View source for List of cruiser classes of the Royal Navy

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{no footnotes|date=February 2013}}
This is a list of '''[[cruiser]]s of the [[Royal Navy]]''' of the [[United Kingdom]] from 1877 (when the category was created by amalgamating the two previous categories of [[frigate]] and [[corvette]]) until the last cruiser was decommissioned more than a century later. There are no longer any cruisers in the [[Royal Navy]].

{{Royal Navy ship types}}

== First class cruisers ==
[[Armoured cruiser]]s were protected by a belt of side armour and an armoured deck. In the Royal Navy this classification was not actually used, the term '''first class cruiser''' being used instead for both armoured cruisers and large [[protected cruiser]]s. Thus, the first class cruisers built between the [[Orlando-class cruiser|''Orlando'' class]] (1886) and the [[Cressy-class cruiser|''Cressy'' class]] (1897) were, strictly speaking, protected cruisers as they lacked an armoured belt. The first class cruiser was succeeded by the [[List of battlecruisers of the Royal Navy|battlecruiser in the Royal Navy]].

* '''''Shannon''''' first class armoured cruiser, (1875) 5,670 tons, 2×10in, 7×9inch
** ''[[HMS Shannon (1875)|Shannon]]'' (1875) – Sold 1899
* '''[[Nelson-class cruiser|''Nelson'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 7,473 tons, 4×10-inch, 6×9-inch
** ''[[HMS Nelson (1876)|Nelson]]'' (1876) – Sold 1910
** ''[[HMS Northampton (1876)|Northampton]]'' (1876) – Sold 1905
* '''[[Imperieuse-class cruiser|''Imperieuse'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 8,500 tons, 4×9.2inch, 10×6inch
** ''[[HMS Imperieuse (1883)|Imperieuse]]'' (1883) – Sold 1913
** ''[[HMS Warspite (1884)|Warspite]]'' (1884) – Sold 1905
* '''[[Orlando-class cruiser|''Orlando'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 5,600 tons, 2×9.2-inch, 10×6-inch
** ''[[HMS Orlando (1886)|Orlando]]''  (1886) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Australia (1888)|Australia]]''  (1886) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Undaunted (1886)|Undaunted]]''  (1886) – Sold 1907
** ''[[HMS Narcissus (1886)|Narcissus]]''  (1886) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Galatea (1887)|Galatea]]''  (1887) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Immortalite (1887)|Immortalite]]''  (1887) – Sold 1907
** ''[[HMS Aurora (1887)|Aurora]]''  (1887) – Sold 1907
* '''[[Blake-class cruiser|''Blake'' class]]''' first class protected cruiser, 9,150 tons, 2 × 9.2-inch, 10 × 6-inch
** ''[[HMS Blake (1889)|Blake]]'' (1889) – Sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Blenheim (1890)|Blenheim]]'' (1890) – Sold 1926
* '''[[Edgar-class cruiser|''Edgar'' class]]''' first class protected cruiser, 7,700 tons, 2× 9.2-inch, 10×6-inch
** ''[[HMS Edgar (1890)|Edgar]]'' (1890) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Hawke (1891)|Hawke]]'' (1891) – Torpedoed 1914
** ''[[HMS Endymion (1891)|Endymion]]'' (1891) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Royal Arthur (1891)|Royal Arthur]]'' (1891) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Gibraltar (1892)|Gibraltar]]'' (1892) – Sold 1923
** ''[[HMS Grafton (1892)|Grafton]]'' (1892) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS St George (1892)|St George]]'' (1892) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Theseus (1892)|Theseus]]'' (1892) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Crescent (1892)|Crescent]]'' (1892) – Sold 1921
* '''[[Powerful-class cruiser|''Powerful'' class]]''' first class protected cruiser, 14,200 tons, 2×9.2-inch, 12× 6-inch
** ''[[HMS Powerful (1895)|Powerful]]'' (1895) – Sold 1929
** ''[[HMS Terrible (1895)|Terrible]]'' (1895) – Sold 1932
* '''[[Diadem-class cruiser|''Diadem'' class]]''' first class protected cruiser, 11,000 tons, 16× 6-inch
** ''[[HMS Diadem (1896)|Diadem]]'' (1896) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Niobe (1897)|Niobe]]'' (1897) – To [[Canada]] as [[HMCS Niobe|HMCS ''Niobe'']], BU 1922
** ''[[HMS Europa (1897)|Europa]]'' (1897) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Andromeda (1897)|Andromeda]]'' (1897) – Sold 1956
** ''[[HMS Amphitrite (1898)|Amphitrite]]'' (1898) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Argonaut (1898)|Argonaut]]'' (1898) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Ariadne (1898)|Ariadne]]'' (1898) – Torpedoed 1917
** ''[[HMS Spartiate (1898)|Spartiate]]'' (1898) – Sold 1932
* '''[[Cressy-class cruiser|''Cressy'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 12,000 tons, 2×9.2-inch, 12×6-in
** ''[[HMS Cressy (1899)|Cressy]]'' (1899) – Torpedoed 1914
** ''[[HMS Sutlej (1899)|Sutlej]]'' (1899) – Sold 1924
** ''[[HMS Aboukir (1900)|Aboukir]]'' (1900) – Torpedoed 1914
** ''[[HMS Hogue (1900)|Hogue]]'' (1900) – Torpedoed 1914
** ''[[HMS Bacchante (1901)|Bacchante]]'' (1901) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Euryalus (1901)|Euryalus]]'' (1901) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Drake-class cruiser|''Drake'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 14,150 tons, 2× 9.2-inch, 16×-6-inch
** ''[[HMS Drake (1901)|Drake]]'' (1901) – Torpedoed 1917
** ''[[HMS Good Hope (1901)|Good Hope]]'' (ex-''Africa'') (1901) – Sunk during the [[Battle of Coronel]], 1914
** ''[[HMS King Alfred (1901)|King Alfred]]'' (1901) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Leviathan (1901)|Leviathan]]'' (1901) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Monmouth-class cruiser|''Monmouth'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 9,800 tons, 14× 6-inch
** ''[[HMS Monmouth (1901)|Monmouth]]'' (1901) – Sunk during the Battle of Coronel, 1914
** ''[[HMS Bedford (1901)|Bedford]]'' (1901) – Wrecked on 21 August 1910 off Quelport Island in the China Sea
** ''[[HMS Essex (1901)|Essex]]'' (1901) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Kent (1901)|Kent]]'' (1901) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Berwick (1902)|Berwick]]'' (1902) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Cornwall (1902)|Cornwall]]'' (1902) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Cumberland (1902)|Cumberland]]'' (1902) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Donegal (1902)|Donegal]]'' (1902) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Lancaster (1902)|Lancaster]]'' (1902) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Suffolk (1903)|Suffolk]]'' (1903) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Devonshire-class cruiser (1903)|''Devonshire'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 10,850 tons, 4× 7.5-inch, 6× 6-inch
** ''[[HMS Devonshire (1904)|Devonshire]]'' (1904) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Hampshire (1903)|Hampshire]]'' (1903) – Mined 1916
** ''[[HMS Carnarvon (1903)|Carnarvon]]'' (1903) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Antrim (1903)|Antrim]]'' (1903) – Sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Roxburgh (1904)|Roxburgh]]'' (1904) – Sold 1921 
** ''[[HMS Argyll (1904)|Argyll]]'' (1904) – Wrecked 1915
* '''''Duke of Edinburgh'' group''' first class armoured cruiser
** '''[[Duke of Edinburgh-class cruiser|''Duke of Edinburgh'' class]]''' 13,550 tons, 6× 9.2-inch, 10× 6-inch
*** ''[[HMS Duke of Edinburgh (1904)|Duke of Edinburgh]]'' (1904) – Sold 1920
*** ''[[HMS Black Prince (1904)|Black Prince]]'' (1904) – Sunk at the [[Battle of Jutland]], 1916
** '''[[Warrior-class cruiser|''Warrior'' class]]''' 13,550 tons, 6x 9.2-in, 4x 7.5-in
*** ''[[HMS Warrior (1905)|Warrior]]'' (1905) – Sunk at the [[Battle of Jutland]], 1916
*** ''[[HMS Cochrane (1905)|Cochrane]]'' (1905) – Wrecked 1918
*** ''[[HMS Achilles (1905)|Achilles]]'' (1905) – Sold 1921
*** ''[[HMS Natal (1905)|Natal]]'' (1905) – Explosion 1915
* '''[[Minotaur-class cruiser (1906)|''Minotaur'' class]]''' first class armoured cruiser, 14,600 tons, 4× 9.2-inch, 10× 7.5-inch
** ''[[HMS Minotaur (1906)|Minotaur]]'' (1906) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Shannon (1906)|Shannon]]'' (1906) – Sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Defence (1907)|Defence]]'' (1907) – Sunk at the [[Battle of Jutland]], 1916

