Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the "senior service" of the Military of the United Kingdom, being the oldest of its three branches. From approximately 1692 until World War II, the Royal Navy was the largest and most powerful navy in the world. The navy helped establish the United Kingdom as the dominant military power of the 19th century, and was essential for maintaining the British Empire. Although the Royal Navy is now much smaller, it remains the largest Europe navy, and one of the world's most technologically advanced. ==History== :''Main article: History of the Royal Navy'' The Royal Navy has historically played a central role in the defence and warfare of England, and later Kingdom of Great Britain, the United Kingdom, and the British Empire. Because Great Britain and Ireland are island and no point in the UK is more than 74 miles (120 km) from the ocean, any enemy power (at least, before aircraft) would have had to cross the sea in order to attack the island. Attainment of naval superiority by any hostile power would have placed the nation in great peril. Moreover, a strong navy was vital in maintaining the security of supply and communication links with distant locations in the Empire. ===England (c800 to c1700)=== England's first navy was established in the 9th century by Alfred the Great, but soon fell into disrepair. The Norman kings started an equivalent in 1155 with the creation of the Cinque Ports alliance and the establishment of the post of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. This was effective during the Plantagenet years, but like most institutions of the type fell into disarray and disuse. The first reformation and major expansion of the Navy Royal, as it was then known, occurred in the 16th Century during the reign of Henry VIII of England whose ships, Great Harry and ''Mary Rose'', engaged the French navy in the battle of the Solent in 1545. By the time of Henry's death in 1547 his fleet had grown to 58 vessels. In 1588 the Spanish Empire, at the time the world's great superpower, threatened England with invasion and the Spanish Armada set sail to enforce Spain's dominance over the English Channel and transport troops from the Spanish Netherlands to England. However, the armada failed, due to a combination of repeated successful attacks by the much smaller Royal Navy of England, bad weather and a revolt by the Dutch in Spain's territories across the Channel. The defeat of the armada is the first major victory by the English at sea. England continued to raid Spain's ports and ships travelling across the Atlantic Ocean under the reign of Elizabeth I of England. ===1692-1914=== A permanent Naval Service didn't really exist until the mid-17th century when the Fleet Royal was taken under Parliament of the United Kingdom control following the defeat of Charles I of England in the English Civil War. This second reformation of the navy was carried out under Robert Blake (admiral) during Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth of England. The incorporation of the Royal Navy was in contrast to the land forces, which are descended from variety of different sources including both royal and anti-royal Parliamentary forces. Between 1692 and 1940 the Royal Navy was the strongest navy in the world with almost uncontested power over the world's oceans. In that time, the Royal Navy suffered only one major defeat - the battle of the Chesapeake against France in 1781 - and was able to defeat all challengers, as at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 where a combined Spain and France fleet was decisively beaten (despite the British fleet being outnumbered). In the 19th century, the Royal Navy was crucial in allowing Britain to maintain the British Empire. In addition, the Royal Navy was involved in enforcing the ban on the slave trade and the suppression of pirate. Life in the early Royal Navy would be considered harsh by today's standards; discipline was severe and Flagellation was used to enforce obedience to the Articles of War. The law allowed the Navy to use the unpopular practice of impressment where sailors were forced to serve in the Navy during times of manpower shortage, usually in wartime. Impressment reached its peak in the 18th century and early 19th century but was abandoned after the end of the Napoleonic Wars as the peacetime Navy was smaller. ===1914-1945=== During the two World Wars, the Royal Navy played a vital role in keeping the UK supplied with food, Weapon, and Material, and in defeating the German campaigns of unrestricted submarine warfare in the First Battle of the Atlantic and Second Battle of the Atlantic. It was also vital in guarding the sea lanes that enabled UK forces to fight in remote parts of the world such as North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Far East. Naval supremacy was vital to the amphibious operations carried out, such as the invasions of Operation Torch, Sicily, Italy, and Battle of Normandy. See ''British military history of World War II''. ===Cold War=== After World War