Naval Rankings

[rickusn]

UPDATED through end of 2005 and farther where possible

Any comments, questions or corrections:

The navies in each Tier are ranked in no particular order.

{Tier 1}

<USN>

2 CV

10+1+1 CVN

12+1+1 Amphibious assault carriers

Cruisers

0+? CGX

24 CG-47 Aegis MK-41 VLS SM-2 Cruisers(two to be decommissioned soon)(the rest being modernized) 9,600fl

DDG

48+14 DDG-51 AEGIS MK41 -VLS SM-2 8900-9200fl(Japan has similar ships)

DD

0+7 DDX

3 DD-963(All to be decommissioned soon) 9300fl

FF

0+60 LCS

30 4100fl (This is the OHP class found in a # of other navies)(USN ships no longer have SM-1/Harpoon missle launchers. There combat value is quite low)

SSN

1 774 class(building up to 30)

3 21 class

50 688 class


4 SSGN

14 SSBN


{Tier 2}

<France>

(building two amphibious assault carriers bu not planned to operate fixed wing aircraft)

1 CVN

DDG

0+4 Horizon 7000fl

1 Masurca SAM built 1970 The Masurca sytem has been decativated. will retire 2008. This ship is now used as a DD.

FFG(are typed as DDGs but are really frigates)

2 Cassard(have recycled SM-1 systems)

DD/FF(the first nine are typed DD but role is much like modern frigates)

0+17 5400fl (These will replace the above two units, one decommissioned Tourville class plus the two survivors, seven G. Leygues and the five La Fayette)

7 4500fl

2 5900fl

5 3600fl(no sonar)

FFL

9 A-69 1250fl

SSN

0+6 Barracuda to replace Rubis class
6 Rubis

4 SSBN

<UK>

0+2 CV

3 CVH(plus one amphibious assault carrier can operate Harriers )

DDG/FFG (Size and role more akin to modern AAW frigates)

0+8 Type 45 to replace Type 42

8 Type42 4300fl (Four more will decommission from 2009-2012)

FF

4 Type 22 4900fl

13 Type 23

SSN

0+8 Astute to replace those below

10 Trafalger/Swiftsure

4 SSBN

<Russia>

(Surface combatants they have about 35. With as few as 19 operational. Divided between four (Northern, Pacific,Baltic Sea, Black Sea) non-supporting or ever will be mutually supportable fleets.)

Cruisers

1-2 Kirov battle cruisers 26000fl

3 Slava cruisers 11500fl

DDG

4-9 Sovremmeny(sources conflict) (although the missles are of relatively short range compared to western DDGs) 8500fl

1 Kashin DDG 4500fl

DD

9 Udaloy (including the one II) 8400fl

FF

0-8 Krivak (last I heard they were all to be decommissioned by 2005) 3500fl

1 Neustrashimy 4300fl

1 Gepard(Caspian sea) 2000fl

A number of small frigates of little combat value.


12-20 SSN approx. operational(could be some Victor III left and not all of other classes in service are operational)

7 SSGN approx operational

7 Kilo SSK approx operational

9-14 SSBN approx operational(the five surviving Delta III were to be decommissioned by now but may stay in operation for some time yet)



{Tier 3}

<Japan>

(no carriers, SSNs, SSBNs but excellent modern forces otherwise in relatively large #s)(Would move up with carriers, SSNs/SSBNs these are not beyond their means but taboo politically and socially)

0 +4 Building four new 17000fl helicopter carriers could easily operate VSTOL aircraft. They are quite controversial.

4 DDH(To be replaced by the above) 6600-6800fl

4+2 US-design A Burke AEGIS DDG 9500fl

5 SM-1 DDG4800-5600fl

The following classed by Japan as DD are more akin to multi-purpose Frigates although the MK41 VLS equipped are extremely capable the four newest carry SM-2 controlled by a so-called mini-AEGIS:

4+4 MK41VLS(32) Takinami 5300fl

9 MK 41(16) and Mk 48 VLS Murasame 5100fl

8 Asagari4300fl

11 Hatsuyuki 3700fl

9 small frigates of little combat value although modern

18 modern SSK could have up to 30(building one per year) but are retiring units with only 20 years of service to save manning/operating costs.