==Protected cruisers==
[[Protected cruiser]]s were so-called because their vital machinery spaces were protected by an armoured deck and the arrangement of coal bunkers. The ships below are all protected cruisers, but were rated as '''second''' and '''third class cruisers''' by the Royal Navy. The third class cruiser was not expected to operate with the fleet, was substantially smaller than the second class and lacked the watertight double-bottom of the latter. With the advent of turbine machinery, oil firing and better armour plate the protected cruiser became obsolete and was succeeded by the [[List of cruiser classes of the Royal Navy#Light cruisers|light cruiser]].
* '''[[Iris-class cruiser|''Iris'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 3,730 tons, 10 × 64-pdr
** ''[[HMS Iris (1877)|Iris]]'' (1877) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Mercury (1878)|Mercury]]'' (1878) – [[Hulk (ship type)|Hulked]] 1914, sold 1919
* '''[[Comus-class corvette|''Comus'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 2,380 tons (''Constance'' 2,590 tons), 2 × 7&nbsp;in + 12 × 64-pdr (except ''Comus'' 4 × 6&nbsp;in + 8 × 64-pdr; ''Canada'' & ''Cordelia'' 10 × 6&nbsp;in)
** ''[[HMS Comus (1878)|Comus]]'' (1878) – Sold 1904
** ''[[HMS Curacoa (1878)|Curacoa]]'' (1878) – Sold 1904
** ''[[HMS Champion (1878)|Champion]]'' (1878) – Sold 1919
** ''[[HMS Cleopatra (1878)|Cleopatra]]'' (1878) – Sold 1931
** ''[[HMS Carysfort (1878)|Carysfort]]'' (1878) – Sold 1899
** ''[[HMS Conquest (1878)|Conquest]]'' (1878) – Sold 1899
** ''[[HMS Constance (1880)|Constance]]'' (1880) – Sold 1899
** ''[[HMS Canada (1881)|Canada]]'' (1881) – Sold 1897
** ''[[HMS Cordelia (1881)|Cordelia]]'' (1881) – Sold 1904
* '''[[Leander-class cruiser (1882)|''Leander'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 4,300 tons, 10 × 6&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Leander (1882)|Leander]]'' (1882) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Arethusa (1882)|Arethusa]]'' (1882) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Phaeton (1883)|Phaeton]]'' (1883) – Sold 1947
** ''[[HMS Amphion (1883)|Amphion]]'' (1883) – Sold 1906
* '''[[Calypso-class corvette|''Calypso'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 2,770 tons, 4 × 6&nbsp;in + 12 × 5&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Calypso (1883)|Calypso]]'' (1883) – Sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Calliope (1884)|Calliope]]'' (1884) – Sold 1951 (drill ship from 1907)
* '''[[Surprise-class cruiser|''Surprise'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 1,700 tons, 4 × 5&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Surprise (1885)|Surprise]]'' (1885) – Sold 1919
** ''[[HMS Alacrity (1885)|Alacrity]]'' (1885) – Sold 1913
* '''[[Mersey-class cruiser|''Mersey'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 4,050 tons, 2 × 8&nbsp;in, 10 × 6&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Mersey (1885)|Mersey]]'' (1885) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Severn (1885)|Severn]]'' (1885) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Thames (1885)|Thames]]'' (1885) – Renamed ''General Botha'', scuttled 1947
** ''[[HMS Forth (1886)|Forth]]'' (1886) – Sold 1921
* '''[[Scout-class torpedo cruiser|''Scout'' class]]''' third class torpedo cruiser, 1,580 tons, 4 × 5&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Scout (1885)|Scout]]'' (1885) – Sold 1904
** ''[[HMS Fearless (1886)|Fearless]]'' (1886) – Sold 1905
* '''[[Archer-class torpedo cruiser|''Archer'' class]]''' third class torpedo cruiser, 1,770 tons, 6 × 6&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Archer (1885)|Archer]]'' (1885) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Mohawk (1886)|Mohawk]]'' (1886) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Brisk (1886)|Brisk]]'' (1886) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Porpoise (1886)|Porpoise]]'' (1886) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Cossack (1886)|Cossack]]'' (1886) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Tartar (1886)|Tartar]]'' (1886) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Serpent (1887)|Serpent]]'' (1887) – Wrecked 1890
** ''[[HMS Racoon (1887)|Racoon]]'' (1887) – Sold 1905
* '''[[Marathon-class cruiser|''Marathon'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 2,850 tons, 6 × 6&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Magicienne (1888)|Magicienne]]'' (1888) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Medea (1888)|Medea]]'' (1888) – Sold 1914
** ''[[HMS Medusa (1888)|Medusa]]'' (1888) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Marathon (1888)|Marathon]]'' (1888) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Melpomene (1888)|Melpomene]]'' (1888) – Sold 1905
* '''[[Barracouta-class cruiser|''Barracouta'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 1,580 tons, 6 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Barracouta (1889)|Barracouta]]'' (1889) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Barrosa (1889)|Barrosa]]'' (1889) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Blanche (1889)|Blanche]]'' (1889) – Sold 1905
** ''[[HMS Blonde (1889)|Blonde]]'' (1889) – Sold 1905
* '''[[Barham-class cruiser|''Barham'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 1,830 tons, 6 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Barham (1889)|Barham]]'' (1889) – Sold 1914
** ''[[HMS Bellona (1890)|Bellona]]'' (1890) – Sold 1906
* '''[[Pearl-class cruiser|''Pearl'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 2,575 tons, 8 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Pandora (1889)|Pandora]]'' (1889) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Psyche (1889)|Psyche]]'' (1889) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Phoenix (1889)|Phoenix]]'' (1889) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Pelorus (1889)|Pelorus]]'' (1889) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Persian (1890)|Persian]]'' (1890) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Pallas (1890)|Pallas]]'' (1890) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Phoebe (1890)|Phoebe]]'' (1890) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Pearl (1890)|Pearl]]'' (1890) – Sold 1906
