerner Govan on the Clyde taking advantage of commercial build methods and facilities, before sailing from Barrow-in-Furness for fitting out prior to acceptance into service... In military terminology, the Embarked Military Force is the total force that is carried by an amphibious assault ship, including troops, vehicles and various other equipment. ... The Westland Sea King is a license-built version of the Sikorsky helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. ... The WAH-64 is a licence built version of the Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow attack helicopter for the British Army. ... The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. ...

In 1996, the Government placed an order for two ships to replace HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid; these ships were named HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. Fearless was withdrawn in 2002 (Intrepid had been non-operational since 1991), being replaced by Albion in 2003; Bulwark commissioned in 2004. Both ships have an overload capacity of 700 troops, with the standard being just over 300. Up to six Challenger 2 main battle tanks, or 30 smaller tracked vehicles, can be accommodated on the vehicle decks - these can be removed by one of the LCUs located in the stern docking well. This can also accommodate an LCAC. Another four small LCVPs, similar to those carried by Ocean, are also carried, and there is a flight deck (though no hangar) which can support either two medium lift (Merlin or Sea King) or one heavy lift (Chinook) helicopters. HMS Fearless (L10) was a landing platform dock of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Intrepid (L11) was a landing platform dock of the Royal Navy. ... The ninth and current HMS Albion (2001-present) is a state of the art Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Bulwark is an Albion-class landing platform dock, the UKs newest class of amphibious assault warship. ... The British FV4034 Challenger 2 is the main battle tank currently in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. ... Hangars can be used to hold airplanes, airships and helicopters. ...

Ocean, Albion and Bulwark form the core of the amphibious force. They will be supported in their mission by the LSDs of the 'Bay' class. These ships, operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, will replace four of the elderly LSLs of the 'Sir' class. The new ships will resemble the LPDs in having a large flight deck and stern docking well, with a capacity of over 300 troops. In addition, a single 'Sir' class unit, Sir Bedivere, which has been modernised, will be retained for at least ten years. RFA Cardigan Bay The Bay class are a class of landing ship dock operated by the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. ... The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is the service that keeps the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom running around the world. ... The Round Table class landing ship logistics, also known as the Sir class, these vessels are designed for the amphibious warfare mission, in support of the major amphibious ships. ... RFA Sir Bedivere (L3004) is a Landing Ship Logistic of the Round Table class. ...

Although the units mentioned will form the core of an amphibious task force, additional capacity will be provided in the form of six roll on/roll off vessels for strategic transport (as opposed to direct amphibious assault). In addition, the three ships of the Invincible class have a secondary role as an LPH.

Hydrographic Squadron

The Navy's surveying service has responsibility for surveying and charting the oceans, the information from which goes into the numerous Admiralty produced charts and publications that are used all over the world. As a consequence, the work that the service does must be as accurate as possible, which requires the best equipment available. Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ...

The Royal Navy has a mandate to provide support to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), which comes in the form of the dedicated Antarctic Patrol Ship. However, in 1990, HMS Endurance was over 30 years old and, having been repaired following collision with an iceberg, was found to be unsafe to return to the Antarctic. The vessel that was chosen to replace her was chartered from a Norwegian shipping company and commissioned as HMS Polar Circle. After a successful deployment, it was decided to purchase the ship outright, and she was renamed HMS Endurance in honor of her predecessor. Endurance's mission is twofold; to assist the BAS in charting and surveying the waters around the Antarctic, a task for which she is well suited thanks to her strengthened bow, and to provide a semi-permanent naval presence in the South Atlantic in support of the Atlantic Patrol Task (South) deployment. BAS headquarters The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), formerly the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), is an institute of the Natural Environment Research Council, and has, for the last fifty years, undertaken the majority of Britains scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. ... For other ships with the same name, see HMS Endurance. ... An iceberg (a partial loan translation, probably from Dutch ijsberg (literally: mountain of ice),[1] cognate to German Eisberg) is a large piece of ice that has broken off from a snow-formed glacier or ice shelf and is floating in open water. ... Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earths South Pole. ... MV Polar Circle was built in 1990 as a Class 1A1 icebreaker for Rieber Shipping. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ...