<India>

(two carriers but older)(Could move up if Fleet modernization plans move forward in a timely manner)(no SSNs or SSBNs)

DDG

0+3 Aster SAM 6900

3 Project 15 SAN 7 6700

5 Russian-design Kashin SAN 1 4900fl

FFG

0+12 Project 17 SAN 7 5400fl

3+3 Russian-Krivak SAN 7 4,000fl

FF

3 Project 16A 4500fl

3 Project 16 4300fl

4 UK Leander 3000fl

FFL

8 Project 25/ 25A 1400fl

SSK

6 German type 209
10 Russian- built Kilo
2 Russian -built Foxtrot(obsolete)


<China>

(no carriers)( otherwise same as above as relates modernization)

DDGs

2 O52C AEGIS-Type
2 O52B SAN 7
2 +2 Russian- Built Sovremmenyy SAN 7

DD(although armed more like multi-purpose frigates)

1 Luhai 6600fl
2 Luhu 5700fl


The below classified DD but would be classed Frigate by world standards :

16 Luda 7 of which have been modernized to some extent but still pretty much obsolete by world class standards 4000fl

0+4 new large Lafayette-type Frigates 3600fl
12 relatively modern Frigates but smallish 2300 fl

31 small Frigates of little combat value

1 SSBN (no operational missles)

3 SSN ( 5 built not a success the survivors may not be operational)

4+5 Russian-built Kilo SSK
5 Song SSK
18 Mings based on Russian Romeo design SSK
32 Romeo SSK(all to decommission by 2010)

All but the Kilos and possibly the Song(some sources say they are a disappointment) have little combat value.



{Tier 4}

(All have a small carrier, Italy two, one is under construction)(Spain is building an Amphibious Assault Carrier as well)(well balanced fleets)

(excellent all around forces)(lack #s and SSNs/SSBNs)(modernizing)

<Italy>

(the new Horizon AAW ships may be designated as frigates)

DDG/FFG

0+2 Horizon class ASTER VLS 6700 fl
4 SM-1(two 1973 and two 1993)4500fl&5400fl respectively

FF

8 Mastrale 3200fl
4 Lupo variants(no sonar) 2500fl

FFL

8 Minerva 1300fl

6 SSK of indigenous design(building two German-design Type 212)

<Spain>

FFG

4 AEGIS MK-41 VLS SM-2 5800fl

6 US-design OHP 4100fl

3 US-design modified Knox class SM-1 4200fl(To decommission 2005-2006)

SSK

0+4 French-design Scorpene

4 French-design Agosta

2 French-design Daphne


<Brazil>

(only reason here is they have a small carrier w/o it would move down to Tier 5B)

FF

4 ex-UK Broadsword 4400fl

6 UK-design 3800fl

4+1 indigenous design 2400fl

SSK

4+1 German-design Type 209



{Tier 5A}

(For the most part very modern ships and balanced fleets)
(lack #s, carriers, SSNs, SSBNs but forces are very modern)

<The Netherlands>

FFG

4 APAR MK-41 VLS SM-2 6000fl

FF

6 3200fl

SSK

4 indigenous design

<Germany>

FFG

3 APAR MK-41 VLS SM-2 5700fl

FF

4 4500fl

8 Dutch-design Kortenaer 3800fl

SSK

2+2 Type 212
11 type 206(very small coastal type)


<Austrailia>

(Once again modernization plans must move forward. Plan to build two amphibious assault carriers)

0+ 3 DDG/FFG AEGIS SM-2 design not finalised

FFG

6 US-design OHP SM-1 4100fl(two will soon be decommissioned w/the other four being modernized)

FF

8 German-design MEKO 200 3600fl

SSK

6 Swedish-design


<Canada>

(Lack modernization plans and funding)

FFG

3 Mk-41 VLS SM-2 5100fl

FF

12 4800fl

SSK

4 ex-UK Upholder class

<S. Korea>

(Are in the midst of modernization)(they are also building two medium size Amphibious Assault Carriers)

FFG

0+3 KDX III AEGIS SM-2

3 KDX II Mk-41 VLS SM-2 5000fl

FF

3 KDX 13900fl
9 Ulsan2200fl

FFL

24 Pohang 1200fl

SSK

0+3 German- design Type 214
9 German design Type 209



{Tier 5B}

(These countries have same limitations as above plus their ships are a mix of older and newer but in some cases less capable ships than above although Taiwan and Turkey have many more surface combatants #s wise)

