Comparison of the Japanese and British Navies.

All stats are from Wikipedia.  You know the history with Wikipedia so this is done with caution...besides its for comparison only. You're looking at a tale of two navies...one optimized for coalition warfare...the Royal Navy and the other it appears capable of independent action.

I am more impressed with the Japanese Navy than I ever thought possible.  CDR Salamander is right.  We have a European tilt to our view of defense issues.  The Japanese Navy with the help of the S. Koreans and Australians should allow for a MANAGEABLE/SENSIBLE SLIGHT reduction in defense spending with out endangering our stance towards China.

NOTE:  Is it time to start looking at the European forces as one entity instead of a collection of forces?  They haven't reached the desired level of integration but its apparent that they are tailoring their forces with that goal in mind.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force...

Present fleet

[edit]Helicopter Destroyers-(DDH)

JDS Hyūga (DDH-181)

• Hyūga class helicopter destroyers
  • JDS Hyūga
  • JDS Ise
• Shirane class destroyers
  • JDS Shirane
  • JDS Kurama

[edit]Guided Missile Destroyers-(DDG)

Kongō class destroyer. JDS Kongo(DDG-173)

• Atago class destroyers
  • JDS Atago
  • JDS Ashigara
• Kongō class destroyers
  • JDS Kongō
  • JDS Kirishima
  • JDS Myōkō
  • JDS Chōkai

• Hatakaze class destroyers
  • JDS Hatakaze
  • JDS Shimakaze

[edit]Destroyers-(DD)

Takanami class destroyerMakinami

The JMSDF does not appear to use the term frigate. Thus smaller destroyer vessels in the JMSDF are often cited as Small Destroyers or simply Frigates.^[3]

• Akizuki class destroyers (Three more to enter service)
  • JDS Akizuki
• Takanami class destroyers
  • JDS Takanami
  • JDS Onami
  • JDS Makinami
  • JDS Sazanami
  • JDS Suzunami
• Murasame class destroyers
  • JDS Murasame
  • JDS Harusame
  • JDS Yudachi
  • JDS Kirisame
  • JDS Inazuma
  • JDS Samidare
  • JDS Ikazuche
  • JDS Akebono
  • JDS Ariake
• Asagiri class destroyers
  • JDS Asagiri
  • JDS Yamagiri
  • JDS Yūgiri
  • JDS Amagiri
  • JDS Hamagiri
  • JDS Setogiri
  • JDS Sawagiri
  • JDS Umigiri
• Hatsuyuki class destroyers
  • JDS Mineyuki
  • JDS Sawayuki
  • JDS Isoyuki
  • JDS Haruyuki
  • JDS Yamayuki
  • JDS Matsuyuki
  • JDS Asayuki

[edit]Destroyer Escorts-(DE)

Abukuma class destroyer escorts

• Abukuma class destroyer escorts
  • JDS Abukuma
  • JDS Jintsu
  • JDS Oyodo
  • JDS Sendai
  • JDS Chikuma
  • JDS Tone

[edit]Submarines-(SS)

Oyashio class submarine

• Sōryū class submarines (Three more to enter service)
  • JDS Sōryū
  • JDS Unryū
  • JDS Hakuryū
  • JDS Kenryū
• Oyashio class submarines
  • JDS Oyashio
  • JDS Michishio
  • JDS Uzushio
  • JDS Makishio
  • JDS Isoshio
  • JDS Narushio
  • JDS Kuroshio
  • JDS Takashio
  • JDS Yaeshio
  • JDS Setoshio
  • JDS Michishio
• Harushio class submarines
  • JDS Wakashio

[edit]Patrol Boats

Hayabusa class patrol boat. JDSKumataka (PG-827)

• Hayabusa class patrol boats
  • JDS Hayabusa
  • JDS Wakataka
  • JDS Otaka
  • JDS Kumataka
  • JDS Umitaka
  • JDS Shiritaka

[edit]Mine-countermeasure vessels

Yaeyama class minesweeper. JDSYaeyama (MSO-301)

• Uraga class minesweeper tenders
  • JDS Uraga
  • JDS Bungo
• Yaeyama class minesweepers
  • JDS Yaeyama
  • JDS Tsushima
  • JDS Hachijyo
• Enoshima class minesweepers (Two more to enter service)
  • JDS Enoshima
• Hirashima class minesweeper
  • JDS Hirashima
  • JDS Yakushima
  • JDS Takashima
• Sugashima class minesweeper
  • JDS Sugashima
  • JDS Notojima
  • JDS Tsunoshima
  • JDS Naoshima
  • JDS Toyoshima
  • JDS Ukushima
  • JDS Izushima
  • JDS Aishima
  • JDS Aoshima
  • JDS Miyajima
  • JDS Shishijima
  • JDS Kuroshima
• Uwajima class minesweeper
  • JDS Maejima
  • JDS Kumejima
  • JDS Makishima
  • JDS Tobishima
  • JDS Yugeshima
  • JDS Nagashima
• Niijima class minesweeper controllers
  • JDS Niijima
• Ieshima class minesweeper controllers
  • JDS Ieshima

[edit]Training Ships

• Kashima class cadet training ships
  • JDS Kashima
• Shimayuki Class training vessel
  • JDS Shirayuki
  • JDS Setoyuki
  • JDS Shimayuki
• Asashio Class training submarine
  • JDS Asashio
  • JDS Fuyushio
• Training support ships
  • Kurobe (ATS-4202)
  • Tenryu (ATS-4203)

[edit]Landing ships

• Ōsumi class tank landing ships
  • JDS Ōsumi
  • JDS Shimokita
  • JDS Kunisaki
• Yura class utility landing ships
  • JDS Yura
• 1-Go class utility landing ships
  • Yusotei 1-Go (LCU-1)
  • Yusotei 2-Go (LCU-2)

[edit]Landing craft

A JMSDF LCAC

• YF 2121 class mechanized landing craft (eleven in service)
• YF 2150 class Mechanized landing craft (two in service)
• Landing Craft Air Cushion (six in service)

Royal Navy...

