WHAT COUNTRY HAS THE BEST NAVY IN THE WORLD?

At the battle of Midway, the US navy won a decisive victory agains the then more powerful Japanese navy. However, even if the presumed superior expertise and arguable superior technology of the Royal Navy were enough to conjur a couple of similar miracles, eventually numbers would tell. The worlds second best navy would eventually lose on the basis that even if it is a little better boat for boat, it simply isn't big enough to pull off a strategic victory against the US navy. However, to presume that this means that the RN should be relegated to the history books simply because there is only one navy in the whole world that it cannot beat might be a little premature. They've got another 50 years of ruling the waves in them until Inida and China gradually ease ahead.

If a shooting contest started the USN would be the Navy to have behind you. I would hazard a guess if you could average out all the USN's ships capibilities versus any other Navy I would say the USN would be top. The question is does the USN need to be so powerful?

The king of the world,AMERICA

When figuring who is the best navy you have to take into account EVERYTHING. The US Navy has more tonnage than the next 13 largest navies combined. Britian does have a professional navy, maybe even more professional the the US, but head to head the USN would sink the RN very quickly. That makes the US the best period. Who would win in any conflict navy to navy with the US? Nobody, that's not arrogance or conceit, it;s just plain fact. By the way - I would never want to see USN and RN against each other.

Didn't WWII prove that aircrfaft carriers are the capital ships of our day? The Bismarck and the Prince of Wales were the best ships of their day and they were sunk by inferior British and Japanese aircraft. Here you are talking about about destroyers and submarines. The RN has what... 3 carriers? Capable of carrying a squadron of Harriers each? The USN has an air arm that surpasses the worlds by an even greater ratio than its vessel tonnage. Do we even need to compare the aircraft they're packing? F-18s against Harriers... C'mon, it's not even close to being a fair fight

USN is the best in the world. best technology best everything. the RAN is would be crushed if the USN fought them.

Just because the US Navy has the most technologically advance ships and equipment doesnt make them the best in the world, what makes a great navy is a Defence Force like the Australian Defence Force that spends more money on training the sailors than buying shiny new equipment like the US does. By doing that the RAN has even beaten the US navy in the war games by putting there loudest Sub against all there latest ships and equipment and advoided being detected, this shows how superior training of the RAN is better than the US navy and all there shiny toys.

To say the USN has numbers and training and the RN has better technology and better training but if you compare the two navy's they both would do the same amount of damage as The RN's training and technology matches up to the USN's numbers.

mdwolf aside - yes, the commentators here have it spot on - the usn is the most powerful fleet in existence with the highest quality ships and personnel. yes, we have numbers too - why because we have to attend to all the oceans, not just the littoral waters around a little island. sure, we'll take the support of the rn, but man their arrogance is hard to stomach sometimes. they still talk they have relevance to anyone - sorry. i do have to agree that "what the usn does it does very well" - what does the usn do you ask? well, just about everything from littoral warfare to sea control to power projection.

tboneya - I agree - and I'm not arguing - merely stating a fact. But your comment and papasmurf's comment about the US being the best as being a 'no-brainer' can be perceived as being conceited. I like the US Navy - I like it a lot, as I do all the US Armed Forces - and what the US does it does very well. However, I'veoften found a high degree of arrogance with USN personnel in particular in that they regard themselves as the best. Then they come and train with us for a while and feel themselves humbled.

Mr. MDWolf, I am a 20 year veteran of the United States Navy. I have operated on numerous occasions with every major navy in the world, including the Royal Navy. Both navies are extremely professional, advanced, motivated and lethal. We are also very close allies, with ties that go back hundreds of years. What isn't needed is for us to start arguing among ourselves over who's the best. We have more important things to think about.....

I should clarify that by mentioning the new classes of submarine and destroyer the RN has, and by saying that bigger isn't always better - I'd have thought that the US would have learned that poinmt by now!

What a laugh - the USN might be the biggest - but the Royal Navy is certainly the best trained and most professional - and also has the most advanced vessels - FACT

As a US Navy Veteran who has worked with and/or observed many of the navys ranked here, it's a no brainer that the US Navy is the greatest in the world, and will be for many years to come. Still, there are some very, very fine navys in the world, rich in training, technology, tradition, capability and pride. The pride that a nation has in itself is reflected in its navy.

Actually, Germany had a better navy boad for boat because in WW1 they were building a new navy whereas the Royal navy was much larger and was spread out more thin. In WW2 the German navy had very few but more advanced vessels so if Germany's 10 best ships were to go head to head against the RN's a the time, they probably wouldv'e won. But what happens when you've lost your 10 ships. German subs are cheap and cheeful. Don't every try pitching them against a trafalgar class sub at home. Trafalgars don't export because they're too expensive and the only navies that can afford such ships build their own. Germany can't afford them because she's got the greek navy to pay for these days.

Actually some countries out... Others did defeat the British in Naval battle. Such as Italy in the Mediterranean... You're history is skewed... Source: Battle of the Mediterranean WWII

The German Navy is still building the best sub-marines. That is why they are sold all over the world.

Germany was the only Navy that was victorious against the British Navy in WW II. Germany built the best ships, big or small in both WW. HGermany won teh biggest sea battle in history (Skagerrak or Jutland), where they sank more ships of the British navy. The Britons had a superiority in numbers by 2:1, but the Germans had better ships.

germany used to be the greatest naval power

Small, but very capable and deadly. Will not hesitate to defend their country against any threat from any foe.

Indeed, matter of time before the Russian navy make better use of its significant resources to rejoin the ranks of true blue water navies. I hope they use their naval power more wisely in the future than their current political power such as has been manifested in the Arab uprisings.

