Royal Navy vs Marine Nationale (2025)

Two of the greatest navies in Europe have long been the British and the French. For most of their history, these two navies have been competitors, facing off in numerous wars from the Battle of Sluys in 1340 to the Attack on Mers-el-Kebir in 1940 (it is worth noting that, as was often the case in conflicts between these two great navies, the British triumphed in both the first and last of these actions). However, as Britain and France were eclipsed by rising powers outside of Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries, the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale slowly became partners rather than rivals.

From the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata in 1845 and the Second Opium War in 1856 to the Suez Crisis of 1956, the British and French navies worked effectively together to project power abroad. Still, declining national strength during the Cold War saw both navies largely relegated to auxiliary forces under the umbrella of the United States Navy. While the Royal Navy saw a brief flicker of independent glory during its victory in the Falklands War, the largest post-WWII naval conflict of the 20th century, the Marine Nationale has managed to avoid large-scale naval conflict in the modern era, although it has certainly participated in a large number of smaller scale combat operations.

Today, these two navies share many similarities in terms of history, mission, and force structure. However, they also have many differences. The Royal Navy continues to be more oriented towards high-end combat, while the Maine Nationale is more specialized in low-intensity operations, with patrol ships permanently deployed globally to protect the world's largest Exclusive Economic Zone, measuring over 4.5 million square miles. But how do these two historic European navies compare when placed head to head?

HMS Prince of Wales leads a NATO task force that includes FS Normandie

Total Fleet Sizes

In terms of total fleet sizes, the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale are rather similar and maintain well-rounded force structures that include aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, modern guided missile destroyers, large landing ships, and a good number of auxiliary vessels. However, their total numbers of ships are well down from their glory days and they are now firmly in the world's second-tier navies.

Royal Navy

• 2 aircraft carriers
• 4 ballistic missile submarines
• 5 nuclear submarines
• 6 guided missile destroyers
• 8 frigates
• 8 corvettes
• 3 landing platforms
• 7 mine hunters
• 13 auxiliaries

Marine Nationale

• 1 aircraft carrier
• 4 ballistic missile submarines
• 5 nuclear submarines
• 2 guided missile destroyers
• 2 guided missile frigates
• 11 frigates
• 11 corvettes
• 3 assault ships
• 13 mine hunters
• 5 auxiliaries

While the total numbers and fleet mixes are relatively similar, diving deeper into the exact capabilities of these ships reveals a surprising number of differences. Both navies maintain several unique capabilities that are not possessed by the other and that have large effects on their combat potential.

The French carrier FS Charles de Gaulle and the British carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth

Air Power

While the rise of advanced technologies like hypersonic missiles and drones has made it popular to discuss the demise of the aircraft carrier, airpower remains a decisive player in modern naval warfare. The relative airpower strengths of the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale also remain one of the largest differences between the two fleets. On the surface, the British are clearly superior, with two aircraft carriers equipped with fifth-generation fighters. However, the French have several less obvious capabilities that go a long way towards leveling the playing field.

Right off the bat are the differences in the aircraft carriers themselves. The British Queen Elizabeth-class ships are larger and more modern than the French Charles de Gaulle. However, because of their ski jumps and lack of arrestor gear, they can only accommodate short take-off and vertical landing aircraft like the F-35B and helicopters. In contrast, the smaller French carrier is equipped with catapults and arrestor gear, which enables her to operate a much wider array of aircraft, including E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning planes.

FS Charles de Gaulle also stands out for being far more survivable, armed with 32 VLS cells for Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles, a pair of launchers for Mistral point defense missiles, and a full electronic warfare suite. The Queen Elizabeth class is armed solely with a trio of Phalanx CIWS. Finally, the British do not currently have enough aircraft for both of their carriers, which renders the advantage in numbers moot. The second carrier is purely a strategic reserve until more aircraft can be procured. Finally, FS Charles de Gaulle, being nuclear-powered, not only has effectively unlimited endurance herself but can carry more fuel for her air wing.

The F-35 and Rafale (pictured is an F-35A from the Royal Australian Air Force, not an F-35B, but the image was too good not to use)

Carrier Aircraft

The addition of the E-2D to the French air wing gives the Marine Nationale a massive advantage when it comes to detecting and intercepting threats. The E-2D can not only extend the radar horizon to detect low-flying aircraft, sea-skimming missiles, and surface targets long before a surface radar, but it also allows the surface ships in a French task force to operate in EMCON with radars turned off to prevent detection while still maintaining excellent situational awareness. The Royal Navy is currently in the process of fielding the Crowsnest Airborne Early Warning system on a small number of Merlin helicopters, but this system is not yet fully operational and combines a much less capable radar with a much less capable airframe.