** ''[[HMS Philomel (1890)|Philomel]]'' (1890) – Sold 1947, [[Scuttling|scuttled]] 1949
* '''[[Apollo-class cruiser|''Apollo'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 3,400 tons, 2 × 6&nbsp;in, 6 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Latona (1890)|Latona]]'' (1890) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Melampus (1890)|Melampus]]'' (1890) – Sold 1910
** ''[[HMS Andromache (1890)|Andromache]]'' (1890) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Sirius (1890)|Sirius]]'' (1890) – Scuttled 1918
** ''[[HMS Terpsichore (1890)|Terpsichore]]'' (1890) – Sold 1914
** ''[[HMS Naiad (1890)|Naiad]]'' (1890) – Sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Pique (1890)|Pique]]'' (1890) – Sold 1911
** ''[[HMS Thetis (1890)|Thetis]]'' (1890) – Scuttled 1918
** ''[[HMS Sybille (1890)|Sybille]]'' (1890) – Wrecked 1901
** ''[[HMS Apollo (1891)|Apollo]]'' (1891) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Tribune (1891)|Tribune]]'' (1891) – Sold 1911
** ''[[HMS Spartan (1891)|Spartan]]'' (1891) – Renamed ''Defiance'' 1921, sold 1931
** ''[[HMS Indefatigable (1891)|Indefatigable]]'' (1891) – Sold 1913
** ''[[HMS Rainbow (1891)|Rainbow]]'' (1891) – To Canada as [[HMCS Rainbow (1910)|HMCS ''Rainbow'']] 1910; sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Sappho (1891)|Sappho]]'' (1891) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Intrepid (1891)|Intrepid]]'' (1891) – Scuttled 1918
** ''[[HMS Brilliant (1891)|Brilliant]]'' (1891) – Scuttled 1918
** ''[[HMS Retribution (1891)|Retribution]]'' (1891) – Sold 1911
** ''[[HMS Scylla (1891)|Scylla]]'' (1891) – Sold 1914
** ''[[HMS Aeolus (1891)|Aeolus]]'' (1891) – Sold 1914
** ''[[HMS Iphigenia (1891)|Iphigenia]]'' (1891) – Scuttled 1918
* '''[[Astraea-class cruiser|''Astraea'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 4,360 tons, 2 × 6&nbsp;in, 8 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Bonaventure (1892)|Bonaventure]]'' (1892) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Cambrian (1893)|Cambrian]]'' (1893) – Sold 1923
** ''[[HMS Astraea (1893)|Astraea]]'' (1893) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Charybdis (1893)|Charybdis]]'' (1893) – Sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Fox (1893)|Fox]]'' (1893) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Hermione (1893)|Hermione]]'' (1893) – Renamed ''Warspite'', sold 1940
** ''[[HMS Flora (1893)|Flora]]'' (1893) – Renamed ''Indus II'', sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Forte (1893)|Forte]]'' (1893) – Sold 1914
* '''[[Eclipse-class cruiser|''Eclipse'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 5,600 tons, 5 × 6&nbsp;in, 6 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Eclipse (1894)|Eclipse]]'' (1894) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Talbot (1895)|Talbot]]'' (1895) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Venus (1895)|Venus]]'' (1895) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Minerva (1895)|Minerva]]'' (1895) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Juno (1895)|Juno]]'' (1895) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Diana (1895)|Diana]]'' (1895) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Doris (1896)|Doris]]'' (1896) – Sold 1919
** ''[[HMS Dido (1896)|Dido]]'' (1896) – Sold 1926
** ''[[HMS Isis (1896)|Isis]]'' (1896) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Arrogant-class cruiser|''Arrogant'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 5,750 tons, 4 × 6&nbsp;in, 6 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Arrogant (1896)|Arrogant]]'' (1896) – Sold 1923
** ''[[HMS Furious (1896)|Furious]]'' (1896) – Renamed ''Forte'' 1915, sold 1923
** ''[[HMS Gladiator (1896)|Gladiator]]'' (1896) – Collision 1908, refloated, sold 1909
** ''[[HMS Vindictive (1897)|Vindictive]]'' (1897) – Scuttled 1918
* '''[[Pelorus-class cruiser|''Pelorus'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 2,135 tons, 8 × 4&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Proserpine (1896)|Proserpine]]'' (1896) – Sold 1919
** ''[[HMS Pelorus (1896)|Pelorus]]'' (1896) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Pactolus (1896)|Pactolus]]'' (1896) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Pegasus (1897)|Pegasus]]'' (1897) – Sunk 1914
** ''[[HMS Perseus (1897)|Perseus]]'' (1897) – Sold 1914
** ''[[HMS Pomone (1897)|Pomone]]'' (1897) – Sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Pyramus (1897)|Pyramus]]'' (1897) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMAS Psyche|Psyche]]'' (1898) – To Australia 1915; sold 1922; sank 1940
** ''[[HMS Prometheus (1898)|Prometheus]]'' (1898) – Sold 1914
** ''[[HMAS Pioneer|Pioneer]]'' (1899) – To Australia 1912, scuttled 1931
** ''[[HMS Pandora (1900)|Pandora]]'' (1900) – Sold 1913
* '''[[Highflyer-class cruiser|''Highflyer'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 5,650 tons, 11 × 6&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Hermes (1898)|Hermes]]'' (1898) – Torpedoed 1914
** ''[[HMS Highflyer (1898)|Highflyer]]'' (1898) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Hyacinth (1898)|Hyacinth]]'' (1898) – Sold 1923
* '''[[Challenger-class cruiser|''Challenger'' class]]''' second class cruiser, 5,880 tons, 11 × 6&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Challenger (1902)|Challenger]]'' (1902) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Encounter (1902)|Encounter]]'' (1902) – To Australia 1912 as HMAS ''Encounter'', renamed ''Penguin'' 1923, scuttled 1932
* '''[[Topaze-class cruiser|''Topaze'' class]]''' third class cruiser, 3,000 tons, 12 × 4&nbsp;in
** ''[[HMS Topaze (1903)|Topaze]]'' (1903) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Amethyst (1903)|Amethyst]]'' (1903) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Diamond (1904)|Diamond]]'' (1904) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Sapphire (1904)|Sapphire]]'' (1904) – Sold 1921

