Navy comparison: United Kingdom vs Japan
United Kingdom operates a fleet of 80 ships compared to 154 for Japan. Of these, 63 and 154 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 9 vs 25 submarines, 2 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 6 vs 46 destroyers, 8 vs 4 frigates, 0 vs 16 amphibious ships, 26 vs 6 patrol boats, 18 vs 22 mine warfare ships (United Kingdom vs Japan). United Kingdom's navy is officially the Royal Navy, while Japan's is the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Royal Navy 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Navy |
| Total ships | 80 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 63 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
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 |
|
British ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 9 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 2 | |
| Destroyers | 6 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 8 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 26 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 18 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 7 | |
| Other ships | 4 | |
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, United Kingdom or Japan?
Japan has a larger navy with 154 ships compared to United Kingdom's 80 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, United Kingdom or Japan?
Japan operates more submarines with 25 compared to United Kingdom's 9.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, United Kingdom or Japan?
United Kingdom has 2 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Japan's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, United Kingdom or Japan?
Japan operates 46 destroyers compared to United Kingdom's 6.
Which navy has more frigates, United Kingdom or Japan?
United Kingdom operates 8 frigates compared to Japan's 4.
How do the United Kingdom and Japan navies compare in size?
Japan's navy is 1.9 times larger than United Kingdom's in terms of total ships (154 vs 80).