What are people's views of the Royal Navy?

Question

Views particularly welcome from abroad. For those of you that don't know, but should, the Royal Navy is the Navy of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is the real name for what americans tend to call England.

"That said, your subsequent, condescending remarks motivate me to remind you that there are still a number of royal navies in the world, and that the UK does not hold sole propriety over the term"
Alright, calm down! Actually you're wrong. There are plenty of royal navies, but as the oldest (originally formed in the 9th Century), we do have the trademark if you like. You'll notice that the Royal Navy of, for example the Netherlands, is called the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Interesting view Shaka, if factually incorrect. The RN derives its status as the Senior Service by virtue of it being the oldest! Simple really isn't it?
Were you bullied by a navy officer ever? Your comments seem very venomous. By the way, corps has a 'p' in it.

One more thing Shaka - the only thing that Dartmouth teaches about Nelson is to respect his memory. Naval tactics have moved on somewhat since then and these are taught to warfare students at HMS Collingwood now. The students are not only from the RN but a large number of navies who respect the RN's ability to do a great deal with limited numbers. The sea-training element of RN training is also used to train a large number of Navies from as far away as Chile. I don't dispute your opinions, despite their offensive nature, but your facts are very wrong.

Hollis. I am astounded. I would have thought though that as an ex-Officer of Field Rank of the British Army, you might have some knowledge of the tasks the RN has been called upon to carry out over the years. You seem to asert our uselessness, but forget our sucesses. Without the RN, the Army would NEVER been in a position to take Stanley. How would you have even got there? 30 years of undetected nuclear deterrence seems to have passed you by. The enormous contribution we make to diplomacy around the world (the army contribution seems to traditionally be to get drunk and wreck the place) also appears to be unimportant. Our pivotal role in the Battle of the Atlantic, which guaranteed the survival of the nation. WW1, I grant you, was not an unqualified success, but then neither was it for the Army!
To agree with the view that all RN officers are arrogant etc in yr outburst is incredible. I have met some bloody awful and rude Army Officers, but I don't categorize them all as such.

Answer 1

Allow me to correct an Idiom! There is, never was, never scriptured, never has been an official notation that either allows or engenders the British Royal Navy to be called or referred to as the senior service.
Its complete balderdash and a myth created by archaic, rustic, creaking, half deaf, unintelligent, ill mannered, over the hill admirals and like individuals whose serving officer cor to this day are as equally overbearing, arrogant and incomprehensible as ever. Moreover, it is a universally and historical fact that the Royal Navy has suffered countless and countless defeats as opposed to its battles won.
Even today its Dartmouth Naval College still teaches every battle, tactic, history of Nelson's era, the times before and virtually nothing of the modern tactics of today or the future.

The Falklands war being the Rn's swan song - it took nothing but a beating from all it encountered. And their ships of today? The entire Rn's fleet wouldn't cover the deck of a US Carrier. Plus the fact the RN still has more Admirals than ships. Too many archaic traditions, lousy uniforms for its ratings, can no longer fight anything or anyone and doesn't even frighten a French fishing boat

Answer 2

Very proud history but far too few ships now to have any significant impact except as part of a NATO, or U.S force.

I will never forget the Falklands when we had to borrow north sea ferries designed to go 22 miles across the channel to take our finest troops 8,000 miles, we had to borrow back an aircraft carrier we had already sold to New Zealand, we sent our helicopter fleet down on a civilian unarmed container ship (which got sunk), and our other troop ships were two of the worlds most famous luxury liners hurridly painted grey.

And now we have even less ships than we did then!

Wow....Shaka is one bitter bunny!!

Despite all I said there about the size of the British Royal Navy, which by the way is called the senior service because it pre-dates the British Army by a good few years and the RAF by about three centuries, they have fought exceedingly well and have won many more sea battles than they have lost.

In the Falklands they lost a number of ships due to constant air attacks from the Argentine air force which was operating from the mainland 200 miles away. The only air cover was 12 Sea Harriers who despite odds of ten to one, and being up against much faster and more heavilly armed fighters had a terrific kill rate against the Argentine Mirages and Skyhawks.

