Royal Navy ship types Ship Types Battleship Role: Heavy capital ship Heavy guns and fleet action Battlecruiser Role: Fast capital ship Speed combined with heavy guns Destroyer Role: Fleet escort and attack warship Torpedoes Frigate Role: Escort and patrol warship Versatility and escort duties Cruiser Role: Independent warship and fleet support Speed and range Aircraft Carrier Role: Naval aviation platform Carrier air power Submarine Role: Underwater warship Stealth and undersea warfare Corvette Role: Small escort warship Convoy escort and patrol Sloop Role: Small warship and escort Versatile light naval duties Patrol Vessel Role: Constabulary and patrol ship Security and presence Mine Countermeasure Role: Mine warfare vessel Minehunting and minesweeping Amphibious Role: Landing and expeditionary warfare Support for amphibious operations Auxiliary Role: Fleet support vessel Logistics and replenishment Ship of the Line Role: Major sailing warship Line-of-battle tactics Gun-brig Role: Small gun-armed brig Coastal defense Brig Role: Two-masted sailing warship Patrol and dispatch Light Cruiser Role: Medium cruiser Screening and scouting Heavy Cruiser Role: Large treaty cruiser Heavy guns and range Attack Submarine Role: Offensive submarine Hunting ships and submarines Ballistic Missile Submarine Role: Strategic deterrent submarine Nuclear deterrence Fleet Carrier Role: Large frontline carrier Carrier strike groups Escort Carrier Role: Small convoy carrier Convoy air protection Amphibious Assault Ship Role: Amphibious warfare ship Troop landing support Landing Ship Role: Amphibious transport Landing troops and vehicles Minehunter Role: Mine warfare vessel Mine detection and neutralization Minesweeper Role: Mine clearance vessel Sea-lane clearance Gunboat Role: Small armed vessel Coastal and riverine warfare First-rate Ship of the Line Role: Largest ship of the line Flagship prestige Second-rate Ship of the Line Role: Large ship of the line Powerful fleet service Third-rate Ship of the Line Role: Main fleet ship Fleet backbone Monitor Role: Low-freeboard bombardment ship Shore bombardment Ironclad Role: Armoured warship Transition from wood to iron Pre-Dreadnought Battleship Role: Transitional battleship Mixed-calibre heavy guns Dreadnought Battleship Role: All-big-gun battleship Uniform heavy guns Fast Battleship Role: High-speed capital ship Speed with heavy armament Destroyer Escort Role: Convoy escort warship Escort duties Anti-Aircraft Cruiser Role: Air-defence cruiser Fleet air defence Guided Missile Destroyer Role: Missile-armed destroyer Air defence and strike Guided Missile Cruiser Role: Missile-armed cruiser Long-range combat Helicopter Carrier Role: Carrier for helicopters ASW and assault support Command Ship Role: Fleet headquarters afloat Command and control Auxiliary Ship Role: Support vessel Logistics and support Replenishment Ship Role: Underway support vessel Refuelling and resupply Training Ship Role: Instructional ship Cadet and specialist training Survey Ship Role: Hydrographic vessel Mapping coasts and seabeds Hospital Ship Role: Medical support ship Naval healthcare Cable Layer Role: Specialist engineering ship Undersea communications Icebreaker Role: Ice-capable ship Polar navigation Research Vessel Role: Scientific vessel Naval science and study Drone Carrier Role: Uncrewed systems platform Deploying unmanned systems Light Carrier Role: Smaller fleet carrier Flexible naval aviation Landing Platform Dock Role: Amphibious dock ship Embarked marines and craft Offshore Patrol Vessel Role: Extended patrol ship Long-duration patrol Mine Countermeasure Vessel Role: Combined mine warfare ship Minehunting and sweeping Fourth-rate Ship of the Line Role: Smaller line ship Earlier battle line service Fifth-rate Frigate Role: Fast cruising frigate Independent operations Sixth-rate Frigate Role: Small frigate or post ship Patrol duties Post Ship Role: Small rated sailing warship Command by post-captains Brig-sloop Role: Small escort sloop Patrol and escort Ship-rigged Sloop Role: Three-masted sloop Exploration and patrol Central Battery Ironclad Role: Armoured central battery ship Early ironclad design Turret Ship Role: Armoured turret warship Turret innovation Wooden Steam Frigate Role: Hybrid sail-steam frigate Steam transition Super-Dreadnought Battleship Role: Improved dreadnought Heavier guns and armor Fleet Destroyer Role: Fast fleet escort Fleet screening Destroyer Leader Role: Flotilla command destroyer Destroyer command Escort Destroyer Role: Escort-focused destroyer Convoy defence Guided Missile Frigate Role: Missile-armed