Royal Navy

With the possible exception of the invincible legions of ancient Rome, no armed service in history has ever had a tradition so long and glorious as that of the Royal Navy.

—Warships of the World—Victory Edition

The Royal Navy is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service). It forms the largest constituent part of the Naval Service, which is administered by the Admiralty, a governmental body presided over by the Board of Admiralty which is composed mostly of serving officers of the Royal Navy.

The primary mission of the Royal Navy since the eighteenth century has been to defend Britain's maritime trade which expanded rapidly with the rise of the British Empire in the Americas, Africa and Asia. As an island nation reliant on exports and revenue from trade with other nations, the Navy has always been relied on as the "sure shield of Empire". Because of Britain's widespread commitments, concentration of force everywhere meant that the 1880s onwards it was accepted in Britain that the Royal Navy would have to hold a huge margin of superiority over any potential naval rival, which resulted in various "standards" being adhered to, commencing with the Naval Defence Act and the "Two Power Standard".

Ever since the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Trafalgar the Royal Navy had been regarded as an invincible fighting force, which gave it an esprit de corps second to none. It's history of success, the confidence of its officers and men and its size served to act as a powerful deterrent. Notwithstanding its mighty position, the Royal Navy throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century was aware of changing technologies and sought to encourage the adoption and development of new weapons and ideas, culminating in 1914 when Britain had the largest dreadnought fleet, the largest submarine fleet and the largest naval air arm.