II, the growing power of the United States and the decline of the British Empire, reduced the role of the Royal Navy. However the threat of the Soviet Union and continuing British commitments throughout the world created a new and important role for the Navy. In the 1960s, the Royal Navy received its first nuclear weapons and was later to become the sole carrier of the UK's nuclear deterrent. In the latter stages of the Cold War, the Royal Navy was reconfigured with three anti-submarine warfare aircraft carriers and a force of small frigates and destroyers. Its purpose was to search for and, if necessary, destroy Soviet Union submarines in the North Atlantic. ===Recent Operations=== The most important post-war operation conducted solely by the Royal Navy was the defeat in 1982 of Argentina in the Falklands War. Despite losing 4 ships in the war, the Royal Navy proved it was still able to fight a battle 8,000 miles (12,800 km) from the British mainland. The war also focused the need of aircraft carriers and submarines. The Royal Navy also participated in the Gulf War, the Kosovo conflict, the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, and the 2003 Iraq War, the last of which saw RN warships artillery positions in support of the Al Faw Peninsula landings by Royal Marines. Also during that war, HM submarines HMS Splendid (S106) and HMS Turbulent (S87) launched a number of BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a variety of targets in Iraq. == The Royal Navy today == HMS_Endurance_in_Antarctica">Image:Endurance (II).jpg|thumb|right|HMS Endurance in Antarctica Current Royal Navy deployments are vast, and encompass much of the world's oceans. === Atlantic Patrol Task (North) === In the Atlantic, the RN presence is considerable. Atlantic Patrol Task (North) is normally carried out by an escort vessel which patrols the Caribbean and North Atlantic areas. === Atlantic Patrol Task (South) === Atlantic Patrol Task (South) constitutes the RN's commitment to the South Atlantic and West African areas which is comprised of an escort vessel accompanied by an Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel. Additionally, a vessel is permanently deployed as the Falkland Islands Guardship. This invariably tends to be a Castle class patrol vessel patrol vessel. Also, HMS Endurance is deployed for half the year as an Icebreaker. === U.K. waters === In UK waters, the RN's presence isn't as considerable, but the protection of fishery areas and offshore Natural gas and Petroleum installations is provided by the Fishery Protection Squadron. This is comprised of the new River class patrol vessel patrol vessels, with a varying number of Hunt class minesweepers that rotate fishery protection duties with their mine counter measures work. The Northern Ireland Squadron exists to deter the movement of material to Northern Ireland which could be used to support terrorism activities there. Additionally a Fleet Ready Escort (FRE), made up of a single warship to provide a rapid response at short notice for a variety of tasks required of the ship. === Gulf === The RN also maintains a significant presence in the Persian Gulf. Currently, a single escort vessel is on Patrol boat as part of Operation Oracle, another aspect of the UK's contribution to the War on Terror. Prior to this, the main RN contribution to the UK's presence in the region was provided by the Armilla Patrol which continues, and is made up of a single escort vessel and a supporting RFA vessel. === Far East === Though a permanent RN presence in the Far East and Pacific regions has ended, the RN deploys a significant Task force (NTG) approximately every three years as part of the Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA) which was signed by the governments of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK. NTG 03 had been intended to take part in FPDA exercises in the Asia-Pacific region but was diverted for involvement in the 2003 Iraqi War. A number of ships eventually undertook the deployment for the FPDA exercises. === NATO Standing Naval Force Mediterranean === The RN also has a substantial commitment to NATO. The UK normally provides a single escort to Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), both permanent NATO multi-national squadrons for those regions. The RN also usually provides a Naval mine Countermeasures vessel to Mine Countermeasures Force (North) and Mine Countermeasures Force (South), both important permanent NATO squadrons. Nicknames for the Royal Navy include "The Mob", "The Andrew", and "The Senior Service", while nicknames for British sailors include "Alternative words for Britishs" and "Jacktars" (as in "every man-jack of 'em"). One point of pride of the Royal Navy is that it is known simply as "the Royal Navy", as most other navies include their national name. The Napoleonic campaigns of the navy have been the subject of many novels including Patrick O'Brian's ''Jack Aubrey'', C.S. Forester's ''Horatio Hornblower'', and Alexander Kent's ''Richard Bolitho''. == Ships of the Royal Navy == see