Royal Navy

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With the possible exception of the invincible legions of ancient Rome, no armed service in history has ever had a tradition so long and glorious as that of the Royal Navy.
—Warships of the World—Victory Edition
Naval Service
Services
Board of Admiralty
Royal Navy
Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Fleet Reserve
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Women's Royal Naval Service
Auxiliary Patrol
Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Marine Forces
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Royal Marine Artillery
Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The Royal Navy is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service). It forms the largest constituent part of the Naval Service, which is administered by the Admiralty, a governmental body presided over by the Board of Admiralty which is composed mostly of serving officers of the Royal Navy.

The primary mission of the Royal Navy since the eighteenth century has been to defend Britain's maritime trade which expanded rapidly with the rise of the British Empire in the Americas, Africa and Asia. As an island nation reliant on exports and revenue from trade with other nations, the Navy has always been relied on as the "sure shield of Empire". Because of Britain's widespread commitments, concentration of force everywhere meant that the 1880s onwards it was accepted in Britain that the Royal Navy would have to hold a huge margin of superiority over any potential naval rival, which resulted in various "standards" being adhered to, commencing with the Naval Defence Act and the "Two Power Standard".

Ever since the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Trafalgar the Royal Navy had been regarded as an invincible fighting force, which gave it an esprit de corps second to none. It's history of success, the confidence of its officers and men and its size served to act as a powerful deterrent. Notwithstanding its mighty position, the Royal Navy throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century was aware of changing technologies and sought to encourage the adoption and development of new weapons and ideas, culminating in 1914 when Britain had the largest dreadnought fleet, the largest submarine fleet and the largest naval air arm.

Mission

Royal Navy
Command and Administration
Board of Admiralty
Admiralty War Staff (post-1912)
·Operations Division
·Intelligence Division
·Mobilisation Division
·Trade Division (1914-)
·Anti-Submarine Division (1916-)
Departments of the Admiralty
Department of the Director of Naval Ordnance
Department of the Director of Naval Equipment (1912-)
Victualling Department
Naval Mobilisation Department (Royal Navy) (1900-1912)
Navigation Department (Royal Navy) (1913-)
Naval Intelligence Department (1887-1912)
Naval Construction Department
Department of the Controller of the Navy
Engineering Department
Dockyards Department
Dockyard Expense Accounts Department
Naval Store Department
Works Department
Compass Branch
Air Department
Coastguard and Reserves Branch
Engineer Branch
Dockyard Branch
Transport Department
Accountant-General's Department
Naval Medical Service
Contract and Purchase Department
Greenwich Hospital Department
Naval Education Office
Structure
Board of Admiralty
Admiralty War Staff
Royal Naval Colleges
Royal Naval Dockyards
Royal Naval War Staff
Royal Naval Establishments
Structure
Fleets and Squadrons
Aircraft squadrons
Infantry units
Equipment
Royal Navy ships
Royal Navy ship classes
Personnel
Flag Officers
Officer ranks
Lower Deck Ranks and Ratings
History and traditions
History of the Royal Navy
Sunset
Heart of Oak
Band of the Royal Marines
Imperial Navy League
Imperial Maritime League