frigate Escort and missile warfare Scout Cruiser Role: Fast scouting cruiser Reconnaissance Protected Cruiser Role: Armoured-deck cruiser Colonial and trade protection Armoured Cruiser Role: Large armored cruiser Long-range combat Torpedo Boat Role: Small torpedo attack craft Torpedo attacks Torpedo Boat Destroyer Role: Early destroyer type Countering torpedo boats River Gunboat Role: Riverine combat craft Inland waterway warfare Coastal Defence Ship Role: Short-range defensive warship Coastal protection Bomb Vessel Role: Bombardment sailing ship Mortar bombardment Fireship Role: Disposable incendiary ship Setting enemy fleets ablaze Packet Ship Role: Mail and dispatch vessel Communications Dispatch Vessel Role: Fast message-carrying ship Naval communications Fleet Tanker Role: Fuel support ship At-sea refuelling Stores Ship Role: Logistics support ship Transporting naval stores Repair Ship Role: Floating repair platform Fleet maintenance Depot Ship Role: Support base ship Forward support Commando Carrier Role: Amphibious aviation ship Royal Marines support Landing Ship Tank Role: Vehicle landing ship Beach landings Landing Craft Support Role: Armed landing craft Support amphibious landings Unmanned Surface Vessel Role: Uncrewed surface craft Autonomous maritime operations Hydrofoil Role: High-speed foiling craft Fast littoral operations Fast Attack Craft Role: Small fast strike vessel Missile and torpedo attack Missile Boat Role: Small missile combatant Coastal strike Armed Merchant Cruiser Role: Converted merchant raider Auxiliary cruiser service Q-ship Role: Disguised anti-submarine vessel Deception warfare Blockship Role: Deliberately sunk barrier ship Harbour obstruction Boom Defence Vessel Role: Harbour defence craft Barrier defence Submarine Tender Role: Submarine support ship Submarine logistics Aircraft Maintenance Ship Role: Naval aviation support vessel Aircraft support Seaplane Carrier Role: Carrier for floatplanes Early naval aviation Pocket Battleship Role: Heavily armed commerce raider Compact capital-ship concept Armoured Frigate Role: Armoured frigate Transition to iron warships Fleet Submarine Role: Long-range submarine Extended patrol Coastal Submarine Role: Short-range submarine Littoral operations Midget Submarine Role: Small submarine Special operations Submarine Chaser Role: Anti-submarine vessel ASW patrol Anti-Submarine Frigate Role: ASW escort Submarine hunting Anti-Air Destroyer Role: Air defence destroyer AA warfare Torpedo Boat Destroyer Leader Role: Destroyer command vessel Flotilla leadership Fleet Oiler Role: Refuelling ship At-sea logistics Water Tanker Role: Fresh water supply ship Logistics support Ammunition Ship Role: Munitions carrier Resupply Fleet Supply Ship Role: General supply vessel Logistics Salvage Ship Role: Rescue and recovery ship Ship recovery Rescue Ship Role: Search and rescue vessel Life-saving operations Ocean Tug Role: Towing vessel Heavy towing Harbour Tug Role: Port assistance vessel Docking support Boom Defence Ship Role: Harbour defence Barrier systems Net Layer Role: Defensive barrier vessel Anti-submarine nets Net Tender Role: Support vessel Barrier maintenance Cable Repair Ship Role: Cable maintenance Communications Telegraph Ship Role: Communication vessel Early communication Drifter Role: Small patrol vessel ASW patrol Trawler Patrol Vessel Role: Converted patrol ship ASW escort Armed Trawler Role: Auxiliary patrol vessel Escort duties Armed Yacht Role: Converted vessel Auxiliary naval role Merchant Aircraft Carrier Role: Hybrid carrier Convoy air support Catapult Aircraft Merchant Ship Role: Aircraft launch vessel Emergency air cover Escort Sloop Role: Convoy escort ASW operations River Patrol Boat Role: Riverine patrol vessel Inland operations Fast Patrol Boat Role: High-speed patrol vessel Coastal defence Coastal Patrol Craft Role: Short-range patrol vessel Security missions Interdiction Vessel Role: Law enforcement vessel Maritime security Border Patrol Vessel Role: Security patrol vessel Border enforcement Anti-Piracy Vessel Role: Security vessel Anti-piracy operations Maritime Security Vessel Role: Security platform Protection roles Fleet Intelligence Vessel Role: Intelligence gathering Electronic surveillance Signals Intelligence Ship Role: Electronic surveillance SIGINT operations Ocean Surveillance Ship Role: Monitoring vessel Undersea tracking Ballistic Missile Defence Ship Role: Missile defence platform Strategic defence Aegis Destroyer Role: Advanced destroyer Aegis combat system Stealth Destroyer Role: Low-observable warship Stealth technology Stealth