==Scout cruisers==
The [[scout cruiser]] was a smaller, faster, more lightly armed and armoured cruiser than the protected cruiser, intended for fleet scouting duties and acting as a [[flotilla leader]]. Essentially there were two distinct groups – the eight vessels all ordered under the 1903 Programme, and the seven later vessels ordered under the 1907-1910 Programmes. The advent of better machinery and larger, faster [[List of destroyer classes of the Royal Navy|destroyers]] and light cruisers effectively made them obsolete.
* '''[[Sentinel-class cruiser|''Sentinel'' class]]''' 2,880 tons, 10 × 12-pdr
** ''[[HMS Sentinel (1904)|Sentinel]]'' (1904) – Sold 1923
** ''[[HMS Skirmisher (1905)|Skirmisher]]'' (1905) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Adventure-class cruiser|''Adventure'' class]]''' 2,640 tons, 10 × 12-pdr
** ''[[HMS Adventure (1904)|Adventure]]'' (1904) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Attentive (1904)|Attentive]]'' (1904) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Forward-class cruiser|''Forward'' class]]''' 2,860 tons, 10 × 12-pdr
** ''[[HMS Forward (1904)|Forward]]'' (1904) – Sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Foresight (1904)|Foresight]]'' (1904) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Pathfinder-class cruiser|''Pathfinder'' class]]''' 2,900 tons, 10 × 12-pdr
** ''[[HMS Pathfinder (1904)|Pathfinder]]'' (1904) – Torpedoed 1914
** ''[[HMS Patrol (1904)|Patrol]]'' (1904) – Sold 1920
* '''[[Boadicea-class cruiser|''Boadicea'' class]]''' 3,300 tons, 6 × 4in
** ''[[HMS Boadicea (1908)|Boadicea]]'' (1908) – Sold 1926
** ''[[HMS Bellona (1909)|Bellona]]'' (1909) – Sold 1921
* '''[[Blonde-class cruiser|''Blonde'' class]]''' 3,350 tons, 10 × 4in
** ''[[HMS Blonde (1910)|Blonde]]'' (1910) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Blanche (1909)|Blanche]]'' (1909) – Sold 1921
* '''[[Active-class cruiser|''Active'' class]]''' 3,440 tons, 10 × 4in
** ''[[HMS Active (1911)|Active]]'' (1911) – Sold 1920
** ''[[HMS Amphion (1911)|Amphion]]'' (1911) – Sunk 1914
** ''[[HMS Fearless (1912)|Fearless]]'' (1912) – Sold 1921

