Chapter 4 - Formations, Vessels, Aircraft and Vehicles of the Armed Forces
                                         
Table 4.1 Number of vessels in the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and squadrons in the                        Fleet Air Arm, at 1 April each year
Royal Navy submarines   1990   1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
Total
Vessels
 33 || 15 1   16   15   15   14   13   13   12  
       Trident / Polaris
Vessels
 4 || 3 1   4   4   4   4   4   4   4  
       Fleet
Vessels
 29 || 12 1   12   11   11   10 2 9 3 9   8 4
Royal Navy ships
1990   1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
Aircraft Carriers
Vessels
 3 || 3 1   3   3   3   2 5 2   2   2  
Landing Platform Docks / Helicopter
Vessels
 2 || 2 1   1   2   3   3   3   3   3  
 
                                     
Destroyers
Vessels
 14 || 12 1   11   11   9   8 6 8   8   7 7
Frigates
Vessels
 35 || 23 1   20   20   19   17 8 17   17   17  
 
                                     
Mine countermeasures vessels
Vessels
 41 || 19 1   22   19   16   16   16   16   16  
Patrol ships and craft
Vessels
 34 || 34 1   22   26   26   22 9 22   22 10 22  
Support ships
Vessels
 8 || 1 1   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
 
                                     
Survey ships
Vessels
 8 || 6 1   3   5   5   5   5   5   5  
Ice patrol ships
Vessels
 1 || 1 1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service
1990   1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
Tankers
Vessels
 13   9     7   7   11 11 10 12 10   8 13 6 14
Fleet replenishment ships
Vessels
 4   5     4   6   2 11 2   2   2   4 14
Aviation training ship
Vessels
 -   1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
 
                                     
Landing ships
Vessels
 5   5     5   4   3   3 15 4 16 4 17 4  
Forward repair ships
Vessels
 1   1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Roll-on Roll-off vessels18
Vessels
 *   *     7   6   6   6   6   6   6  
Royal Marines
1990   1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
RM Commando
Commandos
 3   3     3   3   3   3   3   3   3  
Command Support Group
Commandos
 1   1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Infantry Battalion
Battalion
 -   -     -   -   -   -   -   1 19 1  
Logistic unit
Regiments
 1   1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Artillery unit
Regiments
 1   1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Engineer unit
Squadrons
 1   1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Nuclear Guarding and Fleet Security
Squadrons
 ..   ..     3   3   3   3   3   3   3  
Assault (landing craft)
Squadrons
 ..   ..     4   4   4   4   4   4   4  
Naval Aircraft
1990   1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
Fixed Wing Aircraft20
Squadrons
 3   3   || 1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Helicopters21,22
Squadrons
 17   15   || 8 || 5   6   6   7   7   7  
Reserve Units
1990   1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
Royal Navy Reserve Units
Units
 ..   ..     16   16   16   14   14   14   14  
Royal Marine Reserve Units
Units
 ..   ..     5   5   5   5   5   5   5  
Source: MOD Resources and Plans
1.    All Royal Naval vessels are counted in 1990. Only active vessels are counted from 1997.
2.    HMS Spartan was withdrawn from service during the year.
3.    HMS Sovereign was withdrawn from service during the year.
4.    HMS Superb was withdrawn from service during the year.
5.    HMS Invincible was placed into a state of very low readiness in late 2005.
6.    HMS Cardiff was withdrawn from service during the year.
7.    HMS Southampton was withdrawn from service during the year.
8.    HMS Marlborough and HMS Grafton were withdrawn from service during the year.
9.    HMS Leeds Castle and the NI Squadron, consisting of HMS Brecon, HMS Cottesmore and HMS Dulverton, were withdrawn from service during the year.
10.  HMS Clyde entered service during the year. HMS Dumbarton Castle was withdrawn from service.
11.  Four Fleet replenishment ships were re-categorised as Tankers to reflect their primary role.
12.  RFA Grey Rover was withdrawn from service during the year.
13.  RFA Brambleleaf and RFA Oakleaf were withdrawn from service during the year.
14.  Two vessels re-categorised as Fleet Replenishment ships to reflect their primary role.
15.  RFA Mounts Bay enterered service during the year. RFA Sir Tristram was withdrawn from service.
16.  RFA Largs Bay and RFA Cardigan Bay entered service during the year. RFA Sir Galahad was withdrawn from service.
17.  RFA Lyme Bay entered service during the year. RFA Sir Bedivere was withdrawn from service.
18.  Commercially owned vessels that are leased to the Royal Navy for training and operations as required.
19.  1 Rifles became part of 3 Commando Brigade on 1 April 2008.
20.  Excludes Joint Force Harrier squadrons from 1 April 2000 and 727 Sqn (ex Grading Flight).
21.  Excludes Joint Helicopter Command squadrons from 1 October 1999.
22.  OCUs/ OEUs excluded from 2005 onwards.