The navy's ocean going survey needs were served by the four ships of the Hecla class, all built in the 1960s and 70s. Two were paid off in the late 1980s, while HMS Hecla left the service in 1997. She was replaced by the brand new survey vessel HMS Scott. Scott is the largest ocean survey vessel in Western Europe and, at over 13,000 tonnes, the seventh largest vessel in the Royal Navy (only the three carriers and three amphibious vessels displace more). Despite replacing four ships with only one, the Scott is able to spend over 300 days a year at sea, thanks to its crew rotation system, whereby the total complement of 63 is divided into three teams - two man the ship, while the third remains ashore on leave or in training and rotating back on board when the ship returns. Hecla class The Hecla class formed the backbone of the Royal Navys ocean survey fleet from the mid-1960s. ... Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-05-05, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... HMS Hecla was the lead ship of the Hecla class, an ocean going survey ship type in the Royal Navy. ... HMS Scott is an ocean-going survey vessel of the Royal Navy. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ...

In addition to the ocean survey vessel, the navy retains a single coastal survey ship, HMS Roebuck, which performs the same tasks on the UK continental shelf as HMS Scott does in deep ocean. However, the remainder of the survey fleet has since been replaced by the two brand new multi-role ships of the Echo class, which commissioned in 2002 and 2003. HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise build on the success of the Scott by utilising similar methods of operation and technology. These ships are joined in service by the smallest commissioned vessel in the RN, the survey launch HMS Gleaner. HMS Roebuck is a coastal survey vessel of the Royal Navy. ...  Sediment  Rock  Mantle  The global continental shelf, highlighted in cyan The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent, which is covered during interglacial periods such as the current epoch by relatively shallow seas (known as shelf seas) and gulfs. ... The two ships of Echo class are the latest vessels to join the Royal Navys Hydrographic Squadron. ... HMS Echo is the first of two multi-role hydrographic ships commissioned by the Royal Navy. ... The tenth HMS Enterprise (H88) of the Royal Navy is a multi-role SVHO (Survey Vessel (Hydrographic/Oceanographic)), along with her sister ship Echo. ... HMSML Gleaner is the smallest commissioned vessel in the Royal Navy with a ships company of 8 ( 2 officers and 6 ratings). ...

Patrol Forces

The navy operates patrol vessels primarily in the role of fisheries protection and guarding British interests in the North Sea. These tasks were primarily undertaken by the 'Island' class, which entered service in the late 1970s. They were supported by the two larger vessels of the 'Castle' class. However in 1997 a decision was taken to replace them. An order for three much larger offshore patrol vessels was placed in 2001. The three ships of the 'River' class, HMS Severn, HMS Mersey and HMS Tyne (named after main rivers in England), were commissioned between 2002 and 2003. They have a large cargo deck and 25 tonne capacity crane aft, which allows them to be fitted for various roles including disaster relief, fire-fighting and rescue work. Mersey and Severn will be fitted with a flight deck for medium helicopters, giving them facilities equal to the 'Castle' class. Unusually, the three River class ships are owned by Vosper Thorneycroft, and leased to the Royal Navy until 2013. The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... The Island class was developed as a result of the Royal Navys experiences in the so called Cod War with Iceland, and the success of HMS Jura in fishery protection patrols. ... The Castle class was intended as a series of six offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy, designed in response to criticism of the previous Island class. ... River Class The River class is a class of three offshore patrol vessels in the Royal Navy, replacing the six ships of the Island class. ... Firefighter with an axe A firefighter, sometimes still called a fireman though women have increasingly joined firefighting units, is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people and in some areas provide emergency medical services. ...

In 2005, construction of HMS Clyde began; this will be a modified 'River' class vessel designed to replace the two 'Castle' class vessels as the Falkland Islands guardship. She was launched on 14 June 2006 in Portsmouth Naval Base by VT Group shipbuilders. She was named in a ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base on 7 September 2006. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... HMS Clyde (P257) is the ninth ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... VT Group plc is the company formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ...

Submarines

In the early 1990s, the Royal Navy's submarine force was already in the process of being upgraded. The Trafalgar class SSNs ultra quiet pump-jet propulsion system, were still entering service, while the first of the Vanguard class SSBNs was close to completion. Today, the modernisation of the Royal Navy's submarine force centres on the Astute Class SSNs and the Swiftsure & Trafalgar Update Final Phase (S&TUFP). In 1997, an order was placed for three units of the Astute class, which was designed as the SSN replacement for the Swiftsure class, with an option for a further two. The new boats will be larger and quieter than the existing SSNs. However, under the Strategic Defence Review, the five Astute class boats will replace five unmodernised Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines. S&TUFP will see the remaining boats of the Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes upgraded, giving them similar combat capabilities to the Astute class.^{[citation needed]} The Trafalgar class submarines were, until the introduction of the Astute class, the Royal Navys most advanced nuclear fleet submarines (SSNs). ... SSN is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings: Social Security number (United States), an identification number used by the U.S. Social Security Administration. ... Categories: Marine propulsion | Stub ... The Vanguard class are the Royal Navys current nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), each armed with 16 Trident II SLBMs. ... It has been proposed below that SSBN be renamed and moved to Ballistic missile submarine. ... BAE Systems Artist Impression The Astute class submarines are the next generation nuclear attack submarines of the Royal Navy. ... The Royal Navys Swiftsure-class of nuclear fleet submarines (SSNs) is the older of the two classes of attack submarine in service with the RN. It originally contained six boats, but HMS Swiftsure was decommissioned in 1992 due to damage suffered to the pressure hull during trials. ...

