Top Ten Countries in Navel Power
Total Naval Ship Power
Very few global powers are capable of fielding an expensive carrier force at sea.
For thousands of years, strength at sea has been one of the defining military factors of any world power. Naval strength is used to respond to territorial disputes as well as enforce maritime borders and protect national interests. Today's navies are often required to operate thousands of miles away from homeports with combat not necessarily requiring line-of-sight. Couple these qualities with the expansive reach of carrier aircrafts, naval helicopters and UAVs and the oceans become a lethal battlefield all their own.
The United States fields the largest modern carrier force in the world - Italy and Spain are the only nations to field more than one aircraft carrier. For the purposes of the GFP ranking, Helicopter Carriers are not included as they lack the overall capabilities inherent in "flat-top" carriers when launching farther-reaching fixed-wing aircraft. Landlocked nations are not penalized for the lack of a standing naval force. Aircraft carriers currently under construction (as of 2014) are excluded.
Navy Frigate
The multi-role Frigate naval vessel type has evolved into a fleet protector and submarine hunter.
The Frigate ship type is a multi-role, general purpose ocean-going vessel utilized for fleet surface ship protection against enemy surface combatants or incoming aerial threats. Frigates are outfitted with advanced sonar, sensory and tracking systems that allow her crew to hunt down enemy submarines. Nearly all notable naval powers make use of the multi-role frigate in their inventory.
Total Naval Ship Power
Very few global powers are capable of fielding an expensive carrier force at sea.
For thousands of years, strength at sea has been one of the defining military factors of any world power. Naval strength is used to respond to territorial disputes as well as enforce maritime borders and protect national interests. Today's navies are often required to operate thousands of miles away from homeports with combat not necessarily requiring line-of-sight. Couple these qualities with the expansive reach of carrier aircrafts, naval helicopters and UAVs and the oceans become a lethal battlefield all their own.
Total Aircraft Carrier
Very few global powers are capable of fielding an expensive carrier force at sea.
Navy Frigate
The multi-role Frigate naval vessel type has evolved into a fleet protector and submarine hunter.
The Frigate ship type is a multi-role, general purpose ocean-going vessel utilized for fleet surface ship protection against enemy surface combatants or incoming aerial threats. Frigates are outfitted with advanced sonar, sensory and tracking systems that allow her crew to hunt down enemy submarines. Nearly all notable naval powers make use of the multi-role frigate in their inventory.
Navy Destroyer
The Navy Destroyer vessel type is outfitted with various advanced weapon systems to engage all manner of threats at sea.
Navy Corvette
The Navy Destroyer vessel type is outfitted with various advanced weapon systems to engage all manner of threats at sea.
Submarine Strength
Next to the aircraft carrier, the submarine remains a powerfully effective war time instrument.
The modern attack submarine is capable of unleashing an accurate barrage of conventional or nuclear cruise missiles against land-based targets and surface while also having the facilities to counter enemy submarines. Additionally, submarines can be used to assist special forces and in clandestine intelligence gathering. Many modernized world navies utilize the submarine primarily as a deterrent in territorial waters.
For the purposes of the GFP final ranking, landlocked nations are NOT penalized for the lack of a standing naval force. However, nations with a standing navy ARE penalized for lack of certain naval assets. This GFP listing does not make a distinction between nuclear-powered and diesel-electric types nor does it take into account submarine type (attack, nuclear-capable, etc...), system age or construction/unit quality.