==Light cruisers==
The light armoured cruiser – [[light cruiser]] – succeeded the protected cruiser; improvements in machinery and armour rendering the latter obsolete. The {{sclass2|Town|cruiser|4||1910}} of 1910 were rated as second-class protected cruisers, but were effectively light armoured cruisers with mixed coal and oil firing. The {{sclass|Arethusa|cruiser|4||1913}} of 1913 were the first oil-only fired class. This meant that the arrangement of coal bunkers in the hull could no longer be relied upon as protection and the adoption of [[destroyer]]-type machinery resulted in a higher speed. This makes the ''Arethusa''s the first "true example" of the warship that came to be recognised as the light cruiser. In the [[London Naval Treaty]] of 1930, light cruisers were officially defined as cruisers having guns of 6.1 inches (155&nbsp;mm) calibre or less, with a displacement not exceeding 10,000 tons.
* '''[[Town-class cruiser (1910)|Town class]]'''
**'''''Bristol'' group''' 4,800 tons, two 6-in & ten 4-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Bristol (1910)|Bristol]]'' (1910) – sold 1921
*** ''[[HMS Glasgow (1909)|Glasgow]]'' (1910) – sold 1927
*** ''[[HMS Gloucester (1909)|Gloucester]]'' (1910) – sold 1921
*** ''[[HMS Liverpool (1909)|Liverpool]]'' (1910) – sold 1921
*** ''[[HMS Newcastle (1909)|Newcastle]]'' (1910) – sold 1921
**'''''Weymouth'' group''' 5,250 tons, eight 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Weymouth (1910)|Weymouth]]'' (1911) – sold 1928
*** ''[[HMS Dartmouth (1911)|Dartmouth]]'' (1911) – sold 1930
*** ''[[HMS Falmouth (1910)|Falmouth]]'' (1911) – sunk 1916
*** ''[[HMS Yarmouth (1911)|Yarmouth]]'' (1912) – sold 1929
**'''''Chatham'' group''' 5,400 tons, eight 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Chatham (1911)|Chatham]]'' (1912) – sold 1926
*** ''[[HMS Dublin (1912)|Dublin]]'' (1913) – sold 1926
*** ''[[HMS Southampton (1912)|Southampton]]'' (1912) – sold 1926
*** {{HMAS|Brisbane|1915|6}} (1916) – sold 1936
*** {{HMAS|Melbourne|1912|6}} (1913) – sold 1929
*** {{HMAS|Sydney|1912|6}} (1913) – scrapped 1929
**'''''Birmingham'' group''' 5,440 tons, nine 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Birmingham (1913)|Birmingham]]'' (1914) – sold 1931
*** ''[[HMS Lowestoft (1913)|Lowestoft]]'' (1914) – sold 1931
*** ''[[HMS Nottingham (1913)|Nottingham]]'' (1914) – sunk 1916
*** {{HMAS|Adelaide|1918|6}} (1922) – sold 1949
**'''''Birkenhead'' group''' 5,185 tons, ten 5.5-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Birkenhead (1915)|Birkenhead]]'' (1915) – sold 1921
*** ''[[HMS Chester (1915)|Chester]]'' (1916) – sold 1921
* '''[[Arethusa-class cruiser (1913)|''Arethusa'' class]]''', 3,750 tons, two 6-in & six 4-in guns
** ''[[HMS Arethusa (1913)|Arethusa]]'' (1914) – wrecked 1916
** ''[[HMS Aurora (1913)|Aurora]]'' (1914) – to Canada 1920; sold 1927
** ''[[HMS Galatea (1914)|Galatea]]'' (1914) – sold 1921
** ''[[HMS Inconstant (1914)|Inconstant]]'' (1915) – sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Penelope (1914)|Penelope]]'' (1914) – sold 1924
** ''[[HMS Phaeton (1914)|Phaeton]]'' (1915) – sold 1923
** ''[[HMS Royalist (1915)|Royalist]]'' (1915) – sold 1922
** ''[[HMS Undaunted (1914)|Undaunted]]'' (1914) – sold 1923
* '''[[C-class cruiser|C class]]'''
** '''''Caroline'' group''' 4,219 tons, two 6-in & eight 4-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Caroline (1914)|Caroline]]'' (1914) – [[museum ship]] 2016
*** ''[[HMS Carysfort (1914)|Carysfort]]'' (1914) – sold 1931
*** ''[[HMS Cleopatra (1915)|Cleopatra]]'' (1915) – sold 1931
*** ''[[HMS Comus (1914)|Comus]]'' (1914) – sold 1934
*** ''[[HMS Conquest (1915)|Conquest]]'' (1915) – sold 1930
*** ''[[HMS Cordelia (1914)|Cordelia]]'' (1914) – sold 1923
** '''''Calliope'' group''' 4,228 tons, two 6-in & eight 4-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Calliope (1914)|Calliope]]'' (1914) – sold 1931
*** ''[[HMS Champion (1915)|Champion]]'' (1915) – sold 1934
** '''''Cambrian'' group''' 4,320 tons, two 6-in & eight 4-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Cambrian (1915)|Cambrian]]'' (1916) – sold 1934
*** ''[[HMS Canterbury (1915)|Canterbury]]'' (1915) – sold 1934
*** ''[[HMS Castor (1915)|Castor]]'' (1915) – sold 1936
*** ''[[HMS Constance (1915)|Constance]]'' (1915) – sold 1936
** '''''Centaur'' group''' 4,165 tons, five 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Centaur (1916)|Centaur]]'' (1916) – sold 1934
*** ''[[HMS Concord (1916)|Concord]]'' (1916) – sold 1935
** '''''Caledon'' group''' 4,180 tons, five 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Caledon (D53)|Caledon]]'' (1916) – sold 1948
*** ''[[HMS Calypso (D61)|Calypso]]'' (1917) – torpedoed 1940
*** ''[[HMS Cassandra (1916)|Cassandra]]'' (1916) – struck a mine 1918
*** ''[[HMS Caradoc (D60)|Caradoc]]'' (1916) – sold 1946
** '''''Ceres'' group''' 4,190 tons, five 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Cardiff (1917)|Cardiff]]'' (1917) – sold 1946
*** ''[[HMS Ceres (D59)|Ceres]]'' (1917) – scrapped 1946
*** ''[[HMS Coventry (D43)|Coventry]]'' (1917) – sunk 1942
*** ''[[HMS Curacoa (D41)|Curacoa]]'' (1917) – sunk in collision 1942
*** ''[[HMS Curlew (D42)|Curlew]]'' (1917) – bombed 1940
** '''''Carlisle'' group''' 4,290 tons, five 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Cairo (D87)|Cairo]]'' (1918) – torpedoed 1942
*** ''[[HMS Calcutta (D82)|Calcutta]]'' (1919) – bombed in 1941
*** ''[[HMS Capetown (D88)|Capetown]]'' (1919) – sold 1946
*** ''[[HMS Carlisle (D67)|Carlisle]]'' (1918) – scrapped 1949
*** ''[[HMS Colombo (D89)|Colombo]]'' (1918) – sold 1948
* '''[[Danae-class cruiser|''Danae'' class]]''' 4,850 tons, six 6-in guns
