Thread: Greatly Revised Rankings

Naval Rankings

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UPDATED through end of 2005 and farther where possible.

Entries for FFL typed ships revamped.

In addition sections for Amphibious ships(displacement over 1000fl) were incorporated. As were sections for Mine Warfare ships and Underway replenishment ships.

Listed the Tiers and the nations in each at the beginning.

Ship Listings for each navy follow below.

See separate post for Guided Missle units under a displacement of 1000fl.

Any comments, questions or corrections?

The Navies in each Tier are ranked in no particular order:

Tier 1
USN

Tier 2
France
UK
Russia

Tier 3
Japan
India
China

Tier 4
Italy
Spain
Brazil

Tier 5A
The Netherlands
Germany
Austrailia
Canada
S. Korea

Tier 5B
Taiwan
Turkey
Greece

Tier 6A
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
S.Africa
Singapore
Saudi Arabia

Tier 6B
Chile
Pakistan
Peru
Venezuela
Indonesia
Argentina
Egypt
Portugal
Thailand

Tier 6C
Iran
Malaysia
Israel
Colombia
Poland
Algeria

Tier 7
New Zealand
Belgium
Bahrain
UAE
Romania
Ukraine
Mexico
Libya
Ecuador
Bangladesh
Morocco
Bulgaria
Oman
Serbia


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

SSGN

4 Ohio class(SSBN conversions)

SSBN

14 Ohio class

Amphibious

0+4 New LHA(R) class(Apparently will have no well deck)

7+1 Wasp class LHD

5 Tarawa class LHA(One to retire 2006)

10 Austin class LPD(Will retire as the new LPD class is commissioned)

1+8+? LPD 17 class

4 Harpers Ferry class LSD

8 Whidbey Island LSD

Mine Warfare

12 Osprey class MHC

14 Avenger class MCM

Replenishment

1+11 Lewis and Clark class AKE

4 Kilauea class AE(Will retire as the new AKE's come into service)

3 ex-UK Lyness class AFS(Will retire as the new AKE's come into service)

3 Mars class AFS(Will retire as the new AKE's come into service)

14 Kaiser class AO

4 Supply class AOE

2 Sacramento class AOE(Will soon be retired)

{Tier 2}

<France>

1 CVN Charles de Gaulle

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 G. Leygues class 4500fl

2 Tourville class 5900fl

5 Lafayette class 3600fl(no sonar)

FFL

9 A-69 class 1250fl

SSN

0+6 Barracuda to replace Rubis class

6 Rubis class

SSBN

3+1 Le Triomphant class

1 Le Redoubtable class(Will retire before completion of final Le Triomphant class)

Amphibious class

1+1 Mistral class LHA

2 Foudre class LSD

1 Ouragon class LSD (Will retire on commissioning of the Mistral class)

5 Champlain class LSM

Mine Warfare

1 Rhin class MCS

13 Tripartite class MHC

4 Vulcain MSA

Replenishment

4 Durance class AOR

<UK>

0+2 CV Queen Elizabeth class

3 CVH Invincible class

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

SSBN

4 Vanguard class

Amphibious

1 Ocean class LPH

1 Argus class AGH

2 Albion classLPD

1+3 Largs Bay class LSD

3 Sir Belvidere class LST(Will decommission on the new LSD class entry into service)

Mine Warfare

8 Sandown class MHC

8 Hunt class MCM

Replenishment

2 Wave class AO

1 Oakleaf class AO(Will retire circa 2010)

3 Leaf class AO(Will retire by 2010)

3 Rover class AO(Will retire by 2010)

2 Victoria class AOR

<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.)

1 CV Kunetsov

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 4500fl

2 Kara class 8800fl

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

1+3 Project 20380 2100fl

A number of small frigates of little combat value.

