From Themarshallwiki

Revision as of 04:42, 1 September 2009 (view source) Admin (Talk | contribs) (→Guns) ← Previous diff		Revision as of 04:51, 1 September 2009 (view source) Admin (Talk | contribs) (→Surface to Sub-Surface Missiles) Next diff →
Line 207:		Line 207:
	*CAC Ikara		*CAC Ikara
		+	*Lockheed Martin RUM-139 VL-ASROC
	==Guns==		==Guns==

---

Revision as of 04:51, 1 September 2009

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service). From the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century (250 years), it was the largest and most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant power of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In World War II, the Royal Navy operated almost 900 ships. During the Cold War, it was transformed into a primarily anti-submarine force, hunting for Soviet submarines, mostly active in the GIUK gap. After the Falklands War, the Royal Navy also oriented itself towards global expeditionary operations as well.

The Royal Navy is responsible for the strategic element of Britain's nuclear deterrent.

Contents 1 Organisation 1.1 Surface Fleet 1.2 Submarine Service 1.3 Fleet Air Arm 1.4 Royal Navy Police 1.5 Royal Naval Reserve 1.6 Royal Navy Medical Branch 2 Surface Fleet 2.1 Aircraft Carriers 2.2 Cruisers 2.3 Destroyers 2.4 Frigates 2.5 Amphibious Forces 2.6 Mine Warfare Vessels 2.7 Patrol Vessels 2.8 Other Royal Navy ships 3 Submarine Service 4 Auxiliaries 4.1 Royal Navy 4.2 Royal Fleet Auxiliary 5 Fleet Air Arm 6 Naval Weapon Systems 6.1 Surface to Air Missiles 6.2 Surface to Surface Missiles 6.3 Surface to Sub-Surface Missiles 6.4 Guns 6.5 Torpedos 6.6 Mines

Organisation

The Royal Navy is controlled by the Admiralty Board which is a part of the Ministry of Defence. The Commander in Chief of the Royal Navy is the Lord High Admiral, Queen Elizabeth II. The Admiralty Board is one of the three service boards that form the Defence Council of the United Kingdom. The Admiralty Board usually consists of the Secretary of State for Defence and junior Ministers in the MOD, as well as the First Sea Lord, and other senior naval officers.

The First Sea Lord is the professional commander of the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy is organised into six components:

• Surface Fleet
• Submarine Service
• Fleet Air Arm
• Royal Navy Police
• Royal Naval Reserve
• Royal Navy Medical Branch

Surface Fleet

The Surface Fleet is the name given to the collection of surface vessels (as opposed to submarines or aircraft) of the British Royal Navy. In 2008 it consisted of two flotillas based at Portsmouth and Devonport, both on the south coast of England and a flotilla based at the Clyde Naval Base at Faslane in Scotland.

The Surface Fleet consists of a wide variety of vessels, ranging from aircraft carriers to mine countermeasures vessels to offshore patrol vessels, but the backbone of the fleet consists of destroyers (type 42) and frigates (types 22 and 23).

Its roles emcompass all naval roles from air defence to amphibious operations. The Surface Fleet also provides training support to the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm, and Submarine Service.

Submarine Service

The Royal Navy Submarine Service is the collective name given to the submarine element of the Royal Navy. It is sometimes known as the "Silent Service", on account of a submarine being required to operate quietly in order to remain undetected by enemy sonar. The service currently consists of nine Fleet submarines (SSNs), of the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class, and four ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), of the Vanguard class. It also operates the LR5 Submarine Rescue System.

All the Royal Navy's current submarines (with the exception of the LR5, which is strictly speaking a submersible rather than a submarine) are nuclear powered.

Fleet Air Arm

The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. The Fleet Air Arm operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters, as well as the Tomcat FRS.6, and Hornet FGR.3/T.4. Helicopters such as the Lynx and Westland Wasp have been deployed on smaller vessels since 1964, taking over the roles once performed by fragile biplanes such as the Fairey Swordfish.