List of ships of the Royal Navy Commissioned (surface) ships of the Royal Navy are accorded the prefix HMS which stands for Her Majesty's Ship (alternatively, His Majesty's Ship), like HMS ''Ark Royal''. Submarines on the other hand are styled HM Submarine, though still abbreviated HMS. Fleet support units, usually manned by civilians are given the prefix RFA or Royal Fleet Auxiliary, such as RFA ''Sir Galahad''. == Commanders of the Royal Navy == The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy, known as the Lord High Admiral, is the British monarch (who is overall Commander-in-Chief of the UK Armed Forces). The office of Lord High Admiral was put into commission and was effectively replaced by the head of that commission, the First Lord of the Admiralty (the first one being in 1709), until this position was subsumed into that of Secretary of State for Defence in 1964. Since then, the historical title of Lord High Admiral has been restored and is vested to the Sovereign. The professional head of the Royal Navy is the Chief of the Naval Staff (who also holds the title of First Sea Lord). The current incumbent is Alan West. ===Commander-in-Chief Fleet=== Since 1971 there has been only one operational fleet level command in the Royal Navy. During that year with the withdrawal from Singapore the British Eastern Fleet and British Western Fleet fleets of the Royal Navy were unified into one command. It was initially based at Northwood in Middlesex, continuing the tradition of basing the home naval command there that had started in 1960 when the Home Fleet command had been transferred ashore. The head of this command is known as Commander-in-Chief Fleet, commonly abbreviated to CINCFLEET. Recently most of CINCFLEET's staff has transferred to a new facility in Plymouth. However, CINCFLEET himself and a small staff remain at Northwood. == Royal Navy timeline and battle honours == {|align=right | |} *1588 The Spanish Armada *1652 Battle of Dungeness *1690 Battle of Beachy Head (1690) *1692 Battle of La Hougue *1759 Battle of Quiberon Bay *1780 Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780) *1781 Battle of the Chesapeake *1782 Battle of the Saintes *1794 The Glorious First of June *1797 Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797) *1798 Battle of the Nile *1801 Battle of Copenhagen *1805 Battle of Trafalgar *1821 First steam paddle ships for auxiliary use (tugs ''etc.'') *1840 First Propeller driven Steamship, HMS Rattler (1843) *1902 First Royal Navy submarine, HMS Holland 1 *1905 First Steam turbine and all big-gun battleship, HMS Dreadnought (1906) *1914–1918 First Battle of the Atlantic *1914 Battle of Heligoland Bight, Battle of Coronel, Battle of the Falkland Islands *1915 Battle of Dogger Bank and Dardanelles Campaign *1916 Battle of Jutland *1919 Russian Civil War *1931 Invergordon Mutiny *1939–1945 Second Battle of the Atlantic *1939 Battle of the River Plate *1940 Battle of Dunkirk *1941 Battle of Cape Matapan *1941 Sinking of HMS Hood (51) and the German battleship German battleship Bismarck *1942 Battle of North Cape *1944 Operation Tungsten *1944 Operation Neptune *1946 Mining of HMS Saumarez (G12) and HMS Volage (R41) in the Corfu Channel Incident *1949 HMS Amethyst (U16) incident on the Yangtze River *1950 Korean War begins *1956 Suez Crisis *1962 Indonesian Konfrontasi begins in Borneo *1963 First British nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought (S101) *1965 Beira Patrol against Rhodesia begins *1980 Armilla Patrol in the Persian Gulf begins *1982 Falklands War *1991 Gulf War *1999 Operation Allied Force *2000 Sierra Leone *2001 Operation Veritas *2003 Operation Telic == Famous sailors of the Royal Navy == {| width='100%' |- valign=top | In approximate chronological order / seniority. *Francis Drake *Robert Blake (admiral) *George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle *James II of England *William Penn (admiral) *Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich *George Anson, 1st Baron Anson *Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke *Edward Boscawen *George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney *Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe *Samuel Barrington *Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood *Richard Kempenfelt *John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent *James Cook *Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson *Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth *Sidney Smith (admiral) *Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald *James Vashon *George Vancouver *William Bligh *Charles Robert Malden *Jackie Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher *Robert Falcon Scott *John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe *David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty *William Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork *Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope *James Somerville *Max Horton *Philip Vian *Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma *Frederick John Walker *John Woodward | [[Image:FrancisDrake.jpg|thumb|120px|right|Francis Drake, c. 1540–1596.]] [[Image:captainjamescookportrait.jpg|thumb|120px|right|James Cook, 1728–1779.]] [[image:Horatio_Nelson.jpg|thumbnail|right|120px|Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1758–1805]] |} == Famous ships of the Royal Navy == For a full list, see List of Royal Navy ship names *Mary Rose — sank in 1545 off Portsmouth *HMS Ark Royal (1587) — flagship of English Fleet against the Spanish Armada. As of 2005, the current HMS Ark Royal (R07) is an Invincible class aircraft carrier aircraft carrier that saw action in the 2003 Iraq War *Mutiny on the Bounty (history) — scene of the famous mutiny. *HMS Victory — Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson's flagship. This ship is still officially in service and is the world's oldest commissioned warship. *HMS Beagle — carried Charles Darwin on his voyage. *HMS Warrior (1860) — first ironclad warship *HMS Dreadnought (1906) — first "all big-gun" battleship *HMS Warspite (1913) — fought at Battle of Jutland and through the Second World War *HMS Hood (51) — battlecruiser destroyed by the German battleship Bismarck *HMS Vanguard (1946) — last battleship built for the Royal Navy *HMS Dreadnought (S101) — first British nuclear-powered submarine *HMS Resolution (S22) — first British strategic ballistic missile submarine *HMS Invincible (R05) — light aircraft carrier currently in service *HMS Conqueror (S48) — nuclear attack submarine, responsible for the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War. == See also == * The Admiralty * Comparative military ranks * Admiral#Royal Navy * Heart of oak -- A Royal Navy song * Navy List * Pink gin * List of fleets (includes British fleets of the two World Wars) * List of senior officers of the * List of ships of the Royal Navy * British Naval ensigns * British Department of Naval Intelligence * British military history * Royal Naval Division * Standing Royal Navy Deployments * The Royal Navy in the 21st Century * UK topics * The Royal British Legion ==Further reading== * Arthur Herman, ''To Rule The Waves: How The British Navy Changed The World'', Harpercollins (October, 2004), hardcover, 528 pages, ISBN 0060534249 ==External links== *[http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/ Official Website of the Royal Navy] *[http://www.navynews.co.uk/ Navy News - Royal Navy Newspaper] Royal Navy Navies

Royal Navy

would this be better at British Royal Navy? There are other royal navies... User:Vera Cruz In a word, no. There is only one "Royal Navy". All others are "Royal ''somethingelse'' Navy". For example, Royal Australian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, and so on. User:Tannin just wait until the micronations hear about this... User:Vera Cruz : :) User:Patcat88 just added the following text: "The Royal Navy also developed a reputation of savagry and inhumane practices such as frequent [[Flagellation|loging] and unconsenting, effectivly kidnapping Impressment. This reached its peak in the 1700s and early 1800s." I don't think this is particularly relevant. "Inhumane practices" were the norm for armed forces of that time, and have been throughout history. It's only recently (i.e. the past couple of hundred years) that soldiers and sailors have not been punished severely for any minor offence. Also, "impressment" cannot really be called "effectively kidnapping", because it was done fully within the law, and with the full consent of the government. Perhaps some mention of press gangs should be made, but not in this POV way. User:Proteus 09:24, 30 Apr 2004 (UTC) * I agree with Proteus here. I don't think the paragraph belongs and I certainly think it needs to be NPOVed at least User:Cjrother 15:07, 5 May 2004 (UTC). * Yes, the social life needs to be described in context. The sailors did not mutiny over flogging or impressment, for instance. User:Stan Shebs 16:21, 5 May 2004 (UTC) * I have changed the paragraph to hopefully NPOV it. User:Cjrother 21:58, 11 Jun 2004 (UTC) An anon has added a comment that the Army is "technically older". Is it? I was under the impression that the RN has existed from the time of Alfred the Great, while there wasn't a standing "Army" for a long time after that, as forces were just raised on an ad hoc basis whenever the King wanted troops. I'm ready to be corrected, though... User:Proteus User_talk:Proteus 20:45, 1 Jun 2004 (UTC) :As I understand it from British Army, today's Army is the descendant of Cromwell's creation, thus relatively new. The RN doesn't really have a documented continuous existence from Alfred's time, but there's not a single point where the monarch said "we must create a navy", so Alfred is as good a starting point as any. The Oxford history of the Navy discusses all this, but alas it's back at the library now. The "technically older" is likely to be confusing, it should be deleted or expanded. User:Stan Shebs 21:15, 1 Jun 2004 (UTC) ::This is taken from the Royal Navy Web site distinguishing various forces