List of warship classes of the Royal Australian Navy

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.

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 (R21), 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 (R05) was cancelled by the British Government after the Falklands War. Soon after, the Australian Government decided to end aircraft carrier operations.

Conventional Aircraft Carriers

 * HMAS Sydney (R17)
 * HMAS Melbourne (R21)
 * HMAS Vengeance
 * HMAS Vengeance
 * HMAS Vengeance

Seaplane Carrier

 * HMAS Albatross (1928)

Capital Ships
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

 * HMAS Australia (1911)
 * HMAS Australia (1911)

Amphibious Assault Shipping

 * Landing Ship Infantry
 * HMAS Kanimbla (1936)
 * HMAS Manoora (1935)
 * HMAS Westralia (1939)
 * Mark III Landing Ship Tank – six ships
 * Landing Craft Heavy
 * - eight ships
 * Heavy Landing Ship
 * HMAS Tobruk (L 50)
 * High Speed Catamaran
 * HMAS Jervis Bay (AKR 45)
 * (1994)
 * HMAS Kanimbla (L 51)
 * HMAS Manoora (L 52)
 * HMAS Choules
 * HMAS Canberra - under construction
 * HMAS Adelaide - under construction
 * HMAS Canberra - under construction
 * HMAS Adelaide - under construction

Heavy Cruisers

 * The RAN ordered two s in 1924 which were included with the Royal Navy's order for five; the loss of Canberra during the Second World War. Shropshire was transferred from the RN to the RAN to replace the lost ship.
 * HMAS Canberra (1927)
 * HMAS Australia (1927)
 * HMAS Shropshire (73)

Protected Cruiser

 * HMAS Encounter (1902)

Light Cruisers

 * – two ships
 * – four ships
 * – three ships

Destroyers

 * (1910) – six ships
 * S class (1919) – five ships
 * (1919) – one ship
 * V class (1933) – three ships
 * W class (1933) – one ship
 * (1933) – one ship
 * (1940) – five ships
 * Q class (1942) – five ships
 * (1942) – three ships
 * (1950) – two ships
 * (1957) – four ships
 * (1965) – three ships
 * (~2016) – three ships planned

Frigates

 * (1943) – twelve ships
 * (1961) – six ships
 * (1980) – six ships
 * (1996) – eight ships

Sloops

 * – three ships
 * – four ships