In order to support the landings and the re-taking of the islands our ships had to sit in harms way for weeks and they and their crews performed magnificently.

It is worthy of note that not one ship was lost or even damaged in a naval engagement, and in fact as soon as we malleted the Belgrano the rest of Argentina's navy stayed safely in port and never ventured to sea.

Answer 3

I would suggest that the views of Shaka or Hollis are neither factually incorrect, incredible or narrow minded! In all probability it appears to me both gentlemen speak from their own direct experiences of land armies locked in conflict. Something far removed from the daily routine of shipboard activity. By no means of course am I suggesting that when battle is joined at sea, it is not without its equally harrowing and violent passage.

I do however acknowledge both the remarks attributed by Hollis and Shaka and indeed pay tribute to their contributions as serving men in time of conflict.

May I quietly suggest that as an on board RN officer (for that's what I understand you to be) to take such remarks and constructive criticism in your stride - as indeed so would have Nelson. Yes you put them there, but they are the men who board boats and carry the fight to the enemy. We need all such men in times of conflict under your sovereign's flag, for all serve equally. Do not divide it more than you have already done so. No senior service albeit army air-force or navy, only a combined and united one!

I am Sir, your obedient servant;

Brigadier-General Eugene R Gough.

Answer 4

I was happy to answer your question with hearty praise for a professional organization that has successfully merged tradition and technology into a fine service.

That said, your subsequent, condescending remarks motivate me to remind you that there are still a number of royal navies in the world, and that the UK does not hold sole propriety over the term.

Answer 5

I'm a retired Chief Petty Officer from the United States Navy and was fortunate enough to get to know my counterparts in the Royal Navy; probably the most professional and down to earth gentlemen I have ever met in my life. Actually, I was even more fortunate to be able to go aboard one of your modern aircraft carriers, the HMS Invincible. Man! What a super lady she was! I had no idea that the Royal Navy still rationed rum and ale to their sailors. Do you all still do this?

Anyway, ...I've always been proud that most of our traditions in the U.S. Navy came from the Royal Navy. God save the Queen!

Answer 6

We have the GREATEST & the BEST
NAVY ARMY & AIR FORCE in THE WORLD

What we do not have is
A GOVERMENT with a BACKBONE

What do the goverment do to the FORCES
CUT CUT CUT
Look at earlier remark about the FALKLANDS CONFLICT
Borrowing ships ETC ETC
That conflict alone shows
HOW GOOD
HOW BRAVE
The men & women in the Forces ARE

That was a conflict which we should have lost
In the fact Distances to Travel, Supply lines etc etc
The Shortage of Ships, Aircraft, Troops,
You name it our lads did not have Enough
What they lacked in materials ( which was everything )
They made up for in there true
BRITISH BULLDOG SPIRIT.
They did the IMPOSSIBLE
They PROOVED THEY are
THE BEST FIGHTING FORCE IN THE WORLD ...
I for one am PROUD of EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM

Answer 7

Well, the Senior Service (the Royal Navy) have defended us for hundreds of years..im quite proud of their history, Naval Warfare is something only a British Admiral truly understands...Its also the only wing of the military thats properly funded..
Overall, im proud of our Naval achievements. Trafalger, Jutland, The Spanish Armada...proud victories

Answer 8

All of this is going to change due to the fact that the royal navy is going to get loads of type 45 destroyers(the new ship that has high tech radars created by british engineering) and bigger aircraft carriers that are slightly and i mean slightly smaller than the american ones.

Answer 9

I'm a bit biased (being in the RAF), but the fish heads are ok, they're not as good as us, but that's my own opinion. The lads and lasses are a good bunch, very friendly and a good laugh. If you mean politically, then they're a valuable asset to British security, along with the Army and RAF.

Answer 10

Had a chance to meet some of the blokes from HMS Cornwall....Great! A bit young but very professional. The crew seemed very capable. Also, they were all gentlemen.