In terms of combat aircraft, both navies have approximately 40 fighters (although the British fighters are technically owned by the RAF, not the Royal Navy), with the British operating the F-35B and the French operating the Rafale M. The F-35B has the advantage of stealth and superior sensors, but the Rafale has an advantage when it comes to range and payload, especially since it can be launched and recovered with a higher load, thanks to the catapults and arrestor gear on Charles de Gaulle. The Rafale also has a larger selection of available weapons, including the Exocet AM39 anti-ship missile. While the AM39 is an older weapon, the Royal Navy does not currently have any air-launched anti-ship weapons beyond laser-guided bombs.

These differences in carrier aircraft make it extremely difficult to compare the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale. While their fleets are very close in size, they have radically different capabilities. The E-2D gives the French a massive advantage in battlespace awareness and the Rafale can strike deeper with a broader array of weapons, including anti-ship missiles and even nuclear weapons. However, the F-35B is a much more advanced fighter, and its combination of stealth and sensors is unmatched by any other plane in existence, giving it an advantage in any one-to-one comparison.

Two Merlin helicopters equipped with the Crowsnest Airborne Early Warning system land aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth

Helicopters

In addition to the carrier-based aircraft, it is also worth looking into the helicopters and land-based aircraft of these two navies. The Royal Navy's rotary wing fleet is composed of a mix of AW101 Merlin HM.2 and AW159 Wildcat HMA.2 helicopters, with about 30 of each. The Merlin is an extremely capable anti-submarine helicopter, armed with radar, dipping sonar, sonobuoys, and Sting Ray lightweight torpedoes. The Wildcat is a smaller, anti-surface helicopter armed with radar and Sea Venom and Martlet missiles. Sea Venom is the more capable of the two, with a range of around 12 miles and a 66 lb warhead, making it an effective weapon against corvettes and attack craft, but not larger ships with surface-to-air missiles. While Wildcat can carry light anti-submarine torpedoes, it does not have any sensors to detect submarines and must rely on off-board targeting information.

The Marine Nationale has a smaller mix of rotary-wing aircraft composed of 27 NH90 NFH Caiman multirole helicopters and 16 AS.565 Panther light helicopters. The NH90 is smaller than Merlin but is equipped with radar, dipping sonar, sonobuoys, and MU90 torpedoes. While the Panther has been armed with a large array of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine weapons by other navies, in French service, it is used primarily as a utility helicopter. However, it has been armed with machine guns and used to intercept UAVs in the Red Sea. The French also operate a number of SA.365 Dauphin helicopters from land bases in the utility role. Overall, the British helicopter fleet is larger and composed of individually more capable aircraft, giving the Royal Navy a significant advantage in this rather important area.

An Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft (note the Exocet and torpedo in the open weapon bay)

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Both navies also operate a capable fleet of land-based maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft are often neglected in comparisons of naval power but play a crucial role in long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare. The RAF has recently acquired 9 P-8 Poseidon, which is designated the MRA.1 in British service. This plane has a range of over 5,000 miles and is equipped with powerful radars, ESM, sonobuoys, and the Mk54 torpedo.

The French navy has a much larger fleet of less capable patrol aircraft, consisting of 22 Atlantique 2, 8 Falcon 50 M, and 5 Falcon 200 Gardian. The Atlantique is a turboprop plane that dates back to 1965, and while it offers similar range to the Poseidon, it is significantly slower, with a 300-knot cruise speed vs a 440-knot cruise speed. It is armed with radar, a magnetic anomaly detector, sonobuoys, Exocet AM39 anti-ship missiles, and MU90 torpedoes. The two Falcon variants are purely for surveillance and do not carry any weapons. But while the P-8 is a more capable aircraft than anything in the French fleet, the French have almost four times as many patrol aircraft in total, giving the Marine Nationale much more comprehensive coverage.

The Astute-class submarine HMS Artful

Submarine Forces

While airpower remains the key enabler for surface operations and power projection ashore, when it comes to sea denial, the submarine continues to reign supreme, and the Royal Navy has a notable advantage when it comes to submarine fleets. On paper, both navies have 4 ballistic missile submarines and 5 attack submarines, but the British submarines are significantly larger and more capable.