Fleet Air Arm

X-35

Along with the aircraft carriers, a major instrument of power projection is the Carrier Air Group. The larger the air group, the more tasks it can perform. The Invincible class, because of its small size, has only a limited capacity, and is only capable of operating STOVL aircraft, the Harrier GR7/GR9. In 2006 the Sea Harrier has been withdrawn from service, with fixed wing flying from the carriers now based Harrier GR9. This has seen the two front line Sea Harrier squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm converting to the GR9, as part of the evolution of the Joint Force Harrier concept. The Harrier's eventual replacement in both the RAF and the FAA is the F-35 Lightning II. The Joint Strike Fighter will be a significant improvement over the Harrier, in terms of speed, range and weapon load. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2331x1800, 376 KB) Description : A Lockheed F-35 in flying Photographer : US Air Force http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2331x1800, 376 KB) Description : A Lockheed F-35 in flying Photographer : US Air Force http://www. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ... A Carrier Air Group, properly called a Carrier Air Wing and abbreviated as CVW, is the striking element of an aircraft carrier. ... The BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II (GR5/GR7/GR9 series) is a second generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft used by the Royal Air Force (RAF). ... The Fleet Air Arm is the operational group of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... Missing image RAF Harrier GR7 Joint Force Harrier is a defence proposal brought by the British Government as part of Strategic Defence Review. ... The F-35 Lightning II—descended from the X-35 of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program—is a single-seat, single-engined military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat. ...

EH-101 Merlin

The anti-surface/anti-submarine mission remains the purview of rotary aircraft; in small ships this is the updated Mk8 version of the Lynx. However, in the carriers, and in later frigates, the larger Merlin helicopter is used - this has replaced the Sea King in the ASW mission. The Sea King remains in the commando assault mission from HMS Ocean. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2009x1384, 575 KB) Royal Navy AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin HM.1 helicopter at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2009x1384, 575 KB) Royal Navy AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin HM.1 helicopter at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ... The AgustaWestland EH101 is a medium-lift helicopter originally developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy for military applications but also marketed for civil use. ... The Westland Sea King is a license-built version of the Sikorsky helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. ...

Merlin is also being touted as a replacement for Sea King in the Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (formerly Airborne Early Warning) mission. However, the limitations of using a helicopter in this role are well documented - endurance is limited, service ceiling is low and vibrations from the rotors may cause distortion. Therefore, two other concepts have been put forward, a MASC version of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and a version of the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft. The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission military aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. ... The Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is the United States Navys all-weather, aircraft carrier-based tactical Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft. ...

The V-22 would be an attractive option given the STOVL configuration of CVF, as it combines the VTOL aspects of a helicopter with the endurance of a fixed wing aircraft. The E-2 is already in service with the French and US Navies; the problem with the aircraft is its CATOBAR configuration - although it has been proven that it can launch successfully from a ski-jump, it would still require arrestor wires for landing, which would force CVF to be refitted to a STOBAR configuration - although the design chosen does name provision for this. It has advantages over the V-22 again in terms of endurance and ceiling; because its cabin is pressurised, it can operate at greater altitude than the Osprey, extending the range of its radar. Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) describes airplanes that can lift off vertically. ... Ski jumping is a winter sport in which skiers go down a hill with a take-off ramp (the jump), attempting to go as far as possible. ... An aircraft about to catch the wire An aircraft coming to a stop Arrestor wires are thick steel cables fitted to the aft end of the flight deck on CTOL and STOBAR aircraft carriers. ... STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery) is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier, combining elements of both STOVL and CATOBAR. Aircraft launch under their own power using a ski-jump to assist take-off (rather than using a...