** ''[[HMS Danae (D44)|Danae]]'' (1918) – scrapped 1948
** ''[[HMS Dauntless (D45)|Dauntless]]'' (1918) – scrapped 1946
** ''[[HMS Dragon (D46)|Dragon]]'' (1918) – scuttled 1944
** ''[[HMS Delhi (D47)|Delhi]]'' (1919) – sold 1948
** ''[[HMS Dunedin (D93)|Dunedin]]'' (1919) – torpedoed 1941
** ''[[HMS Durban (D99)|Durban]]'' (1921) – scuttled 1944
** ''[[HMS Despatch (D30)|Despatch]]'' (1922) – sold 1946
** ''[[HMS Diomede (D92)|Diomede]]'' (1922) – sold 1946
* '''[[Emerald-class cruiser|''Emerald'' class]]''' 7,580 tons, seven 6-in guns
** ''[[HMS Emerald (D66)|Emerald]]'' (1926) – sunk as target 1947; scrapped 1948
** ''[[HMS Enterprise (D52)|Enterprise]]'' (1926) – sold 1946
* '''[[Leander-class cruiser (1931)|''Leander'' class]]'''
** '''''Leander'' group''' 7,200 tons, eight 6-in guns
*** {{HMNZS|Achilles|70|6}} (1933) – to the [[Indian Navy]] 1948 as the {{INS|Delhi|1948|6}}; scrapped 1978
*** ''[[HMS Ajax (22)|Ajax]]'' (1935) – scrapped 1949
*** {{HMNZS|Leander}} (1933) – sold 1949
*** ''[[HMS Neptune (20)|Neptune]]'' (1934) – struck a mine 1941
*** ''[[HMS Orion (85)|Orion]]'' (1934) – sold 1949
** '''''Amphion'' group''' 6,900 tons, eight 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMAS Perth (1934)|Amphion]]'' (1936) – to [[Royal Australian Navy]] 1939 as {{HMAS|Perth|D29|6}} – torpedoed 1942
*** ''[[HMAS Hobart (1939)|Apollo]]'' (1936) – to RAN 1938 as {{HMAS|Hobart|1939|6}};  sold 1962
*** ''[[HMAS Sydney (1934)|Phaeton]]'' (1935) – to RAN 1935 as {{HMAS|Sydney|1934|6}} – sunk 1941
* '''[[Arethusa-class cruiser (1934)|''Arethusa'' class]]''' 5,220 tons, six 6-in guns
** ''[[HMS Arethusa (26)|Arethusa]]'' (1935) – scrapped 1950
** ''[[HMS Aurora (12)|Aurora]]'' (1937) – Sold to [[Republic of China Navy]] 1948; to [[People's Republic of China]] 1949; sunk 1949
** ''[[HMS Galatea (71)|Galatea]]'' (1935) – torpedoed 1941
** ''[[HMS Penelope (97)|Penelope]]'' (1936) – torpedoed 1944
* '''[[Town-class cruiser (1936)|Town class]]''' 
** '''''Southampton'' group''' 9,100 tons, 12 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Southampton (C83)|Southampton]]'' (1937) – sunk 1941
*** ''[[HMS Birmingham (C19)|Birmingham]]''  (1937) – scrapped 1960
*** ''[[HMS Glasgow (C21)|Glasgow]]''  (1937) – sold 1958
*** ''[[HMS Newcastle (C76)|Newcastle]]''  (1937) – sold 1959
*** ''[[HMS Sheffield (C24)|Sheffield]]'' (1937) – scrapped 1967
** '''''Gloucester'' group''' 9,400 tons, 12 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Gloucester (C62)|Gloucester]]'' (1939) – bombed 1941
*** ''[[HMS Liverpool (C11)|Liverpool]]''  (1938) – sold 1958
*** ''[[HMS Manchester (C15)|Manchester]]'' (1938) – sunk 1942
** '''''Edinburgh'' group''' 10,565 tons, 12 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Edinburgh (C16)|Edinburgh]]'' (1939) – sunk 1942
*** ''[[HMS Belfast (C35)|Belfast]]'' (1939) – Currently a museum ship in [[London]]
* '''[[Dido-class cruiser|''Dido'' class]]'''
**'''''Dido'' group''' 5,600 tons, ten 5.25-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Bonaventure (31)|Bonaventure]]'' (1940) – torpedoed 1941
*** ''[[HMS Dido (37)|Dido]]'' (1940) – scrapped 1957
*** ''[[HMS Hermione (74)|Hermione]]'' (1941) – torpedoed 1942
*** ''[[HMS Naiad (93)|Naiad]]'' (1940) – torpedoed 1942
*** {{HMS|Phoebe|43|2}} (1940) – scrapped 1956
*** ''[[HMS Euryalus (42)|Euryalus]]'' (1941) – scrapped 1959
*** ''[[HMS Sirius (82)|Sirius]]'' (1942) – scrapped 1956
*** ''[[HMS Charybdis (88)|Charybdis]]'' (1941) – torpedoed 1943
*** ''[[HMS Cleopatra (33)|Cleopatra]]'' (1941) – scrapped 1958
*** ''[[HMS Scylla (98)|Scylla]]'' (1942) – scrapped 1950
*** ''[[HMS Argonaut (61)|Argonaut]]'' (1942) – scrapped 1955
**'''''Bellona'' group''' 5,770 tons, eight 5.25-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Bellona (63)|Bellona]]'' (1943) – to [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] 1946; scrapped 1959
*** ''[[HMS Black Prince (81)|Black Prince]]'' (1943) – to Royal New Zealand Navy 1946; scrapped 1962
*** ''[[HMS Diadem (84)|Diadem]]'' (1943) – to [[Pakistani Navy]] 1956 as {{ship|PNS|Babur|1956|6}}; scrapped 1985
*** ''[[HMS Royalist (89)|Royalist]]'' (1943) – to Royal New Zealand Navy 1956; scrapped 1967
*** ''[[HMS Spartan (95)|Spartan]]'' (1943) – bombed 1944
* '''{{sclass|Fiji|cruiser|4}}'''
** '''''Fiji'' group''' 8,525 tons, 12 6-in guns
*** ''[[HMS Bermuda (52)|Bermuda]]'' (1942) – scrapped 1965
*** ''[[HMS Fiji (58)|Fiji]]'' (1940) – bombed 1941
*** {{HMS|Gambia|48|2}} (1942) – scrapped 1968
*** ''[[HMS Jamaica (44)|Jamaica]]'' (1942) – sold 1960
*** ''[[HMS Kenya (14)|Kenya]]'' (1940) – scrapped 1955
*** ''[[HMS Mauritius (80)|Mauritius]]'' (1941) – scrapped 1962
*** {{HMS|Nigeria|60|2}} (1940) – to Indian Navy as {{INS|Mysore|1957|6}} 1957; scrapped 1986
*** ''[[HMS Trinidad (46)|Trinidad]]'' (1941) – bombed 1942
** '''''Ceylon'' group''' 8,875 tons, nine 6-in guns
*** {{HMS|Ceylon|30|2}} (1943) – to [[Peruvian Navy]] as {{ship|BAP|Coronel Bolognesi|CL-82|6}} 1960; scrapped 1985
*** ''[[HMS Newfoundland (C59)|Newfoundland]]'' (1943) – to Peruvian Navy as {{ship|BAP|Capitán Quiñones|CL-83|6}} 1959; scrapped 1979
*** ''[[HMS Uganda (66)|Uganda]]'' (1943) – scrapped 1955 [[Royal Canadian Navy]] as HMCS ''Quebec'' 1944; scrapped 1961
* '''[[Minotaur-class cruiser (1943)|''Minotaur'' class]]''' 8,800 tons, nine 6-in guns
** ''[[HMS Swiftsure (08)|Swiftsure]]'' (1944) – scrapped 1962
** ''[[HMCS Ontario (C53)|Minotaur]]'' (1945) – to Royal Canadian Navy 1945 as ''Ontario'' 1944; scrapped 1960
** ''[[HMS Superb (25)|Superb]]'' (1945)– scrapped 1960
* '''[[Tiger-class cruiser|''Tiger'' class]]''' 11,700 tons, four 6-in & six 3-in guns. Laid down during World War II as ''Minotaur''-class ships
**''[[HMS Tiger (C24)|Tiger]]'' (1959) – scrapped 1986
**''[[HMS Lion (C34)|Lion]]'' (1960) – sold 1975
**''[[HMS Blake (C99)|Blake]]'' (1961) – sold 1982