The French attack submarine fleet is currently in the process of being upgraded from the older Rubis-class to the modern Suffren-class. Currently, 3 of the more modern boats are in service, with 3 more under construction and due to be commissioned by the end of the decade. These are replacing the 6 members of the Rubis-class one-for-one, although currently only 2 of the older boats are still in service.

The Rubis-class are some of the smallest nuclear-powered submarines ever placed in service, displacing less than 3,000 tons. They are also slow and lightly armed, with an official top speed of 25 knots and a total weapon load of 14 F21 torpedoes or Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles fired from 4 torpedo tubes. The Suffren-class is roughly twice the size at nearly 6,000 tons, and it carries a total of 20 weapons fired from 4 torpedo tubes, including the F21 torpedoes, Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles, and MdCN land-attack cruise missiles.

With the retirement of HMS Triumph last year, the Royal Navy's attack submarine fleet now consists of 5 modern Astute-class boats, with 2 more set to enter service over the next two years. Displacing 8,000 tons, the Astute-class is armed with 6 torpedo tubes and can carry 38 weapons, including Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. With a total of 190 weapons to just 88, the British submarine fleet has far greater firepower than the French. While the British lack a submarine-launched anti-ship missile, the short range (approximately 30 miles) of the rocket-powered Exocet SM39 means this is not that large of a disadvantage compared to the French navy (although a much longer-ranged Exocet SM40 cruise missile is currently in development).

Surface Combatants

The surface fleets of the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale are interesting to compare as they have emphasized different capabilities and are at different stages in their modernization cycles. The French have recently finished modernizing their large surface combatant force and now have an extremely modern fleet of destroyers and frigates, albeit one that is a little light on air defense systems. The British have been focusing their modernization on their smaller ships, and their frigate fleet in particular is rather dated and lacking modern anti-ship and land-attack weapons.

The Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender and a French FREMM

Destroyers and Frigates

The heart of the British surface fleet is its 6 Type 45 guided missile destroyers. Commissioned between 2009 and 2013, these ships are relatively modern and are armed with AESA rotating radars and 48 VLS cells for Aster 30 and Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles for a robust air-defense capability. However, they have minimal anti-submarine warfare capabilities with just a medium-frequency bow sonar and have no anti-surface or land-attack capabilities beyond a 4.5" deck gun.

Anti-submarine warfare is covered by the 8 remaining Type 23 frigates, which were commissioned between 1991 and 2002. These have been modernized with Sonar 2087 (a British variant of the highly capable CAPTAS-4 variable depth sonar), although they have no long-range anti-submarine weapons beyond a single embarked helicopter. Air-defense capabilities have also been upgraded, although they are limited to a small rotating array radar and 32 Sea Ceptor short-range surface-to-air missiles. Finally, these ships possess no land-attack capabilities beyond a 4.5" gun, and only three of them are currently equipped with anti-ship missiles: HMS Lancaster has Harpoon, while HMS Portland and HMS Somerset have recently been armed with the Norwegian Naval Strike Missile, which will eventually be back fitted to all Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers.

In contrast, the French destroyer and frigate fleet is more well-rounded but simultaneously more limited. It has 4 air defense ships, all armed with Aster 30 and Aster 15, consisting of 2 Horizon-class destroyers with 48 VLS cells and 2 FREMM AAW frigates with more limited radars and 32 VLS cells. However, both classes are also armed with Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles. These are supplemented by 6 FREMM ASW frigates armed with CAPTAS-4, Exocet MM40, and 32 VLS cells for a combination of Aster 15 and MdCN land-attack cruise missiles (the last two ships, FS Normandie and FS Bretagne, have deeper A50 VLS cells that can fit Aster 30, but do not have the upgraded radars and combat systems of the FREMM AAW ships). All 8 FREMM entered service between 2012 and 2023, making them extremely modern.

Finally, there are the 5 La Fayette-class "Frégate Légère Furtive" (light stealth frigate). Commissioned between 1996 and 2001, these ships were cutting-edge for their time and incorporate significant low-observable characteristics. However, they have limited combat power, consisting of 8 Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles, Crotale or Mistal point-defense missiles, and a 4" deck gun. While these ships are capable of contributing to high-intensity operations, they are better suited to patrol duties. The La Fayette class is set to be succeeded by the much more heavily armed FDI (frégate de défense et d’intervention) program, the first ship of which is due to commission this year. 

