Naval ship facts for kids

HMS Invincible, a British aircraft carrier.

USS Port Royal, an American cruiser.

A Berlin-class replenishment ship of the German Navy.

HMCS Algonquin, a Canadian destroyer.

HMAS Darwin, an Australian frigate.

Al-Fahaheel, a fast attack craft from the Kuwaiti Navy.

A naval ship is a special kind of ship or boat used by a country's navy. These ships are built for military purposes, like defending a country, carrying troops, or fighting at sea. They come in many different shapes and sizes, each designed for a specific job.

Different Kinds of Naval Ships

Naval ships are designed for many tasks. Here are some of the main types you might find in a navy:

• Aircraft carriers – These are like giant floating airfields. They carry many airplanes and helicopters. Their main job is to launch and land aircraft for combat missions. They can attack targets in the air, on the water, underwater, or on land.

• Surface combatants – These are large, powerful ships that fight on the surface of the ocean. They are heavily armed with weapons. Their main goal is to battle enemy ships at sea. Examples include battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and frigates.

• Submarines – These are special ships that can travel completely underwater. They can be used for fighting, exploring, or gathering information. Submarines are very stealthy and can stay hidden for a long time.

• Patrol combatants – These ships are designed to patrol coastal areas. They can also operate further out at sea for more than two days without needing support. They help protect a country's waters.

• Amphibious warfare ships – These ships are built to carry soldiers and their equipment. They help land troops on enemy shores during an attack. They can operate far from home for long periods.

• Combat logistics ships – These ships act like floating gas stations and supply stores. They can refuel and resupply other naval ships while they are still at sea. This allows other ships to stay on duty longer.

• Mine warfare ships – The main job of these ships is to deal with naval mines. Mines are bombs placed in the water that can damage or sink ships. Mine warfare ships find and clear these dangerous devices.

• Coastal defense ships – These ships focus on protecting a country's coastline. They patrol the waters near land and stop any threats.

• Sealift ships – These ships are used to transport large amounts of supplies and equipment. They can carry materials directly to other naval units operating far from their home base.

• Support ships – These are ships like oilers that provide general help to the navy. They operate in the open ocean and support combat ships or shore bases. They include smaller auxiliary ships that leave coastal waters.

• Service type craft – These are smaller boats and crafts that are part of the navy. They provide general support to fighting forces or land-based naval facilities. Some of them are not even self-propelled.

How Big are Naval Ships?

Naval ships are often grouped by their size and weight, from the largest to the smallest. The biggest ships are sometimes called capital ships. Here's a list of common naval ship types, generally from largest to smallest:

• Aircraft carrier
• Helicopter carrier
• Battleship
• Battlecruiser
• Heavy cruiser
• Light cruiser
• Destroyer
• Frigate
• Corvette
• Patrol boat
• Fast attack craft

Images for kids

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  The "Baden-Württemberg", an F125-class frigate of the German Navy. It is currently one of the biggest frigates in the world.