Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:23:23-2:23:43

Royal Navy type numbers still have class names

Modern Royal Navy ships retain traditional class names even when public reporting emphasizes their type numbers.

Royal NavyType 23 FrigateType 26 FrigateType 45 DestroyerWarship Names
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Question

Are modern Royal Navy ships identified only by type numbers rather than class names?

Short answer

No. Types 23, 26, and 45 are identified here with the Duke, Town, and Daring class names, while media reports often prefer the numbers.

Notes

Modern Royal Navy ships are often known by type numbers, although the numbered programmes still have class names. Type 23 is the Duke class, Type 26 the Town class in the wording used here, and Type 45 the Daring class. The perceived loss of tradition comes partly from media usage rather than the Navy abandoning named classes. Programme numbers and class names describe different layers of the same modern fleet.