Royal Navy Surface Fleet

The Surface Fleet is the name given to the collection of surface vessels (as opposed to submarines or aircraft) of the Royal Navy. At present it consists of two flotillas based at HMNB Portsmouth and HMNB Devonport, both located on the south coast of England, and a flotilla based at HMNB Clyde, Faslane, Scotland. The Surface Fleet consists of a wide variety of vessels, ranging from aircraft carriers to mine countermeasures vessels to offshore patrol vessels, but the backbone of the fleet consists of destroyers (type 45) and frigates (type 23).

The surface fleet is continually engaged in numerous operations a worldwide basis. Closer to home, the surface fleet also conducts Fishery Protection Patrols around UK waters, in a formal agreement with DEFRA. The Fishery Protection Squadron is the largest front line squadron in the Royal Navy.