Overall, the Royal Navy surface fleet is better prepared for escort operations in high-intensity warfare, with 6 ships equipped for high-end air defense warfare packing 288 VLS cells and 8 ships with variable-depth sonar, against 4 less capable air-defense ships with 160 VLS cells and 6 ships with variable-depth sonar. However, the Marine Nationale surface fleet packs far more of an offensive punch, with 96 VLS cells for MdCN land-attack missiles and 104 Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles against no land-attack weapons and just 24 anti-ship missiles for the Royal Navy.

The surveillance frigate FS Floréal stops a dhow in the Indian Ocean

Patrol Vessels

Like several European navies, the Marine Nationale has long maintained a sizable fleet of lightly armed frigates and corvettes to patrol its overseas territories. These ships mostly serve a law enforcement function but can be called upon to support military operations as needed. The La Fayette-class could be considered part of this group of ships, although it has greater combat capabilities than typical. The Royal Navy has not traditionally invested heavily in this area, but it has been growing its patrol fleet in recent years.

The backbone of the French patrol fleet is the 6 Floréal-class corvettes, which were commissioned in the early 1990s. They measure 94 meters in length and have a remarkable 9,000-nautical mile endurance from their diesel powertrain, albeit at the cost of a top speed of 20 knots. Armament is light for a warship but heavy for a patrol vessel, consisting of a 4" deck gun and a flight deck and hangar for a Panther helicopter. They used to carry a pair of Exocet MM38 anti-ship missiles, but these weapons were removed without replacement in 2014 when the older MM38 variant was retired.

In addition, the French operate 5 smaller D'Estienne d'Orves-class corvettes, which measure 80 meters in length and were built in the early 1980s. These ships also have a 4" deck gun but no helicopter hangar. The 2 members of the Félix Éboué-class (70 meters) and 3 members of the Confiance-class (60 meters) are newer patrol boats armed with 20mm cannon. Another 4 ships of the Félix Éboué-class are currently under construction to replace FS Le Malin (a converted trawler), FS Arago (a converted survey ship), and FS Fulmar (another converted trawler). Finally, there are the 4 Loire-class (70 meters) and 4 D'Entrecasteaux-class (65 meters) multipurpose ships, which are based on civilian platform supply vessels and fill a large number of roles.

The Royal Navy equivalent to this large French patrol fleet consists primarily of the River-class corvettes. This includes 3 Batch 1 ships from the early 2000s measuring 80 meters in length and 5 Batch 2 ships that were commissioned between 2018 and 2021 and are 90 meters in length. These are more traditional offshore patrol vessels, with an armament of a 20mm (Batch 1) or 30mm (Batch 2) cannon and a flight deck but no hangar.

While the River-class are a useful addition to the Royal Navy, they do not compare in numbers or capabilities with the large French patrol fleet. As neither of these nations possesses an armed coast guard to take up the slack in non-combat operations, the sheer size of the French patrol fleet represents a real force multiplier that allows France to dedicate its larger warships to more important missions. In contrast, when smaller jobs demand attention, the British are forced to either send a major surface combatant or (as happens increasingly often) detail an unarmed fleet auxiliary ship to do the best it can.

A landing craft with VBL armored cars is launched from the Mistral-class assault ship FS Dixmude

Amphibious Operations

Amphibious warfare is a key capability for any expeditionary navy, and it is one area where the Royal Navy has long maintained a substantial advantage, being second only to the United States Navy. However, recent cuts have hit the British amphibious fleet hard, and it now stands behind the Marine Nationale in overall capability.

The French operate 3 Mistral-class assault ships, which displace over 20,000 tons and are among the most capable amphibious warfare ships in service, each accommodating 450 soldiers. Their large flight decks boast 6 landing spots for helicopters as large as the CH-53E Super Stallion or MV-22 Osprey, and they have deployed with air wings of as many as 20 helicopters. The Mistral class also has a large well deck that can accommodate 4 CTM 24-meter landing craft or 2 EDA-R 30-meter catamaran fast landing craft.

With the recent inactivation and impending retirement of the 2 Albion-class landing platforms, the decommissioning of HMS Ocean in 2018, and the sale of RFA Largs Bay in 2011, the British amphibious fleet has been reduced to the 3 remaining Bay-class landing platforms. These ships are only slightly smaller than the Mistral-class but are significantly less capable. While they can accommodate 356 soldiers, they only have a single landing spot and no hanger, handicapping any sort of airborne assault. The well deck is also on the smaller side, accommodating a pair of LCVP Mk5 16-meter landing craft or one LCU Mk10 30-meter landing craft. The Royal Navy also has RFA Argus, a littoral strike ship with a large flight deck and below-decks hangar space for half a dozen helicopters. However, she does not have any significant troop accommodations.

