List of classes of British ships of the Cold War

This is a list of ship classes used by the Royal Navy during The Cold War.

Aircraft Carriers

Fleet carriers

• Illustrious-class aircraft carrier-WWII era HMS Victorious (R38) modernised in 1950s and in commission till 1968.
• Implacable-class aircraft carrier-WWII era decommissioned in mid 1950s.
• Audacious-class aircraft carrier- Served from 1951 till 1979.

Light Carriers

• 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier- WWII era served till early 1960s.
• Centaur-class aircraft carrier- In service 1953 to 1984.
• Invincible-class aircraft carrier- In service from 1980 till 2014.

Battleships

• HMS Vanguard (23)-Last British battleship ever built. Served from 1946 to 1960.

Cruisers

• Tiger-class cruiser-Last British Cruiser class. Served from 1959 to 1979.

Destroyers

• Daring-class destroyer (1949)-Last RN primarily gun armed destroyers
• County-class destroyer-First RN Guided-missile destroyers
• Type 42 destroyer-In service 1975 to 2013
• HMS Bristol (D23)- Served from 1973 to 1991.

Frigates

• Whitby-class frigate
• Rothesay-class frigate
• Leander-class frigate
• Blackwood-class frigate
• Leopard-class frigate
• Salisbury-class frigate
• Tribal-class frigate
• Type 21 frigate
• Type 22 frigate

Corvettes

• Peacock-class corvette

Submarines

Ballistic missile submarines

• Resolution-class submarine

Attack submarines

• HMS Dreadnought (S101)
• Valiant-class submarine
• Churchill-class submarine
• Swiftsure-class submarine
• Trafalgar-class submarine

Amphibious warfare ships

• Fearless-class landing platform dock

Mine countermeasures vessels

• Ton-class minesweeper
• Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel

Patrol boats

• Bird-class patrol vessel
• Ford-class seaward defence boat
• Gay-class patrol boat
• Dark-class patrol boat
• Brave-class patrol boat
• Island-class patrol vessel
• Castle-class patrol vessel
• Archer-class patrol vessel

References