This is a list of major classes of warship operated by the Royal Australian Navy. Included are capital ships, amphibious vessels, cruisers, destroyers and frigates.
Contents |
Aircraft Carriers
Following the Second World War, the RAN began a policy of blue water operations built around an aircraft carrier. Two light fleet carriers were purchased from the Royal Navy, one of which, HMAS Melbourne, was modified with all the latest enhancements in carrier design. Melbourne continued as the RAN's flagship until 1982, when it was planned to replace her with a STOVL carrier, again purchased from the Royal Navy. However, the sale of HMS Invincible was cancelled by the British Government after the Falklands War. Soon after, the Australian Government decided to end aircraft carrier operations.
Conventional Aircraft Carriers
Seaplane Carrier
Capital Ships
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When the RAN was first founded, it was decided that a capital ship would be constructed to serve as the fleet flagship. Initially conceived as a unit of the Royal Navy, the second Indefatigable class battlecruiser was paid for and crewed by Australians, and was thus commissioned as HMAS Australia. Australia was the only true "capital ship" to serve in the RAN.
Battlecruiser
Amphibious Assault Shipping
- Landing Ship Infantry
- Mark III Landing Ship Tank - six ships
- Landing Craft Heavy
- Balikpapan class- eight ships
- Heavy Landing Ship
- High Speed Catamaran
- Kanimbla class (1994)
- Canberra class - two ships planned
Cruisers
Heavy Cruisers
- "County" class
- HMAS Canberra
- HMAS Australia
- HMAS Shropshire - loaned following loss of HMAS Canberra
Armoured Cruiser
Light Cruisers
- Pelorus class - two ships
- Sydney class (1910) - four ships
- Sydney class (1931) - three ships
Destroyers
- "River" class - six ships
- "S" class - five ships
- Marksman class - one ship
- "V" class - three ships
- "W" class - one ship
- "Scott" class - one ship
- "N" class - five ships
- "Q" class - five ships
- "Tribal" class - three ships
- Anzac class - two ships
- Voyager class - four ships
- Perth class - three ships
- Hobart class - three ships planned
Frigates
- "River" class (1941) - twelve ships
- "River" class (1957) - six ships
- Adelaide class - six ships
- Anzac class - eight ships
Sloops
- Flower class - three ships
- Grimsby class - four ships