==Heavy cruisers==
The [[heavy cruiser]] was defined in the London Naval Treaty of 1930 as a cruiser with a main gun calibre more than 6 inches but not exceeding 8 inches. The earlier [[Hawkins class cruiser|''Hawkins'' class]] were therefore retrospectively classified as such, although they had been initially built as "improved light cruisers". The County were built as light cruisers with most of them in service at the time of the Treaty of London, after which they were also redesignated as heavy cruisers. A further three Countys were cancelled. The ''York'' class was a reduced version of the County to build more ships within tonnage limits. 
* [[Hawkins-class cruiser|'''''Hawkins'' class''']] (also known as ''Cavendish'') or  9,860 tons, 7x 7.5-inch
** ''Cavendish'' (1918) – completed as aircraft carrier [[HMS Vindictive (1918)|''Vindictive'']], converted to cruiser in 1925, to training ship 1937; scrapped 1946
** ''[[HMS Hawkins (D86)|Hawkins]]'' (1919) – scrapped 1947
** ''[[HMS Raleigh (1919)|Raleigh]]'' (1920) – wrecked 1922
** ''[[HMS Frobisher (D81)|Frobisher]]'' (1924) – scrapped 1949
** ''[[HMS Effingham (D98)|Effingham]]'' (1925) – wrecked 1940
* '''[[County-class cruiser|County class]]''', 8x 8-inch
** '''''Kent'' group''' 10,570 tons
***[[HMS Cumberland (57)|''Cumberland'']] (1928) – scrapped 1959
***[[HMS Berwick (65)|''Berwick'']] (1928) – scrapped 1948
***[[HMS Cornwall (56)|''Cornwall'']] (1928) – bombed 1942
***[[HMS Suffolk (55)|''Suffolk'']] (1928) – scrapped 1948
***[[HMS Kent (54)|''Kent'']] (1928) – scrapped 1948
*** ''[[HMAS Australia (1927)|Australia]]'' (1928) – Royal Australian Navy, scrapped 1955 
*** ''[[HMAS Canberra (1927)|Canberra]]'' (1928) – Royal Australian Navy, torpedoed 1942
** '''''London'' group''' 9,830 tons
*** [[HMS London (69)|''London'']] (1929) – scrapped 1950
*** [[HMS Devonshire (39)|''Devonshire'']] (1929) – scrapped 1954
*** [[HMS Shropshire (73)|''Shropshire'']] (1929) – to Royal Australian Navy 1943, scrapped 1955
*** [[HMS Sussex (96)|''Sussex'']] (1929) – scrapped 1950
** '''''Norfolk'' group''' 10,300 tons
*** [[HMS Norfolk (78)|''Norfolk'']] (1930) – scrapped 1950
*** [[HMS Dorsetshire (40)|''Dorsetshire'']] (1930) – sunk by dive bombers in Far East 1942
* '''[[York-class cruiser|''York'' class]]''' modified County design 8,250 tons, 6x 8-inch
** [[HMS York (90)|''York'']] (1930) – damaged by explosive motor boats, salvage abandoned and wrecked 1941, scrapped 1952
** [[HMS Exeter (68)|''Exeter'']] (1931) – sunk 1942, Far East