SSN

2 Akula II class

8 Akula I class

3 Sierra I & II class

4 Victor III class(Will soon be decommissioned)

7 Oscar class approx operational

SSK

7 Kilo class approx operational

1 Tango class

SSBN

0+2 Borey

4 Delta IV

2 Typhoon

5 Delta III(the surviving Delta III were to be decommissioned by now but may stay in operation for some time yet)

Amphibious

1 Ivan Rogov class LSD

20 LST approx in-service

1 LSM

Mine Warfare

3 MCM

10 MSF

40 MSC

Replenishment

17 AO

{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)

DDH

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

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

DDG

4+2 US-design A Burke AEGIS 9500fl

5 SM-1 4800-5600fl

DD

The following are 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

FF

6 Abukuma 2600fl

FFL

2 Yubari 1750fl

1 Ishikari 1450fl

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

8+3 Oyashio class

6 Harushio class

4 Yuushio class

Amphibious

4 Osumi class LSD

0+3 new LST class

2 LST

Mine Warfare

2 MCS

3 MSO

27+4 MHC

Replenishment

5 AOE

<India>

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

CV

0+3 Vikrant ADS class

0+1 ex-Russian Gorshkov class

1 ex-UK Hermes class

DDG

0+3 Aster SAM class 6900

3 Project 15 class SAN 7 6700

5 Russian-design Kashin classSAN 1 4900fl

FFG

0+12 Project 17 class SAN 7 5400fl

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

FF

3 Project 16A class 4500fl

3 Project 16 class 4300fl

4 UK Leander class 3000fl

FFL

8 Project 25/ 25A class 1400fl

SSK

6 German Type 209 class

10 Russian- built Kilo class

2 Russian -built Foxtrot class(obsolete)

Amphibious

2+3 LST

6 Russian-built LSM

Mine Warfare

12 Russian-built MSF

Replenishment

1 AO

2 AOR

<China>

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

DDGs

2 O52C class AEGIS-Type

2 O52B class SAN 7

2 +2 Russian- Built Sovremmenyy class SAN 7

DD(although armed more like multi-purpose frigates)

1 Luhai class 6600fl

2 Luhu class 5700fl

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

DD

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 Jiangwei class 2300 fl

FFL

31 Jianghu class 1700fl

1 SSBN (no operational missles)

SSN

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

SSK

4+5 Russian-built Kilo class

5 Song

18 Ming class based on Russian Romeo design

32 Romeo class (all to decommission by 2010)

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

Amphibious

20+? LST

3 LSM

Mine Warfare

41 MSF

4+? MSC

Replenishment

2 AO

1 AOR

{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>

CV

0+1 Conte Cavour

1 Giuseppe Garibaldi

(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

0+10 FREMM class(To replace the 12 ships below)

8 Mastrale 3200fl

4 Lupo variants(no sonar) 2500fl

FFL

8 Minerva 1300fl

SSK

1+1 German Type 212

6 indigenous design

Amphibious

3 LPD

Mine Warfare

12 MHC

Replenishment

3 AOR

<Spain>

FFG

4 AEGIS MK-41 VLS SM-2 Alvaro de Bazan class 5800fl

6 US-design OHP SM-1MR 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

Amphibious

0+1 LHD

2 Rotterdam class LPD

2 ex-US Newport class LST

Mine Warfare

1 MCS

6 MHC

Replenishment

1 AO

1+1 AOR

<Brazil>

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

CV

1 ex-French Clemenceau class

FF

4 ex-UK Broadsword 4400fl

6 UK-design 3800fl

4+1 indigenous design 2400fl

SSK

4+1 German-design Type 209

Amphibious

1 ex-US Newport class LST

Mine Warfare

6 MSC German-built

Replenishment

1 AOR


{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 De Zeven Provincien class 6000fl

FF

6 3200fl

SSK

4 indigenous design

Amphibious

0+1 Johan De Witt class LPD

1 Rotterdam class LPD

Mine Warfare

10 MHC

Replenishment

2+1 AOR

<Germany>

FFG

3 APAR MK-41 VLS SM-2 Sachsen class 5700fl

FF

4 Brandenburg class4500fl

8 Dutch-design Kortenaer class 3800fl

FFL

0+5 Type 130 class 1700fl

SSK

2+2 Type 212 class

11 Type 206 class(very small coastal type)

(No Amphibious ships)

Mine Warfare

17 MHC

5 MSA

Replenishment

4 AO

4 AOR

<Austrailia>

(Once again modernization plans must move forward. Plan to build three 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 Collins class

Amphibious

0+2 LHA/LPH Type 25000fl(Either French Mistral variant or Spanish-design)