Although both navies have three large landing ships, the similarities end there. The Marine Nationale can transport 1,350 men, while the Royal Navy is limited to 1,068 men. More importantly, the French have the landing spots to launch a sizeable airborne assault and the well deck space for twice as many landing craft. The French landing craft are also more capable, with the EDA-R able to travel at 30 knots. While the British amphibious fleet can certainly conduct an unopposed landing or assist with humanitarian operations, only the French have a real ability to perform a combat landing.

RFA Tideforce, RFA Tidesurge, and RFA Fort Victoria exercise together

Auxiliary Ships

The final aspect to compare are the auxiliary ships of the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale. While far from the most glorious part of a navy, a robust auxiliary force is vital for any fleet that wishes to operate beyond its territorial waters and is the true distinguishing mark of a blue-water navy. This is also an area where the Royal Navy maintains a substantial lead over the Marine Nationale, although it has begun narrowing in recent years as the British have downsized their fleet and the French have begun commissioning a new class of fleet support ships.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, a civilian adjunct to the Royal Navy that also owns the British amphibious fleet, currently operates the fleet support ship RFA Fort Victoria (35,000 tons), 4 Tide-class tankers (40,000 tons), 4 Point-class cargo ships (25,000 tons), and the leased civilian tanker MV Leander Fisher (25,000 tons). This is a considerable auxiliary force for a navy of this size and is what enables the Royal Navy's truly global reach.

In contrast, the Marine Nationale operates a much smaller auxiliary fleet consisting of the fleet support ships FS Jacque Chevallier (30,000 tons) and FS Somme (18,000 tons). Three more members of the Jacque Chevallier-class are under construction to replace FS Somme's recently retired sister ships FS Meuse, FS Var, and FS Marne, returning the French auxiliary fleet to its former size. However, until they are commissioned, the Marine Nationale's logistics capabilities are severely limited.

FS Charles de Gaulle leads a force of French, Indian, and Canadian warships

Which Navy Is More Powerful?

Ultimately, the question of whether the Royal Navy or Marine Nationale is more powerful is difficult to answer. Both navies have their strengths and weaknesses so it is challenging to compare them one to one. However, I would argue that while the Royal Navy is more advanced in several key areas, the Marine Nationale is the more well-rounded and capable force.

When it comes to air defense, the Royal Navy's combination of 2 aircraft carriers with the F-35 and 6 modern guided missile destroyers is extremely robust. However, the Rafale is one of the best 4.5-generation fighters and the Marine Nationale has the force multiplier of the E-2D. Further, while the French only have 4 dedicated air defense ships, their carrier and 6 of their anti-submarine frigates are equipped with Aster 15 and can quite reasonably defend themselves from most air threats.

Anti-submarine warfare again favors the Royal Navy on the surface, with its fleet of 5 modern attack submarines and 8 frigates with powerful variable depth sonars. However, while the French have less capable submarines and only 6 modern anti-submarine frigates, their much larger fleet of maritime patrol aircraft levels the playing field for any operations near land bases.

When it comes to anti-surface warfare and land-attack capabilities, the French are far and away the superior navy. Not only does the Rafale carry the Exocet anti-ship missile and have a longer strike radius, but the Marine Nationale surface fleet has roughly 200 anti-ship and land-attack missiles compared to just two dozen for the Royal Navy. While the Astute-class submarines can contribute to the land attack mission with their deeper magazines and Tomahawk missiles, their lack of VLS cells means that coordinating large-scale strike missions would be difficult.

Amphibious warfare is another decisive win for the Marine Nationale. Not only can the French transport a larger landing force, but the large flight decks and well decks of the Mistral-class can land those soldiers far more quickly. The superior French land-attack capability also helps to enable amphibious operations, while the British would have great difficulty performing any sort of opposed landing.

Finally, the large French patrol fleet is a massive advantage in peacetime and low-intensity operations, allowing for greater presence and covering less demanding missions to free up more expensive vessels. While the more capable British auxiliary force is a major force multiplier that enables sustained blue water operations, auxiliaries alone cannot win wars and are also the easiest type of vessel to supplement with civilian shipping. The British commitment to maintaining high-end capabilities gives the Royal Navy significant combat power in key areas, but the French have done a better job investing in a versatile fleet that can project power and deal with a wider range of threats.