The Fleet Air Arm is divided into four Forces:

• Carrier Force
  • Fixed-wing combat aircraft, some helicopters
• Maritime Helicopter Force
  • Most Lynx and Merlin helicopters
• Commando Helicopter Force
  • Sea King HC.4, Lynx AH.7
• Training and Support Force
  • All training and support aircraft
• Royal Navy Historic Flight
• Black Cats (Royal Navy Helicopter Display Team)

Most flying training is done by the RAF.

In addition to its normal roles of land attack, air defence, maritime attack, amphibious operations, and anti-submarine warfare, the Fleet Air Arm provides training to the Surface Fleet in dealing with air attack, and cooperation with aviation assets.

Royal Navy Police

The Royal Navy Police (RNP), or Royal Naval Police, formerly known as the Royal Navy Regulating Branch, is the military police branch of the Royal Navy. Its members are known as Regulators and enforce law, order and discipline both aboard ship and in shore establishments.

The Regulating Branch has its own Special Investigation Branch (SIB), which is employed investigating serious crimes. The trade badge for Regulators is a crown (worn in a wreath by Masters-at-Arms and Warrant Officer Masters-At-Arms). Non-police Officers attached to the Royal Navy Police wear a white armlet on the left wrist bearing a crown between the letters "NP" (Naval Patrol).

Royal Navy Police are not Constables.

Royal Naval Reserve

The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy (RN) in the United Kingdom. Their main sea-borne role is the operation of patrol craft and mine warfare craft.

Royal Navy Medical Branch

Modern and effective medical support is a fundamental part of the United Kingdom's military capabilities. To that end the Royal Naval Medical Service's promotes and maintains the health, fitness and well being of Royal Naval Personnel which is vital to the Royal Navy's operational capability and effectiveness

White Ensign, flown by all Royal Navy commissioned ships and shore establishment

Surface Fleet

Royal Navy Surface Ships

Aircraft Carriers

• 3 Queen Elizabeth II class Aircraft Carriers [1]
• 3 Invincible class Aircraft Carriers

Cruisers

• 4 Suffolk class Nuclear Guided Missile Cruisers
• 4 Armagh class Nuclear Guided Missile Cruisers

Destroyers

• 6 Type 45 Guided Missile Destroyers
• 9 Type 43 Guided Missile Destroyers
• 8 Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyers

Frigates

• 18 Type 23 Frigates
• 14 Type 22 Frigates

Amphibious Forces

• 2 Ocean class Landing Platforms, Helicopter
• 4 Albion class Landing Platforms, Dock
• 4 Hermes class Landing Ships, Tank [2]

Mine Warfare Vessels

• 12 Sandown-class Mine Countermeasures Vessels
• 14 Hunt-class Mine Countermeasures Vessels

Patrol Vessels

• 1 Antarctic patrol ship (HMS Endurance)
• 10 River-class patrol vessels
• 5 Peacock class patrol vessels
• 20 Archer or P2000-class fast patrol boats
• 6 Scimitar-class fast patrol boats
• 2 Archer or P2000-class fast patrol boats (Gibraltar Squadron)

Other Royal Navy ships

• 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

Submarine Service

• 4 Vanguard class Ballistic Missile Submarines
• 1 Astute class Attack Submarine
• 7 Trafalgar class Attack Submarines
• 6 Swiftsure class Attack Submarine
• 13 Upholder class Patrol Submarines

Auxiliaries

Royal Navy

• Ocean Survey Vessels
  • HMS Scott (H131)
• Coastal Survey Vessels
  • HMS Roebuck (H130)
  • HMSML Gleaner (H86)
• 2 Echo class Multi-purpose Survey Vessels