2 LPA ex-US Newport class LST

1 LST UK-design

Mine Wrafare

6 MHC Italian-design

Replenishment

0+2 AOR

1 AO

1 AOR

<Canada>

(Lack modernization plans and funding)

FFG

3 Mk-41 VLS SM-2 5100fl

FF

12 4800fl

SSK

4 ex-UK Upholder class

(No Amphibious ships)

(No Mine Warfare ships)

Replenishment

0+3 Combined AOR/LPA

2 AOR

<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

Amphibious

0+2 LPH

4 LST

(Have a # of ex-US WWII LST but they will be retired soon)

Mine Warfare

8+9 MHC

5 MSC

Replenishment

3 AOR

{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)

Amphibious

1 ex-US Anchorage class LSD

2 ex-US Newport class LST

(Has a # of ex-US WWII era LST's that will be retired soon)

Mine Warfare

8 MHC

4 MSC

Replenishment

1 AOR

<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

Amphibious

2 LST

Mine Warfare

8 MHC

12 MSC

Replenishment

2 AO

<Greece>

FF

4 MEKO 200 Frigates 3200fl

10 ex-Netherlands Kortenaer Frigate 3800fl

SSK

1+3 German design Type 214

8 German-design Type 209

Amphibious

6 LST

Mine Warfare

4 MHC

9 MSC

Replenishment

1 AOR

4 AO

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.

{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

(No Amphibious Ships)

Mine Warfare

2 MSC

11 MHC

(No Replenishment ships)

<Norway >

FFG

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

3 Oslo class 2000fl

SSK

6 German-built Type 210

(No Amphibious ships)

Mine Warfare

8 MHC

(No Replenishment ships)

<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)

(No Amphibious ships)

Mine Warfare

14 StanFlex 300 (Multi-functional that can be reconfigured for other missions in paricular as PGG's armed with Harpoon and Sea Sparrow)450fl

(No Replenisment ships)

<S.Africa>

FF

4 German-built MEKO 200 3600fl

SSK

3 German-built Type 209

(No Amphibious ships)

Mine Warfare

4 MHC

4 MSC

Replenishment

1 AOR

<Singapore>

FF

2+4 French-designed 3200fl

SSK

4 ex-Swedish

Amphibious

4 LST

Mine Warfare

4 MHC

(No Replenishment ships)

<Saudi Arabia>

FF

3 French-built Al Riyadh F-3000S class 4700fl

4 French-built Al Madinah class 2600fl

FFL

4 US-built 1050fl

(No Amphibious ships)

Mine Warfare

3 UK-built Sandown class MHC

4 US-built MSC

Replenishment

2 French-built AOR

{Tier 6B}

(These countries have older ships although especially in the case of Chile & Pakistan have modern SSKs)

<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

Amphibious

1 ex-US Newport class LST

2 French-built LSM

(No Mine warfare ships)

Replenishment

1 AOR


<Pakistan>

FF

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

SSK

4+1 French- built Agosta class

4 French- built Daphne class

(No Amphibious ships)

Mine Warfare

3 MHC

(No Replenishment ships)

<Peru>

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

FF

6+2 Lupo class Frigates 2500fl

SSK

6 German-built Type 209 class

Amphibious

4 ex-US LST

(No Mine Warfare ships)

Replenishment

1 AO

<Venezuela>

FF

6 Lupo class Frigates 2500fl

SSK

2 German-Built Type 209 class

Amphibious

4 LST

(No Mine Warfare ships)

Replenishment

1 AO

<Indonesia>

FF

6 UK-design ex-Netherland frigates 3000fl

SSK

2 German-built Type 209 class

Amphibious

0+3 LPD

7 LST

14 LSM

Mine Warfare

2 MHC

Replenishment

2 AO

<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

<Egypt>

FFG

4 ex-US OHP 3900fl

FF

2 ex-US Knox 4200fl

FFL

2 Chinese-built Jianghu I class 1700fl

2 Spanish-built Descubierta class 1600fl

SSK

4 Chinese-built Romeo class but heavily modernized

(No Amphibious ships)

Mine Warfare

10 Russian-built MSF

3 US-built MHC

Replenishment

1 ex-German AE

1 ex-German AOR

<Portugal>

2 ex-US OHP 4100fl

FF

3 MEKO 200 3200fl

SSK

0+2 German-built Type 209 class (To replace the two units listed below.)