that may be considered a national navy: ''When the King Charles II came to the throne in 1660 he inherited a huge fleet of 154 ships. This was a permanent professional national force and the beginning of the Royal Navy as we know it today.'' Charles II was also the first king to maintain a permanent standing army, thus making the modern forces pretty equivalent in age. Since no national army exisdted until Cromwell and a Navy Royal was definately developed from earlier foundations by Henry VIII I would think the RN can be conisidered more ancient before even going back to Alfred. Hence I have docked the sentence User:Dainamo 13:24, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC) :::Offline I'm working on a more comprehensive history article, and it will address some of these issues in more depth. The RN website is poorly worded, because it makes it unclear as to whether Charles inherited the "permanent professional national force" or if he created it from the 154 ships. I think it's hard for moderns to really grasp the idea that entire wars were fought with less planning and preparation that goes into a Saturday pick-up football game... User:Stan Shebs 18:13, 24 Oct 2004 (UTC) It was my belief that the Royal navy was the largest navy in the world until mid-way into the 2nd World War, not the end of the 1st world war as this article states. I'm sure if you look at a reliable ship list, this will proove it. Thanks -Andrew == Only one? == The article contains this sentence: :In 1692-1940, the Royal Navy suffered only one major defeat, the Battle of the Chesapeake against France I know one can debate endlessly what counts as "major" or even as a "defeat", but surely this sentence is exaggerating the case; consider the Battle of Lake Erie, the Battle of Lake Champlain, the Battle of Coronel, the Battle of the Dardanelles. User:Gdr 18:34, 2004 Oct 24 (UTC) : I think in this context it means a "strategic" defeat. The British lost in the American war of independence (partly as a result). Other battles like the Dardanelles may have been tactical setbacks, but the wars were eventually won. User:Wiki-Ed 16:38, 26 Nov 2004 (UTC) :: But if so, then what were the strategic defeats in 1692 and 1940? The Royal Navy was on the winning side in the War of the Grand Alliance and World War II. User:Gdr 19:39, 2004 Dec 23 (UTC) == Supremacy == What happened in 1692 and 1940? I would have thought the piece needs a sentence or two of explanation here. :There were no significant defeats for the Royal Navy in 1692 or 1940. I think the author may have had in mind the battle of Beachy Head (1690) and the sinking of HMS Hood (51) and the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse in 1941. User:Gdr 22:33, 2004 Oct 28 (UTC) :: 1692 is too early - I think for "supremacy" you really want a date after Trafalgar. 1940 seems a wee bit too early as well. I would have thought the USN overtook the RN later in the war (1942?) after it properly started building up its forces. User:Wiki-Ed 16:54, 25 Jan 2005 (UTC) == Bigness == Is the Royal Navy still larger than that of France? If so, is this likely to change in the near future, given the recent wave of spending cuts? Also, history seems to miss out entire First World War, 19th Century, etc. User:Ashley Pomeroy 09:29, 10 Nov 2004 (UTC) :I take it the link to History of the Royal Navy wasn't prominent enough? :-) User:Stan Shebs 04:06, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC) ---- The Royal Navy is presently bigger than the French Navy but may not be bigger than the French Navy soon but it will remain much more powerful. Most of the escort fleet of the French Navy is made up of small frigates, corvettes and patrol boats whereas destroyers and frigates make up the Royal Navy escort fleet. And the RN will still have more aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. User:SoLando 17:47, 10 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Royal Navy

Military of the United Kingdom Navies

Royal Navy

{| class="toc" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |+Royal Navy | align="center" colspan="2"| {| border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="background:#f9f9f9; text-align:left;" |- | |- ! style="background:#ccccff; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | Components |- | Royal Navy |- | Royal Marines |- | Fleet Air Arm |- | Royal Fleet Auxiliary |- | Royal Naval Reserve |- | Royal Naval College |- ! style="background:#ccccff; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | History |- | History of the Royal Navy |- | The Royal Navy in the 21st Century |- ! style="background:#ccccff; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | Ships |- | Current Royal Navy ships |- | Standing Royal Navy Deployments |- | List of Royal Navy ship names |- | List of fleets |- ! style="background:#ccccff; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | Personnel |- | Admiralty |- | List of senior officers of the Royal Navy |} |}

Royal navy

#REDIRECT Royal Navy

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