Navy comparison: France vs Japan

France operates a fleet of 138 ships compared to 154 for Japan. Of these, 133 and 154 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 9 vs 25 submarines, 1 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 10 vs 46 destroyers, 12 vs 4 frigates, 3 vs 16 amphibious ships, 26 vs 6 patrol boats, 19 vs 22 mine warfare ships (France vs Japan). France's navy is officially the French Navy, while Japan's is the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

French Navy 🇫🇷

Official Name French Navy
Total ships 138 as of 2025
Active ships 133 as of 2025
Naval Ensign

Ensign of France navy

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵

Official Name Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Total ships 154 as of 2025
Active ships 154 as of 2025
Naval Ensign

Ensign of Japan navy

French ships by category

Ship category Total
Submarines 9
Aircraft carriers 1
Destroyers 10
Cruisers 0
Frigates 12
Corvettes 0
Coastal boats 0
Patrol boats 26
Amphibious ships 3
Mine Warfare ships 19
Cargo ships 0
Support ships 58
Other ships 0

Japanese ships by category

Ship category Total
Submarines 25
Aircraft carriers 0
Destroyers 46
Cruisers 0
Frigates 4
Corvettes 0
Coastal boats 0
Patrol boats 6
Amphibious ships 16
Mine Warfare ships 22
Cargo ships 0
Support ships 10
Other ships 25

Ship Categories Radar Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, France or Japan?
Japan has a larger navy with 154 ships compared to France's 138 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, France or Japan?
Japan operates more submarines with 25 compared to France's 9.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, France or Japan?
France has 1 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Japan's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, France or Japan?
Japan operates 46 destroyers compared to France's 10.
Which navy has more frigates, France or Japan?
France operates 12 frigates compared to Japan's 4.