Frigate Role: Low-observable frigate Reduced detection Modular Warship Role: Flexible warship Modular mission systems Multi-Role Combat Ship Role: Versatile warship Multiple mission roles Littoral Combat Ship Role: Coastal warship Shallow water operations Expeditionary Sea Base Role: Forward operating base Logistics and staging Joint Support Ship Role: Multi-role support vessel Combined logistics Fleet Hospital Ship Role: Medical support ship Advanced care Aviation Training Ship Role: Training platform Aviation training Naval Academy Training Ship Role: Training vessel Cadet training Experimental Warship Role: Test platform Technology trials Prototype Warship Role: Prototype vessel Design testing Autonomous Naval Vessel Role: Uncrewed vessel Autonomous operations Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Role: Subsea drone Underwater missions Mine Countermeasure Drone Role: Drone vessel Mine clearance Carrier Strike Group Flagship Role: Flagship carrier Command role Task Force Command Ship Role: Command vessel Fleet command Fleet Headquarters Ship Role: Command center ship Naval command Oceanographic Research Ship Role: Scientific vessel Ocean studies Polar Research Vessel Role: Ice-capable research ship Polar exploration Arctic Patrol Vessel Role: Cold-region patrol Ice operations Armoured Gunboat Role: Protected small warship Coastal combat Composite Sloop Role: Wood-iron hybrid vessel Colonial service Paddle Steamer Warship Role: Steam warship Paddle propulsion Screw Corvette Role: Steam-powered corvette Screw propulsion Screw Frigate Role: Steam frigate Screw propulsion Dispatch Gunboat Role: Fast armed messenger Naval communication Colonial Gunboat Role: Empire policing vessel Colonial service River Monitor Role: Shallow draft monitor River combat Bomb Ketch Role: Mortar bombardment ship Shore attack Packet Frigate Role: Mail-carrying warship Communications Convoy Escort Vessel Role: Merchant escort Convoy defence Fleet Screening Ship Role: Protective escort Screening duty Radar Picket Ship Role: Early warning vessel Radar surveillance Electronic Warfare Ship Role: Electronic combat platform Signal disruption Decoy Ship Role: Deception vessel Luring enemy attacks Blockade Runner Role: Fast supply ship Blockade evasion Prison Ship Role: Detention vessel Floating prisons Hospital Transport Role: Medical evacuation Patient transport Troop Transport Role: Military transport Moving troops Landing Craft Tank Role: Armoured landing craft Tank deployment Landing Craft Infantry Role: Infantry landing craft Amphibious assault Landing Craft Mechanized Role: Vehicle landing craft Amphibious operations Landing Craft Assault Role: Assault landing craft Beach landings Landing Ship Infantry Role: Large troop landing ship Amphibious invasion Landing Ship Dock Role: Dock-based amphibious ship Landing craft support Helicopter Assault Ship Role: Helicopter-based assault Air mobility Fast Sealift Ship Role: Rapid logistics ship Strategic transport Roll-on/Roll-off Military Ship Role: Vehicle transport Logistics Submarine Rescue Ship Role: Submarine support Rescue operations Diving Support Vessel Role: Underwater support Diving operations Heavy Lift Ship Role: Transport heavy cargo Strategic lift Floating Dock Role: Mobile dockyard Ship repair Dry Dock Ship Role: Repair vessel Ship maintenance Training Frigate Role: Training vessel Naval education Cadet Training Ship Role: Training vessel Cadet instruction Sail Training Ship Role: Training sailing ship Traditional seamanship Hydrographic Survey Vessel Role: Survey ship Mapping seas Seabed Warfare Vessel Role: Undersea operations Seabed infrastructure Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship Role: ASW platform Submarine detection Mine Laying Ship Role: Mine deployment Naval mining Drone Support Ship Role: Drone operations Unmanned systems Unmanned Submarine Role: Autonomous submersible Underwater robotics Swarm Drone Vessel Role: Drone swarm carrier Future warfare Space Tracking Ship Role: Tracking vessel Space operations Ballistic Test Ship Role: Missile testing Weapons trials Ocean Escort Vessel Role: Escort ship Open-ocean patrol Maritime Patrol Ship Role: Surveillance ship Maritime awareness Anti-Smuggling Vessel Role: Law enforcement ship Counter-smuggling Drug Interdiction Vessel Role: Law enforcement ship Drug enforcement Search and Rescue Vessel Role: Rescue operations SAR missions Firefighting Ship Role: Emergency vessel Fire suppression Pollution Control Vessel Role: Environmental ship Oil spill response Ocean Cleanup Vessel Role: Environmental ship Debris removal