Addendum

In July 2004, the Government announced a restructuring of the Armed Forces as part of its new Defence White Paper, Delivering Security in a Changing World, confirming that the number of Type 45s expected to be ordered would be reduced from 12 to 8 units, while the two attack submarines due to be decommissioned would not be directly replaced, taking the SSN fleet down from 10 to 8. In addition, the existing escort fleet will lose six units, the three oldest Type 42 destroyers, HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff and HMS Newcastle, which will be paid off earlier than expected, and three Type 23 frigates, HMS Norfolk, HMS Marlborough and HMS Grafton, as well as a further six mine counter measures units, with a total of 1,500 job losses. In the same speech Geoff Hoon announced that the RAF will receive 16 BAE Nimrod MRA4s, the UK's long range maritime patrol aircraft and suggested that an eventual fleet of twelve might suffice. This is reduced from an anticipated order of 18. On 18 July 2006 BAE received a production contract worth £1.1 billion GBP for 12 MRA4s. This was justified by Ministry of Defence policy that it is not the number of platforms that is important but the capability achieved by the force as a whole. The 2003 Defence White Paper, entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World sets out the future of the British military, and builds on the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the 2002 SDR New Chapter which responded to the challenges raised by the War on Terror. ... Launch of HMS Daring. ... Type 42 destroyer HMS Manchester Type 42, also known as the Sheffield class, is a class of destroyers of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Glasgow (D88) is a Type 42 destroyer of the Royal Navy. ... The third and present HMS Cardiff (D108) is a Type 42 (Batch 1) destroyer of the Royal Navy. ... The eighth and current HMS Newcastle (D87) is a retired Type 42 (Batch 1) destroyer of the Royal Navy, launched in 1973. ... The sixth and current HMS Norfolk (F230) was laid down in 1985 by Yarrow Shipbuilders. ... HMS Marlborough (F233) is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Grafton (F80) is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. ... Geoff Hoon (right) at Pentagon briefing Geoffrey William Geoff Hoon (born December 6, 1953) is a British politician. ... The BAE Systems (formerly Hawker-Siddeley) Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft is derived from the De Havilland Comet, the worlds first jet airliner. ...

Sunday Times Report

On December 31st 2006 The Sunday Times along with some other national newspapers reported that there will be serious cuts in the Royal Navy's Fleet as funds are redirected to other resources. ^[1] December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International which is in turn owned by News Corporation. ...

Glossary

• ASW - Anti-Submarine Warfare
• CATOBAR - Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery
• CTOL - Conventional Take Off and Landing
• LCAC - Landing Craft, Air Cushion
• LCU - Landing Craft, Utility
• LCVP - Landing Craft, Vehicle Personnel
• LPD - Landing Platform, Dock
• LPH - Landing Platform, Helicopter
• LSD - Landing Ship, Dock
• LSL - Landing Ship, Logistic
• PAAMS - Principal Anti-Aircraft Missile System
• SSBN - Ship Submerged, Ballistic Nuclear
• SSN - Ship Submerged, Nuclear
• STOBAR - Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery
• STOVL - Short Take Off/Vertical Landing
• VTOL - Vertical Take Off and Landing

Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery) is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier. ... Conventional Take-off and Landing is the process whereby conventional aircraft (such as passenger aircraft) take off and land, involving the use of runways. ... Landing craft Rapière A landing craft is a type of boat used to convey infantry and vehicles on to a shore during an assault from sea to land. ... Landing Craft Utility (LCU) are used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. ... The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins of Louisiana, based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes. ... LPD or lpd has several meanings: In naval warfare, LPD can mean Landing Platform Dock, a type of warship. ... HMS Ocean A Landing Platform, Helicopter is a warship designed to deliver troops into a war zone by helicopter, but which usually has a limited capability of landing troops by sea using small landing craft. ... The United States Navy Dock Landing Ship (Navy hull classification LSD) was designed to support amphibious operations. ... The Principle Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a joint French/Italian/British program for a naval anti-aircraft weapon. ... It has been proposed below that SSBN be renamed and moved to Ballistic missile submarine. ... SSN is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings: Social Security number (United States), an identification number used by the U.S. Social Security Administration. ... STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery) is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier, combining elements of both STOVL and CATOBAR. Aircraft launch under their own power using a ski-jump to assist take-off (rather than using a... STOVL is an acronym for Short Take Off and Vertical Landing. ... Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) describes airplanes that can lift off vertically. ...

References

See also

• European defence procurement

European defence procurement refers to the collective armaments purchasing polices of European nations. ...

External links

• Royal Navy Official Site
• Royal Navy Future Ships
• Navy Matters