Navy comparison: France vs South Africa
France's 138-ship navy outnumbers South Africa's 49 vessels (2.8x advantage). Of these, 133 and 49 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 9 vs 3 submarines, 1 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 10 vs 0 destroyers, 12 vs 4 frigates, 3 vs 0 amphibious ships, 26 vs 33 patrol boats, 19 vs 2 mine warfare ships (France vs South Africa). France's navy is officially the French Navy, while South Africa's is the South African Navy.
French Navy 🇫🇷
| Official Name | French Navy |
| Total ships | 138 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 133 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
South African Navy 🇿🇦
| Official Name | South African Navy |
| Total ships | 49 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 49 as of 2025 |
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 | |
South African ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 3 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 4 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 33 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 2 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 7 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, France or South Africa?
France has a larger navy with 138 ships compared to South Africa's 49 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, France or South Africa?
France operates more submarines with 9 compared to South Africa's 3.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, France or South Africa?
France has 1 aircraft carrier(s) compared to South Africa's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, France or South Africa?
France operates 10 destroyers compared to South Africa's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, France or South Africa?
France operates 12 frigates compared to South Africa's 4.
How do the France and South Africa navies compare in size?
France's navy is 2.8 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total ships (138 vs 49).