Naval Service

The Naval Service is the naval branch of the British Armed Forces, which alongside the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, includes civilian agencies under the control of the Navy Board. It consists of:


 * Royal Navy
 * Royal Marines
 * Naval Reserve Forces:
 * Royal Naval Reserve
 * Royal Marines Reserve
 * Royal Fleet Reserve
 * Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service
 * Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service
 * Including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service
 * Royal Corps of Naval Constructors

The term Naval Service should be distinguished from the "UK Naval Services", which include the Naval Service and the British Merchant Navy.

The April 2005 regular strength of the Naval Service (Royal Navy and Royal Marines) was 36,320. The Naval Service is dominated by the Royal Navy, which accounts for over 80% of Naval Service personnel. The Naval Service as a whole comes under the command of the Navy Board, which is headed by the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff.