How many ships did the royal navy have in 1945?

How Many Ships Did the Royal Navy Have in 1945?

A Brief Overview

The year 1945 was a significant milestone in the Second World War, as Allied forces closed in on defeat for Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire. The Royal Navy, the world’s largest naval force, played a crucial role in the war effort, launching numerous battles, convoys, and amphibious operations. By the end of 1945, the Royal Navy had reached a peak of strength, deploying a diverse fleet of vessels across the globe. This article provides an in-depth look at the number of ships that made up the Royal Navy’s fleet on December 31, 1945.

Summary of Royal Navy Strength at the End of 1945

Total Naval Strength:

• Ships: 6,972

  • Battleships: 15
  • Carriers: 7
  • cruisers: 85
  • Destroyers: 274
  • Submarines: 149
  • Patrol Boats: 1,143
  • Sloops: 144
  • MTBs (Motor Torpedo Boats): 363
  • Minesweepers: 444

Land-Based Establishments:

• Bases: 24

  • Shore-based establishments and facilities worldwide

• Reserve Fleet: 1,500

Note:

These numbers are an approximate summary of the Royal Navy’s fleet at the end of 1945 and may not reflect the precise numbers of ships and shore-based establishments at any specific point in time.

A Breakdown by Ship Class

• Battleships:

  • 7 King George V-class battleships: HMS Duke of York, HMS Anson, HMS Howe, HMS King George V, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Revenge, and HMS Rodney
  • 4 Queen Elizabeth-class battleships: HMS Warspite, HMS Nelson, HMS Valiant, and HMS Malaya (out of commission, not operational)
  • 4 older battleships (Renown-class): HMS Renown, HMS Repulse, HMS Ramillies, and HMS Resolution (out of commission, not operational)
  • 4 battleship hulls under construction were cancelled and scrapped

• Aircraft Carriers:

  • 3 Admiralty FLying Boats: HMS Argus, HMS Avenger, and HMS Centaur
  • 4 Essex-class carriers (on the way or under construction):

    • HMS Bulwark
    • HMS Colossus
    • HMS Glory
    • HMS Implacable (not operational, damaged beyond repair)

• Destroyers:

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  • G-class destroyers (104): HMS Daring, HMS Defender, HMS Diligence, and so on
  • L-class destroyers (77)
  • M-class destroyers (14)
  • N-class destroyers (1)

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• Submarines:

  • T-class submarines (64): HMS Triton, HMS Taku, HMS Tamandare, and so on
  • U-class submarines (74)

• Sloops:

  • Caledon-class sloops: HMS Albuera, HMS Flamingo, HMS Whimbrel, and so on
  • Grimsby-class sloops: HMS Grimsby, HMS Hastings, HMS Lowestoft, and so on