프랑스, 이탈리아보다 전력이 줄어든 영국 해군

[위종민]

영국 해군은 현재 항모 2척, 구축함 6척, 호위함 6척으로 구성된 16척의 주요 전투함을 보유중이며, 이 중 2024년 10월 말 현재 가용한 구축함과 호위함은 8척(45형 구축함 2척, 23형 호위함 6척) 뿐입니다. 이런 전력감소로 인해 QE급 항모 2척이 영국 해군 수상전투함에서 차지하는 총톤수는 59%에 달하고 있습니다. 미국도 항모 11척이 함대에서 차지하는 총톤수가 47%라 나토 국가들 중 항모가 수상함대에서 차지하는 총톤수 비율이 가장 높은 국가는 영국이라고 하네요. 

프랑스 해군은 항모 1척, 강습상륙함 3척, 구축함 10척, 호위함 11척으로 25척의 수상전투함을 운용중이며, 항모가 차지하는 총톤수는 20%입니다. 

이탈리아는 항모 1척, 강습상륙함 3척, 구축함 3척, 호위함 14척을 보유중입니다. 

영국과 규모가 비슷한 해군을 보유한 국가는 스페인으로, 항모/강습상륙함 1척, 상륙함 2척, 호위함 11척을 보유중이며 OPV는 영국보다 더 많습니다. 

독일은 구축함, 호위함 및 코르벳으로 구성된 수상전투함 16척을 보유하고 있습니다. 

잠수함 전력에서도 영국은 아스튜드급 5척과 트라팔가급 1척을 보유하고 있지만 프랑스도 현역 SSN 6척을 보유중입니다. 이탈리아는 디젤-전기 추진 잠수함 8척을 보유중입니다. 

Is the Royal Navy now a second rank European naval power? - Naval Technology

Is the Royal Navy now a second rank European naval power?

Is the Royal Navy now a second rank European naval power?

The Royal Navy is imbalanced, with a higher aircraft carrier per total surface combatant tonnage than any other Nato force, including the US Navy.

Richard ThomasNovember 22, 2024

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Two of the three Type 23 frigates in this 2023 image are no longer operational, following the decommissioning of HMS Northumberland (F238). Credit: UK MoD/Crown copyright

Top heavy, ageing, the UK Royal Navy is creaking at its bilges as decades of government procurement delays, misadventures into carrier strike, and a markedly more complex global security environment, are coming home to rust.

The Royal Navy’s surface fleet is now smaller than the navies of the two other main European Nato members’ navies – France and Italy – being on paper able to field just 16 major surface combatants, comprising two aircraft carriers, six destroyers and just eight frigates.

In reality, the availability of the 16 major surface combatants in the UK fleet is far lower, with the number of Type 23 frigates available for operations this year fluctuating between five and six hulls at any given time.

The remaining hulls ‘in service’ are being put through expensive and time-consuming service life and recertification programmes, with their replacement Type 26 and Type 32 vessels still years away from joining the Royal Navy surface fleet.

The Type 45 destroyers are undergoing propulsion rectification work at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. Credit: Cammell Laird via LinkedIn

The number of Type 45 air defence destroyers is similarly reduced as vessels are taken offline to undergo rectification work to long-standing propulsion issues. As of 31 October 2024, of a fleet of six, two Type 45 destroyers were immediately available, or deployed.

Just eight destroyers or frigates were available for operations at the end of October 2024.

In addition, a remarkable statistic shows the top-heavy nature of the Royal Navy, with the two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers comprising 59% of the service’s total tonnage among major surface combatants.

By contrast, the French Navy/Marine Nationale, can count 25 major surface combatants in its inventory, comprising one aircraft carrier, three amphibious assault ships, ten destroyers, and 11 frigates. Its single aircraft carrier, nuclear-powered compared to the UK’s conventional propulsion, represents 20% of the total tonnage of France’s fleet-level surface force.

The French Navy has a more balance force, and more ships, than the Royal Navy, and is quantifiably superior. Its sole aircraft carrier is the Charles de Gaulle (pictured) Credit: US Navy

Nato’s non-European leader, the US, has a naval force centred on the ability to project power through its massive Nimitz– and Ford-class aircraft carriers, whose gargantuan combined tonnage from 11 carriers of 1.13m represents 47% of its surface fleet.

The UK therefore has the highest ratio of aircraft carrier-per-other-surface-combatant-tonnage in the entire Nato alliance, and likely could take the global title.

European navies surpass UK in hull numbers

In further comparison with European navies, the Italian Navy has 21 major surface warships in its fleet inventory, comprising one aircraft carrier, three amphibious assault ships, three destroyers, and 14 frigates.

The UK’s numerical surface combatant count is nearly matched by Spain, which has the same number of major surface combatants of the Royal Navy, comprising one aircraft carrier/amphibious assault ship, two amphibious platform ships, and 11 frigates. Spain has more numerous offshore patrol vessels.

Longtime European rival Germany maintains more major surface combatants than the UK, with 16 hulls of either, destroyer, frigates, or corvette classification.

The Germany Navy has more frigates and destroyers than the Royal Navy. Credit: US DoD

Where the UK has a conventional subsurface naval warfare edge over Italy is through its nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) fleet, of which it numbers five active Astute-class SSNs and single-remaining Trafalgar-class boat. However, France also maintains six active SSNs, so this subsurface advantage is negated.

A recent fire at the UK’s nuclear submarine yard, where two Astute-class SSNs are in various states of build or systems trials, has further complicated matters.

Italy maintains eight conventionally powered diesel electric submarines, that, while capable, do not represent the same force effect as a nuclear-powered boat.

Can the Royal Navy salvage itself?

Depending on which side of the naval argument appeals, there are both positives and negatives on the horizon that could help or hinder, depending on perspective.

Optimists can point to the development of the eight Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates currently under development, along with the five Type 31 general purpose frigates also in build. These 13 warships will effectively replace the former 16-strong fleet of Type 23 frigates, which are now at half of the class’s original number.

The build of HMS Venturer pictured in March 2024, the lead ship of the Type 31 frigates. Credit: Babcock via LinkedIn

Pessimists can point to the potential that outgoing Type 23 frigates, which have already have a head start of their in-build cousins, may not even be replaced on a like-for-like basis to maintain the paltry surface warfare fleet at 14 hulls.

The prospect of the Type 32 frigate, acting as some sort of naval drone hub, it also mooted, but this can be taken by pessimists pointing to the programme being at a pre-concept stage and potentially an easy one to ‘cut’ in next year’s Strategic Defence Review.

Then there is the possibility that one of the UK’s two aircraft carriers could head into mothballs to save money, although conversely, this would somewhat solve the current top-heavy imbalance in the Royal Navy’s surface fleet.

What is not up for debate is that the Royal Navy is at a low ebb, and hope must remain that this does not continue into an evaporation of the Senior Service’s surface warfighting capability.

[백선호]

항모가 모든 자원을 빨아들인 모습이네요.

[위종민]

영국이야 항모가 필요한 나라이긴 한데, 두 척이 군함 총톤수의 3/5을 차지할 정도면 지나치게 과도한 투자가 아니었나 싶을 정도네요. 이때문에 20년 된 LPD 두 척도 퇴역시켜야 되고..

[Minowski(김유철)]

국내 항모보유나 기동함대 주장들은 이 문제에 합리적 해답을 제시해야할텐데요.

[위종민]

한국해군은 함대 규모보다는 인력 충원에서 저 꼴이 날 가능성이 꽤 높을 것 같습니다.