Yes... Dutch Navy in number five... and the fun goes on. Pretty sure India and China have a carrier or two that might help them make the Dutch a little more humble in this farcical self assessment. No disrispect intended towards the very capable Royal Dutch Navy who have inherited a tradition of excellence from centuries of expertise. Nevertheless, they are outclassed numerically and in quality by at lest half a dozen other navies.

I am afraid in the 18th Century, Britain had the most powerful Navy, but France, Spain, Dutch were very powerful, by end of the so called long 18th C in 1815 after the defeat of Napolean, Britain was the remaining superpower that controlled the Seas. We won 6 out of 7 major wars in the Long 18th C, and most were against the main power rival France. The won we lost, or gave up as was not worth to keep fighting, was War of US Independence, which was awesome in the end, as USA was created, from the Blood from the UK and its core democratic principles, though some what evolved its system! Why sooo much spending cuts on the UK's defence!!

Her Majesties Royal Dutch Navy was the best in the 17th and 18th century and you can see it still got's her glory and strength.

Now known as the Royal Canadian Navy. Sailor for sailor one of the best in the world.

Canadas overall army kicks ass.

Australia has one of the most powerful navies in the pacific. Our submarines have won many war games and have taken on the best of the USN. The soon to come AGEIS cruisers will add the extra capablities.

Australian NAVY is a well trained and professional navy all though we dont have many ships we still have many well trained and professional recruits

A very good gun. With the best frigates in the world, the F-100, the best non-nuclear submarines, the S-80; With two aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias and the Juan Carlos I, and in the near future a new aircraft carrier more than 40000 Tm to replace the first ... Few armed in the world than the Spanish.

I couldn't agree more; only the Government is stopping our Navy from being a more relevant international player.

A very fine navy, when their government will let them do their job.....

INDIAN NAVY "EMPRROR OF THE OCEAN"

they handle the best naval stratergies in the world

Indian navy is good.it has the potentional to save its sea cost.also ability to fight in other territory.right now,india is going through biggest arm deal,notonly in asia-pacific but also in all over the world.we indians have that much power in all the forms.indian navy going through lots of upgradation in its destroyer,careers and all kind of navy activities.china is the biggest threat to india.but he fears to touch our land because of our potentional in all the three section(army,navy and airforce).indian navy is going to introduce its light combat aircraft tejas very soon.PROUD TO INDIAN...JAI HIND.........

india deserves something more than the 53 rank

india is the best country in the world

PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN & WE WILL ALWAYS BE ................

east or west... INDIA is the best

indian navy crowth value is now good ,otherwise we want going navy first is good

Egyptian best army in the world when was the last time they beat Israel.........

Abdelrahman you say egyptians love to die more then we love to live. When there was a very smart military tactician who once said,"No one ever won a war by die for his country. He won by making the other dumb bastard die for his!" General George Patton. The reason why extremist like you who are so will to die will always lose, we have no problem killing you for your cause. Hey its a win win for me buddy!

what ever you say, the Egyptian army has the strongest soldiers ever in history. if you dont know that please try to read.... im not gonna mention any war, just keep in mind that God says " the best soldiers of the world are the Egyptian" isn't that enough!!!! believe it or not, the egyptian army can defeat any army in the world even without weapons even with wooden stick.... we afraid of nothing, we love to die more than you all love to live....

smartest navy personal ever, its not about equibments, its about how to use it. very strong personal, very smart to destroy any other navy peace of cake....

Abdelrahman sorry but that is stupid cuz the USA would kill u ppl if u tryed anything

what ever you say, the Egyptian army has the strongest soldiers ever in history. if you dont know that please try to read.... im not gonna mention any war, just keep in mind that God says " the best soldiers of the world are the Egyptian" isn't that enough!!!! believe it or not, the egyptian army can defeat any army in the world even without weapons even with wooden stick.... we afraid of nothing, we love to die more than you all love to live....

They control most of eastern mediterrenean sea and isolate turkey. Large history of naval battles date back to the ancient time continue in the modern times

"The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."

The British navy was the sovereign of the seas for almost 3 hundred years. It set the tact. It had the best ships and the best tactics and the best training until the Germans decided to build a fleet. Their ships were far better as well as the training. Fortunately the Germans had their interest more on the land. After the WWII the USA has by far the most effective navy in almost any respect.

Long live the mistress of the sea! No one defeats BRITAIN!

best navy in the world, americans have money and more populated but the british have the most experience in any type of war, from desert, sea, air, jungle, and western terrain. with many branches specializing in certain types of terrain, we win in quality not quantity. god save the queen!

Most Proffesional navy in the world

best navy ever

Awesome navy!!

the best trained navy in the world

Great navy

Sri Lanka Navy destroyed world's most ruthless Sea Tiger Unit of LTTE.

No more questions SL NAVY is the world best NAVY ever who fraught bravely against L.T.T.E

Srilanka navy is the best navy in the world

Actually a lot better than one would expect for such a small country.

The French have excellent equipment, well trained personnel, and a government that doesn't know how to use them.....

World No One Worrier in the History of earth

Earlier this year, PASKAL , The Royal Malaysian Naval Special Forces (similar to the United States Navy SEALs), rescued a Malaysian cargo ship from Somali pirates WITHOUT inflicting or suffering casualties.

One of the few navies in the world to operate the state-of-art Aegis defense system. The government recently revealed plans for the navy to become a "blue-water navy"

Up and coming. A soon to be force to be reckoned with around the globe.

Vietnamese soldiers rank among the best warriors in the world.

One of the greatest in world!

A fine navy indeed!

One of the finest and greatest navy in the world. But does not have enough funds and equipments...

The Turkish navy is historical. It has large capiebilitys and very large fleet.

Didnt even know we had a Navy

Hell Yeah