Royal Navy

Naval branch of the armed forces of the United Kingdom. Organized sea power was first used in England by Alfred the Great, who launched ships to repel a Viking invasion. In the 16th century Henry VIII built a fleet of fighting ships armed with large guns and created a naval administration. Under Elizabeth I the navy developed into Britain's major defense and became the means for extending the British Empire around the globe. The maritime forces were given the name Royal Navy by Charles II. In the 18th century it engaged in a long struggle with the French for maritime supremacy, and it later played a key role in Britain's stand against Napoleon. For the rest of the 19th century, it helped enforce what became known as the Pax Britannica, the long period of relative peace in Europe that depended on British maritime supremacy. It remained the world's most powerful navy until the mid-20th century, and it was active in protecting shipping from submarine attack in World Wars I and II. Today it maintains four fighting forces: conventional and nuclear-armed submarines, various surface vessels, naval aircraft, and the Royal Marines. Officers are trained at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Devon. At the start of the 21st century some 42,000 personnel were in service.

Mentioned in	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			British British absolute system of units British Airways British American Tobacco PLC British Antarctic Territory British antilewisite British Bank of the Middle East British Board of Agrement British Board of Agrément British Broadcasting Corporation British Broadcasting Corporation BBC British Cameroons British Columbia British Columbia Conservation Foundation British Columbia Day British Columbia Water, Land & Air Ministry British Columbia Wildlife Federation British Columbia, University British Columbia, University of British Commonwealth of Nations British East Africa British East India Company British Empire British engineering system of units British Expeditionary Force British Fleet British gravitational system of units British Guiana British Honduras British imperial pound British Imperial System of weights and measures British India British Indian Ocean Territory British Interplanetary Society British Invasion British Isles British Library British Library Method British Museum British Museum Library British North America British North America Act British North Borneo British Open British Socialist Party BSP British Somaliland British South Africa Company British Standard British Standard specification British Standards Institute British Standards Institution			British Federation for Correspondence Chess British Federation for Historical Swordplay British Federation of Audio British Federation of Care Home Proprietors British Federation of Master Printers British Federation of Pedal Car Racing British Federation of Sand & Land Yachting Clubs British Female Inventors & Innovators Network British Fencing Association British Fenestration Ratings Council British Feral Goat Research Group British Fertility Society British Fibreboard Packaging Association British Field Sports Society British Field Target Association British Film Academy British Film Commission British Film Institute British Film Producers Association British Fire Protection Systems Association British First Day Covers British flag British Flame Research Committee British Flat Figure Society British Fleet British Flight Training School British Flower and Vibrational Essences Association British Flue Chimney & Manufacturers Association British Fluid Power Association British Fluid Power Distributors Association British Flyball Association British Foetal Haemoglobin British Folk-Music Settings British Food Export Council British Food Journal British Forces Broadcasting Service British Forces Broadcasting System British Forces Cyprus British Forces Falkland Islands British Forces Germany British Forces Germany Health Service British Forces Network British Forces Post Office British Forces Posted Overseas British Forces Resettlement Services British Forces Scooter Club British Foreign Policy British Formula 3 British fortified wine British fortified wine

Royal Navy (redirected from British Fleet)

Royal Navy

Royal Navy
(redirected from British Fleet)