<Taiwan>

DDG

4 ex- Kidd class DDG(replacing 7 ex-US WWII vintage DD) 9600fl

FFG

8 OHP design Frigates 4100fl

FF

6 Lafayette design Frigates (w/ sonar unlike the French units) 3700fl,

8 ex-US Knox class Frigates 4300fl

SSK

2 Netherlands-built (but are trying to buy 8 modern ones)

<Turkey>

FFG

8 ex-US OHP Frigates 3900fl

FF

8 MEKO 200 Frigates 3000-3400fl

4 ex-US Knox Frigates 4300fl

FFL

6 ex-French Type A-69 1250fl

SSK

12 +2 German-design Type 209

<Greece>

DDG

1 ex-US 4800fl

FF

4 MEKO 200 Frigates 3200fl

10 ex-Netherlands Kortenaer Frigate 3800fl

SSK

1+3 German design Type 214

8 German-design Type 209



Tiers 6A, 6B, 6C are navies in flux. But I thought some type of breakdown was necessary. 6A navies are on the cutting edge of technology but #s are closer to 6C which are modern compared to 6B in general.(Notable exception is Pakistan and Chiles new build SSKs.)



{Tier 6A}

(These countries are modernizing but have ships in far fewer #s than above, SSK are modern )

<Sweden>

5 Visby Stealth Corvettes 620fl(state of the art I would not normally list them)

SSK

4 indigenous designs

<Norway >

FFG

1+5 AEGIS MK-41 VLS Spanish-built 5100fl

3 Oslo 2000fl

SSK

6 German-built Type 210

<Denmark>

FFG

2 (Flexible Support ships a cross between a frigate and an amphibious ship) 6300fl

0+3 (slightly smaller than the above design not finalised)

(No SSK)

<S.Africa>

FF

4 German-built MEKO 200 3600fl

SSK

3 German-built Type 209



{Tier 6B}

(These countries have older ships although especially in the case of Pakistan have good SSKs)(Have generally a couple more vessels than above.)

<Chile

FFG

2 ex-Netherlands SM-1MR 3800fl (In-service 2005-2007)

FF

2 ex-UK 6200fl (To decommission 2006 & 2007)

1 ex- UK 4900fl

2 ex-Netherlands 3300fl (In-service 2005-2007)

3 Leander class 3200fl

SSK

2 French-built Scorpene
2 German-built 209

<Pakistan>

6 ex-UK Amazon class frigates 3700fl(To be retired by 2010)

SSK

4+1 French- built Agosta class
4 French- built Daphne class

<Peru>

1 ex-Netherlands Cruiser 12000fl of little combat value(To be retired circa 2007)

6+2 Lupo class Frigates 2500fl

6 SSK German-built Type 209

<Venezuela>

6 Lupo class Frigates 2500fl

2 German-Built Type 209 SSK

<Indonesia>

6 UK-design ex-Netherland frigates 3000fl

2 SSK German-built Type 209


{Tier 6C}

(few ships mostly quite modern except Thailand but they do have a small carrier)(are not far behind the above navies and in somes areas superior)

<Thailand>


FF

2 Chinese-built 3000fl
2 ex-US Knox class

4 small frigates of little combat value

(No SSK)

<Argentina>

FF

4 MEKO 360 3400fl

FFL

6 MEKO 140 class 1800fl
3 ex-French A-69 class 1300fl

SSK

2 German-built TR-1700
1 " " Type 209

Amphibious

2 LPA/APD ex-UK-built Sheffield class DDG's converted to carry SOF/ Marines and Two Sea King helos.

1 LPA

( No Mine Warfare ships)

Replenishment

AOR

1 ex-French Durance class



<Iran>

(lack adequate surface combatants)

5 small frigates of little combat value

SSK

3 Russian-built Kilo

<Singapore>

FF

2+4 French-designed 3200fl

SSK

4 ex-Swedish

<Malaysia>

FF

4 Frigates 2000fl-2300fl

SSK

0+-2 French-built Scorpene

<Saudi Arabia>

(no SSKs but very modern surface combatants)

FF

3 French-built 4700fl
4 " " 2600fl

4 small frigates

<Israel>

(lack adequate surface combatants)

3 small frigates but very powerful

SSK

3 German-built Type 800

<Portugal>

2 ex-US OHP 4100fl

FF

3 MEKO 200 3200fl

SSK

2 French- built being Daphne

0+2 German-built Type 209

<Colombia>

4 small frigates very well armed

SSK

2 German-built Type 209

<Egypt>

( Like Argentina it could easily be in 6B as here)

FFG

4 ex-US OHP 3900fl

FF

2 ex-US Knox 4200fl

4 small frigates

SSK

4 Chinese Romeo but heavily modernized

<Poland>

FF

2 ex-USN OHP 3700fl

1+1 +4 MEKO 100 (very capable,armed like a MEKO 200 but only 2100fl maybe only two will be built vice 6)(first in-service 2007)

SSK

1 Russian built- KILO

4 small coastal ex-Norwegian German-built Type 207




{Tier 7}

(A mixed bag of older and in some cases modern ships most have no SSKs )

<New Zealand>

FF

2 German-built MEKO 200 3500fl

<Bahrain>

FFG

1 ex-USN OHP 3700fl

<UAE>

FF

2 ex-Netherlands Kortenaer 3800fl

<Romania>

DD

1 Russian-built 5,800fl of limited combat value

FF

2 ex-UK Boxer class 4900fl

<Ukraine>

FF

1 ex-Russian Krivak III 3700fl

Mexico

FF

4 ex-USN Knox class 4300fl of limited combat value

<Algeria>

3 Russian-built Koni class frigates1700fl

SSK

2 Russian-built Kilo class

(No mine warfare ships)

Amphibious

2 UK-built LST

(No rplenishment ships)

<Libya>

1 small frigate

<Ecuador>

FF

2 ex-UK Leander 3200fl

SSK

2 German-built Type 209

<Bangladesh>

FF

1 S. Korean-built is not oprational because of serious construction defects

3 ex-UK of little combat value

1 small frigate

<Morrocco>

1 small frigate

<Bulgaria>

1 small frigate

SSK

1 ex-Soviet Romeo of limited combat value

<Oman>

2 small frigates

<Uruquay>

FF

3 ex-French 2200fl over 40 years old of limited combat value



That makes 51 plus the USN. Ive attempted to list only small frigates that are of relatively modern and useful combat value approx 1000-2000fl. Ive not noted numerous patrol vessels similar to USCG Cutters. Ive not noted numerous heavily armed missle boats of approx 250-700fl.

Ive have not commented for the most part on amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and logistics ships. Although these are an important part of an effective navy.

Except as noted and sometimes subjectively and unconciously have I taken into account funding, personnel issues, training, optempo, maintenance etc in addition to relative combat capabilities.

[TopHatter]

Wow! Nice list. :)
How long does it take you to do a post like that?
Oh and I've been wondering, what was your service in the USN all about?
Surface ships? Subs? What ships were you on?
(Sorry for the questions, I like to live viacariously )

[rickusn]

The actual post doesnt take long as I had saved the last listing and only had to edit parts and then copy/paste.

The research Ive been working on a for many hours. Having just received my new edition of "Combat Fleets" and that authors new article in PROCEEDINGs which I had posted previously.

I think later tonight I might do some more edits on the small frigate/FFL sections. I may add major replenishment, mine warfare and amphibious units.

While they are important for a balanced navy capable of projecting power far from countries home shores there really arent a great many of these units in most navies.

It appears most mid-sized navies including such nations as the UK, France, Spain , Netherlands, Italy, S. Korea, Austrailia are settling on nominal three ship amphibious groups consisting of one LHA/LHD/LPH type ship and/or 2/3 LPD/LSD type ships. And in some cases building extra hulls which are used mostly in a training role.

Most other navies have varying #s of relatively small LST type ships.

I was on the USS Henry L. Stimson SSBN 655 Gold from 1977-1981.

If anyone has questions on a particular navy. I am more than happy to try and answer them to the best of my abilities.

[TopHatter]

The research Ive been working on a for many hours. Having just received my new edition of "Combat Fleets" and that authors new article in PROCEEDINGs which I had posted previously.

Dave Baker? He makes Jane's look kinda...sad :)
(No offense to Janes fans out there)

[rickusn]

Mr Baker no longer compiles Combat Fleets. That task has been taken over by Eric Wertheim.