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   1997   2000   2004 2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010  
Total
Vessels
 15   16   15 15   14   13   13   12   11  
      Trident / Polaris
Vessels
 3   4   4 4   4   4   4   4   4  
      Fleet
Vessels
 12   12   11 11   10 1 9 2 9   8 3 7 4
Royal Navy ships
1997   2000   2004 2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010  
Aircraft Carriers
Vessels
 3   3   3 3   2 5 2   2   2   2  
Landing Platform Docks / Helicopter
Vessels
 2   3   2 3   3   3   3   3   3  
                                     
Destroyers
Vessels
 12   11   11 9   8 6 8   8   7 7 6 8
Frigates
Vessels
 23   21   20 19   17 9 17   17   17   17  
                                     
Mine countermeasures vessels
Vessels
 19   21   19 16   16   16   16   16   16  
Patrol ships and craft
Vessels
 34   23   26 26   22 10 22   22 11 22   22  
Support ships
Vessels
 1   -   - -   -   -   -   -   -  
                                     
Survey ships
Vessels
 6   6   5 5   5   5   5   5   4 12
Ice patrol ships
Vessels
 1   1   1 1   1   1   1   1   1 13
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service
1997   2000   2004 2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010  
Tankers
Vessels
 9   7   7 11 14 10 15 10   8 16 6 17 6  
Fleet replenishment ships
Vessels
 5   4   6 2 14 2   2   2   4 17 4  
Primary Casualty Receiving Ship18
Vessels
 1   1   1 1   1   1   1   1   1  
                                     
Landing ships
Vessels
 5   5   4 3   3 19 4 20 4 21 4   4  
Forward repair ships
Vessels
 1   1   1 1   1   1   1   1   1  
Roll-on Roll-off vessels22
Vessels
 *   2   6 6   6   6   6   6   6  
Royal Marines
1997   2000   2004 2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010  
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 23 1   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
 ..   1   3 3   3   3   3   3   4 24
Assault (landing craft)
Squadrons
 ..   3   4 4   4   4   4   4   4  
1997   2000   2004 2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010  
Fixed Wing Aircraft25
Squadrons
 3 || 1   1 1   1   1   1   1   1  
Helicopters26,27
Squadrons
 15 || 9   5 6   6   7   7   7   7  
Reserve Units
1997   2000   2004 2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010  
Royal Navy Reserve Units
Units
 ..   ..   16 16   14   14   14   14   14  
Royal Marine Reserve Units
Units
 ..   ..   5 5   5   5   5   5   5  
Source: MOD Resources and Plans
1.   HMS Spartan was withdrawn from service during the year.
2.   HMS Sovereign was withdrawn from service during the year.
3.   HMS Superb was withdrawn from service during the year.
4.   HMS Trafalgar 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 Exeter and HMS Nottingham were withdrawn from service during the year. HMS Daring has been commissioned into the fleet and is due to enter full
      service later in 2010.
9.   HMS Marlborough and HMS Grafton were withdrawn from service during the year.
10. HMS Leeds Castle and the NI Squadron, consisting of HMS Brecon, HMS Cottesmore and HMS Dulverton, were withdrawn from service during the year.
11. HMS Clyde entered service during the year. HMS Dumbarton Castle was withdrawn from service.
12. HMS Roebuck was withdrawn from service during the year.
13. HMS Endurance is currently non-operational while options for her repair or replacement are considered.
14. Four Fleet replenishment ships were re-categorised as Tankers to reflect their primary role.
15. RFA Grey Rover was withdrawn from service during the year.
16. RFA Brambleleaf and RFA Oakleaf were withdrawn from service during the year.
17. Two vessels re-categorised as Fleet Replenishment ships to reflect their primary role.
18. Also known as Aviation training ship, as vessel has both these roles.
19. RFA Mounts Bay enterered service during the year. RFA Sir Tristram was withdrawn from service.
20. RFA Largs Bay and RFA Cardigan Bay entered service during the year. RFA Sir Galahad was withdrawn from service.
21. RFA Lyme Bay entered service during the year. RFA Sir Bedivere was withdrawn from service.
22. Commercially owned vessels that are leased to the Royal Navy for training and operations as required.
23. 1 Rifles became part of 3 Commando Brigade on 1 April 2008.
24. Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines expanded by one squadron (P Sqn) during Mar-Sep 10.
25. Excludes Joint Force Harrier squadrons from 1 April 2000 and 727 Sqn (ex Grading Flight).
26. Excludes Joint Helicopter Command squadrons from 1 October 1999.
27. OCUs/ OEUs excluded from 2005 onwards.