2 French- built Daphne class

(No Amphibious or Mine Warfare ships)

Replenishment

1 AO

<Thailand>

1 CVH Chakri Naruebet

FF

2 Chinese-built 3000fl
2 ex-US Knox class 4200fl

FFL

4 Jianghu III class 1900fl

(No SSK)

Amphibious

2 LST

(Have a # of ex-US WWII era LST's that will soon be retired)

Mine Warfare

1 MCS

4 MHC

2 MSC

Replenishment

1 AO

1 AOR

{TIER 6C}

<Iran>

FFL

3 UK-built Vosper Mk 5 1550fl

SSK

3 Russian-built Kilo class

Amphibious

8 LST

(No mine warfare ships)

Replenishment

3 AOR

<Malaysia>

FF

4 Frigates 2000fl-2300fl

SSK

0+2 French-built Scorpene

Amphibious

1 ex-US Newport class LST

Mine Warfare

4 MHC

(No Replenishment ships)

<Israel>

FFL

0+5 Improved Sa'ar V class

3 Sa'ar V class 1300fl

SSK

3 German-built Type 800

(No Amphibious, Mine Warfare or Replenishment ships)

<Colombia>

FFL

4 German-built FS 1500 class 1900fl

SSK

2 German-built Type 209

(No Amphibious, Mine Warfare or Replenishment ships)

<Poland>

FFG

2 ex-USN OHP 3700fl

FFL

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)

1 Kazub 1200fl

SSK

1 Russian built- Kilo class

4 small coastal ex-Norwegian German-built Type 207

Amphibious

5 LSM

Mine Warfare

20 MHC

Replenishment

4 AO small

<Algeria>

3 Russian-built Koni class frigates1700fl

SSK

2 Russian-built Kilo class

(No mine warfare ships)

Amphibious

2 UK-built LST

(No replenishment ships)

{Tier 7}

(A mixed bag of older and in some cases modern ships)
(They have no SSK, Amphibious, Mine Warfare or Replenishment ships unless listed)

<New Zealand>

FF

2 German-built MEKO 200 3500fl

Replenishment

1 AOR

<Belgium>

FF

3 Wielingen class 2400fl(One or two may be transferred to Bulgaria in 2005)

Mine Warfare

1 MCS

7 MHC Tripartite class

<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

Mine Warfare

8 MSF

Replenishment

3 AO small

<Ukraine>

FF

1 ex-Russian Krivak III 3700fl

Amphibious

2 ex-Russian LST

1 ex-Russian LSM

Mine Warfare

2 ex-Russian MSF

2 ex-Russian MSC

(No replenishment ships)

Mexico

FF

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

Mine Warfare

17 MSF

<Libya>

FFL

1 Russian-built Koni class 1700fl

Amphibious

1 French-built LST

Mine Warfare

5 Russian-built MSF

(No Replenishment ships)

<Ecuador>

FF

2 ex-UK Leander 3200fl

SSK

2 German-built Type 209

<Bangladesh>

FF

1 S. Korean-built is not operational because of serious construction defects 2300fl

FFL

1 Chinese-built Jianghu II class 1700fl

Mine Warfare

1 MSF Chinese-built

4 MSF Ex-UK River class

Replenishment

1 AO Japanese-built

<Morrocco>

FFL

1 Spanish-built Descubierta class 1500fl

Amphibious

1 Ex-US Newport class LST

3 French-built LSM

<Bulgaria>

FFL

1 Russian-built Koni class 1700fl

Mine Warfare

8 MSC Russian-built

Replenishment

1 AOR

<Oman>

FFL

2 UK-built Vigilance class 1500fl

Amphibious

1 LST

<Serbia>

FFL

2 Kotor class 1850fl

Mine Warfare

2 MHC



Ive attempted to list only small frigates that are of relatively modern and useful combat value displacing approx 1000-2000fl.

Ive not noted numerous patrol vessels similar to USCG Cutters.

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.

I am indebted Eric Wertheim the compiler of "Combat Fleets of the World" from where most of the data here was derived and adapted. Any errors in this listing are my own.

In addition his most recent article "A Year of Compromise" in USNI's Proceedings Magazine World Navies in Review section of March 2005 was invaluable.

As were his E-mails to me in response to various questions I had.