==Large light cruisers==
The "large light cruisers" were a pet project of [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|Admiral Fisher]] to operate in shallow [[Baltic Sea]] waters and they are often classed as a form of [[battlecruiser]].
* '''[[Courageous-class battlecruiser|'''''Courageous''''' or '''''Glorious'' class''']]''' 
** '''''Glorious'' group''' 19,320 tons, 4 × 15&nbsp;in, 18 × 4&nbsp;in
*** [[HMS Glorious|''Glorious'' (77)]] (1916) – converted to aircraft carrier 1924–1930; sunk 1940
*** [[HMS Courageous (50)|''Courageous'' (50)]] (1916) – converted to aircraft carrier 1924–1928; sunk 1939
** '''''Furious'' ''' 19,513 tons, 2 × 18&nbsp;in, 11 × 5.5&nbsp;in 
*** [[HMS Furious (47)|''Furious'' (47)]] (1917) – completed as aircraft carrier; sold 1948

==Minelaying cruisers==
These "minelaying cruisers" were the only purpose-built oceangoing [[minelayer]]s of the Royal Navy. The ''Abdiel'' class could reach 38 knots and in practice were used as fast transports to supply isolated garrisons, such as those at [[Malta]] and [[Tobruk]].
* '''''Adventure'' ''' 6,740 tons, 4 × 4.7&nbsp;in
** [[HMS Adventure (M23)|''Adventure'' (M23)]] (1926) – converted to repair ship 1944, scrapped 1947
* '''[[Abdiel-class minelayer|''Abdiel'' class]]'''
** '''1938 group''' 2,650 tons, 6 × 4&nbsp;in
***[[HMS Abdiel (M39)|''Abdiel'' (M39)]] (1941) – sunk in Taranto Bay 1943
***[[HMS Latona (M76)|''Latona'' (M76)]] (1941) – sunk off Libya 1941
***[[HMS Manxman (M70)|''Manxman'' (M70)]] (1941) – scrapped 1972
***[[HMS Welshman (M84)|''Welshman'' (M84)]] (1941) – sunk off Crete 1943
** '''Wartime Emergency Programme group''' 2,650 tons, 4 × 4&nbsp;in
***[[HMS Ariadne (M65)|''Ariadne'' (M65)]] (1944) – scrapped 1965
***[[HMS Apollo (M01)|''Apollo'' (M01)]] (1944) – scrapped 1962

==Helicopter cruisers==
Two ships of the ''Tiger''-class were rebuilt to each operate four helicopters. [[HMS Tiger (C20)|''Tiger'' (C20)]] and [[HMS Blake (C99)|Blake (C99)]] served for part of the 1970s before they were withdrawn from service.

==Through-deck cruisers==
Although at times called "through-deck cruisers", the [[Invincible-class aircraft carrier|''Invincible'' class]] of the 1980s were small aircraft carriers.

==See also==
* [[List of cruisers]]

{{Cruisers}}

[[Category:Lists of Royal Navy ships by type|Cruisers]]
[[Category:Cruisers of the United Kingdom| ]]
[[Category:Lists of cruisers|Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom|Royal Navy]]