This Country Has the Biggest Navy on Earth
The era of massive navies controlling the seas, trade, and borders, has ended. But that doesn’t mean that a powerful fleet isn’t an essential aspect of military might. Today, technology has advanced to the point that a single advanced ship can dominate an engagement against older vessels. An American Zumwalt-class destroyer has the potential to […] The article discusses the importance of large navies to control the seas, trade, and borders, but acknowledges that a powerful fleet is still essential. Technology has advanced to the point that a single advanced ship can dominate an engagement against older vessels, such as an American Zumwalt-class destroyer with 80 of a variety of advanced cruise, anti-submarine, and anti-ship missiles. The article ranked countries with the largest fleets based on information from GlobalFirepower’s 2023 naval forces database. China now has the world’�s largest navy, with more submarines, destroyers, frigates, and corvettes than any other nation. The Royal Navy (U.K. is not even among the top 21 largest navies at sea.
Published : 2 years ago by John Harrington in Finance
The era of massive navies controlling the seas, trade, and borders, has ended. But that doesn’t mean that a powerful fleet isn’t an essential aspect of military might. Today, technology has advanced to the point that a single advanced ship can dominate an engagement against older vessels. An American Zumwalt-class destroyer has the potential to be armed with 80 of a variety of highly advanced cruise, anti-submarine, and anti-ship missiles, and are currently being refitted with hypersonic missiles. But while technological advancement is important, there is still strength in numbers. For countries with widespread interests, it’s important to have plenty of naval vessels.
To determine the countries with the largest fleets, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed defense statistics website GlobalFirepower’s 2023 naval forces database with information about 145 countries’ militaries. We ranked countries according to the number of naval vessels in their military, starting at 150 vessels, and included the number of vessels in four classes of vessels. Data on notable ships came mostly from Military Factory, among other sources. Data on total military spending and military spending as a percentage of gross domestic product, came from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s Military Expenditure Database.
Following a relentless military buildup, China now has the world’s largest navy. This is cause for concern for Taiwan, which is about 100 miles east across the Taiwan Strait from the Chinese mainland. China has more submarines, destroyers, frigates, and corvettes than any other nation. Russia, traditionally a land power that has historically sought ice-free ports, is second in total vessels.
North Korea, which has the third-most offshore patrol boats behind Sweden and Indonesia, ranks third. Sweden and Indonesia have such a high number of offshore patrol boats because they are needed to keep vigil over their unique coastlines. (These are the 35 different ships and submarines in Indonesia’s navy.
The U.S. is fourth, buttressed by 11 aircraft carriers, more than any other country. In terms of quality and firepower, the U.S. Navy has no equal in the world. (Here are 11 new warships that will join the U.S. Navy fleet.)
The Royal Navy (U.K.), the world’s most powerful until World War II, is not even among the top 21 largest navies at sea. How times have changed.
Here are the countries with the largest naval fleets.
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