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

• 4 Wave-class fast fleet tankers
• 4 Rover-class small fleet tankers
• 4 Leaf-class support tankers
• 3 Fort Rosalie or Fort (i) class replenishment ships
• 4 Fort Victoria or Fort (ii) class replenishment oilers
• RFA Argus (A135) Aviation training/Primary Casualty Receiving Ship
• RFA Diligence (A132) Fleet Repair Ship
• 6 Round Table-class Landing Ships Logistics
• 4 Bay-class Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary)
• 6 Point class sealift ships

Flag of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Fleet Air Arm

• 4 Squadrons of Grumman Tomcat FRS.2 (total 72 aircraft)
• 4 Squadrons of Boeing/BAe Hornet FGR.3/T.4 (total 72 aircraft)
• 3 Squadrons of BAe Sea Harrier FGR.2 (total 54 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of BAe Harrier T.12 (total 18 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of Lockheed Viking AS.1 (total 18 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of Northrop Grumman Hawkeye AEW.3 (total 16 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of Lockheed Viking (10 Viking COD.2, 8 Viking R.4)
• 5 Squadrons of AgustaWestland Merlin HM.1 (total 85 aircraft)
• 6 Squadrons of Westland Lynx (total 72 aircraft)
• 3 Squadrons of Westland Sea King HC.4 (total 45 aircraft)
• 6 Westland Sea King HAS.6(CR) (attached to a Sea King HC.4 Squadron)
• 1 Squadron of Westland Sea King HAR.5 (total 6 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of Westland Sea King AEW.7 (total 20 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of Westland Lynx AH.7 (total 6 aircraft in Royal Marines markings)
• 1 Squadron of BAe Hawk T.1 (total 13 aircraft, Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit)
• 1 Squadron of Handley Page Jetstream T.2 (total 14 aircraft)
• Royal Navy Historic Flight
  • 1 Fairey Swordfish GR.1
  • 1 Fairey Swordfish GR.2
  • 1 Fairey Swordfish GR.3
  • 1 Fairey Firefly AS.5
  • 2 Hawker Sea Fury FB.11
  • 1 Hawker Sea Fury T.20
  • 1 Hawker/Armstrong Whitworth Sea Hawk FGA.6
  • 1 de Havilland Chipmunk T.10

Naval Weapon Systems

Surface to Air Missiles

• Raytheon RIM-174 Standard ERAM
• Raytheon RIM-156 SM-2ER Block IV
• Raytheon RIM-66M SM-2MR Block III
• BAe Sea Dart
• Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile
• MBDA Sea Wolf
• Shorts Starburst (Single Shoulder Launcher, and LML in patrol craft, RFA, auxiliaries, mine warfare craft)
• Shorts Javelin (Single Shoulder Launcher, and LML in patrol craft, RFA, auxiliaries, mine warfare craft)

Surface to Surface Missiles

• Aerospatiale MM-38 Exocet
• Boeing Harpoon
• Raytheon RGM/UGM-109E Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM Block IV) cruise missile
• Lockheed Martin UGM-133 Trident II

Surface to Sub-Surface Missiles

• CAC Ikara
• Lockheed Martin RUM-139 VL-ASROC

Guns

• 155mm (6.1 inch) Mark 9 Naval Gun
• 115mm (4.5 inch) Mark 8 Naval Gun
• 40mm Bofors Mark IX
• 30mm Goalkeeper CIWS
• 30mm Oerlikon GCM-AO
• 30mm LS-30B
• 20mm Phalanx CIWS
• 20mm Oerlikon GAM-BO1
• 20mm Oerlikon Mark II
• 20mm Mark 20 Rh 202
• 12.7mm L2A1 Heavy Machine Gun
• 7.62mm GAU-17 Minigun
• 7.62mm L44A1 General Purpose Machine Gun
• 7.62mm L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun

Torpedos

• Spearfish (Submarines)
• Sting Ray (Surface ships, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, also used by RAF)

Mines

• 1000lb Mk13/20 Quickstrike mine (Fleet Air Arm, Royal Air Force)
• Stonefish
• Mark 60 CAPTOR