Submarines

Class	Picture	Type	Boats	Displacement[N 1]	Note
Submarines (10 in Service)
Astute-class		Fleet submarine (SSN)	HMS Astute (S119)	7,400 tonnes	Six more to be commissioned.
Trafalgar-class		Fleet submarine (SSN)	HMS Tireless (S88) HMS Torbay (S90) HMS Trenchant (S91) HMS Talent (S92) HMS Triumph (S93)	5,300 tonnes	This class is gradually being replaced by the Astute-class submarines.
Vanguard-class		Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)	HMS Vanguard (S28) HMS Victorious (S29) HMS Vigilant (S30) HMS Vengeance (S31)	15,900 tonnes	Initial planning/work underway on the replacementof the Vanguard-class submarines.

[edit]Surface fleet

[edit]Assault ships

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Assault ships (4 in Service)
Albion-class		Landing platform dock (LPD)	HMS Albion (L14) HMS Bulwark (L15)	19,560 tonnes	Albion is in extended readiness.[2] Bulwark is the current Fleet Flagship.[3]
		Amphibious assault ship (LPH)	HMS Ocean (L12)	21,500 tonnes
Invincible-class		Aircraft carrier	HMS Illustrious (R06)	22,000 tonnes	In service as helicopter carrier.[4] Due to be decommissioned in 2014. TwoQueen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriersare under construction, which are due to enter service in 2016 and 2018.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary possess three Bay class Landing ship docks (LSD). The Royal Marines operate a varied fleet of landing craft which operate from and in conjunction with the above vessels and those of the RFA.

[edit]Frigates and destroyers

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Frigates and destroyers (18 in Service)
Type 23 or Duke-class		Frigate	HMS Argyll (F231) HMS Lancaster (F229) HMS Iron Duke (F234) HMS Monmouth (F235) HMS Montrose (F236) HMS Westminster (F237) HMS Northumberland (F238) HMS Richmond (F239) HMS Somerset (F82) HMS Sutherland (F81) HMS Kent (F78) HMS Portland (F79) HMS St Albans (F83)	4,900 tonnes	This class to be gradually replaced by the Type 26 frigate currently in development.
Type 45 or Daring-class		Guided missile destroyer	HMS Daring (D32) HMS Dauntless (D33) HMS Diamond (D34) HMS Dragon (D35)	7,500 tonnes	Two more to be commissioned in 2013.
Type 42 or Sheffield-class		Guided missile destroyer	HMS Edinburgh (D97)	5,200 tonnes	To be decommissioned in 2013.

[edit]Mine countermeasure vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Mine countermeasure vessels (15 in Service)
Hunt-class		Mine countermeasures vessel	HMS Ledbury (M30) HMS Cattistock (M31) HMS Brocklesby (M33) HMS Middleton (M34) HMS Chiddingfold (M37) HMS Atherstone (M38) HMS Hurworth (M39) HMS Quorn (M41)	685 tonnes
Sandown-class		Minehunter	HMS Penzance (M106) HMS Pembroke (M107) HMS Grimsby (M108) HMS Bangor (M109) HMS Ramsey (M110) HMS Blyth (M111) HMS Shoreham (M112)	600 tonnes

[edit]Patrol vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Patrol vessels (24 in Service)
		Antarctic patrol icebreaker	HMS Endurance (A171) HMS Protector (A173)	6,500 tonnes 5,000 tonnes	Endurance in commission, but not in active service.
River-class		Offshore patrol vessel	HMS Mersey (P283) HMS Severn (P282) HMS Tyne (P281) HMS Clyde (P257)	1,700 tonnes[N 2]	Clyde is a modified River-class vessel stationed in the Falkland Islands.
P2000 or Archer-class		Patrol boat	HMS Archer (P264) HMS Biter (P270) HMS Smiter (P272) HMS Pursuer (P273) HMS Blazer (P279) HMS Dasher (P280) HMS Puncher (P291) HMS Charger (P292) HMS Ranger (P293) HMS Trumpeter (P294) HMS Express (P163) HMS Example (P165) HMS Explorer (P164) HMS Exploit (P167) HMS Tracker (P274) HMS Raider (P275)	54 tonnes	Vessels belong to University Royal Naval Units. The only exceptions beingRaider and Tracker, which are stationed at HMNB Clyde as the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron.
Scimitar-class		Patrol boat	HMS Scimitar (P284) HMS Sabre (P285)	24 tonnes	The Gibraltar Squadron.

[edit]Survey vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Survey vessels (4 in Service)
Echo-class		Multi-purpose survey vessel	HMS Echo (H87) HMS Enterprise (H88)	3,470 tonnes
		Ocean survey vessel	HMS Scott (H131)	13,500 tonnes
		Coastal survey vessel	HMSML Gleaner (H86)	26 tonnes

[edit]Classic ships

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Classic ships (2 in Service)
		Ship of the line	HMS Victory	3,556 tonnes	Flagship of the First Sea Lord, permanently docked in Portsmouth Naval Base.[5]
Type 82 or Bristol-class		Guided missile destroyer	HMS Bristol (D23)	6,400 tonnes[6]	Permanently docked in Portsmouth Harbour as a training vessel.