List of flagships

Summary

In its strictest sense, a flagship is any naval vessel on which a flag officer is embarked. Some navies have permanent flagships, a designation which may be either functional (ships specifically intended for use by a fleet commander) or ceremonial (a fleet's most prestigious vessel due to its age, size, or some special characteristic).

Current permanent flagships edit

Fleet Ship Class Notes References
 
Algerian National Navy
 
Kalaat Béni Abbès
Amphibious assault ship
 
Argentine Navy
 
ARA Libertad
Barque
 
Royal Australian Navy
 
HMAS Canberra
Landing helicopter dock Canberra was designated flagship of the Royal Australian Navy in March 2015. [1]
 
Royal Bahamas Defence Force
 
HMBS Bahamas
Patrol ship
 
Royal Bahrain Naval Force
 
RBNS Sabha
Frigate
 
Bangladesh Navy
 
BNS Bangabandhu
Frigate
 
Belgian Naval Component
 
Leopold I
Frigate
 
Brazilian Navy
 
Atlântico
Amphibious assault ship
 
Royal Brunei Navy
 
KDB Darussalam
Patrol ship
 
Royal Canadian Navy (Ceremonial)
 
HMCS Haida
Destroyer Haida is a WW II era Tribal Class Destroyer. She was designated flagship of the Royal Canadian Navy in May 2018. She is not an operational ship. [2]
 
Canadian Coast Guard
 
CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent
Icebreaker
 
Chilean Navy
 
Almirante Williams
Frigate
 
People's Liberation Army Navy
 
Liaoning
Aircraft carrier
 
Republic of China Navy
 
ROCS Panshih
Fast combat support ship
 
Colombian Navy
 
ARC Gloria
Barque [3]
 
Royal Danish Navy
 
HDMS Absalon
Frigate
 
Dominican Navy
 
Almirante Didiez Burgos
Patrol ship
 
Ecuadorian Navy
 
BAE Guayas
Barque
 
Egyptian Navy

 
ENS Gamal Abdel Nasser
Amphibious assault ship
 
Estonian Navy
 
EML Admiral Cowan
Minehunter
 
Finnish Navy
 
Hämeenmaa
Minelayer
 
French Navy
 
Charles de Gaulle
Aircraft carrier [4]
 
German Navy
 
Gorch Fock
Barque [5]
 
Ghana Navy
 
GNS Achimota
Fast attack craft
 
Hellenic Navy (Ceremonial)
 
HS Georgios Averof
Cruiser Georgios Averof is a ceremonial ship in service as the flagship of the Hellenic Navy.
 
Guyana Coast Guard
 
GDFS Essequibo
Minesweeper
 
Icelandic Coast Guard
 
ICGV Þór
Patrol ship
 
Indian Navy
 
INS Vikramaditya
Aircraft carrier
 
Indonesian Navy
 
KRI Banda Aceh
Landing platform dock
 
Italian Navy
 
Cavour
Aircraft carrier
 
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
 
IRIS Jamaran
Frigate
 
Iraqi Navy
 
Fateh
Patrol ship [6]
 
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
 
JS Izumo
Aircraft carrier
 
Latvian Naval Forces
 
Virsaitis
Minelayer
 
Libyan Navy
 
Al Hani
Frigate Al Hani was captured by Libyan rebels in 2011 following the death of Muammar Gaddafi and assumed the role as Libya's new flagship.
 
Lithuanian Naval Force
 
Jotvingis
Minelayer
 
Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta
 
P61
Patrol ship
 
Montenegrin Navy
 
Jadran
Barque
 
Royal Moroccan Navy
 
Mohammed VI
Frigate
 
Myanmar Navy

UNS Aung Zeya
Frigate
 
Royal Netherlands Navy
 
HNLMS Karel Doorman
Multi-role support ship
 
Royal New Zealand Navy
 
HMNZS Aotearoa
Replenishment ship
 
Nigerian Navy
 
NNS Thunder
High endurance cutter [7]
 
Royal Norwegian Navy
 
HNoMS Maud
Replenishment ship
 
Royal Navy of Oman
 
RNOV Shabab Oman
Barquentine
 
Paraguayan Navy
 
ARP Humaitá
Gunboat ARP Humaitá has remained the Paraguayan flagship since her commissioning in 1931.
 
Peruvian Navy
 
BAP Almirante Grau
Frigate The frigate BAP Montero was rechristened Almirante Grau following the decommissioning of the cruiser BAP Almirante Grau in 2017. Under Peruvian law, there must always be a ship named for Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario active in the Peruvian Navy, and it must assume the role as the flagship. [8]
 
Philippine Navy
 
BRP Jose Rizal
Frigate
 
Philippine Coast Guard
 
BRP Teresa Magbanua
Patrol ship
 
Polish Navy (Ceremonial)
 
ORP Błyskawica
Destroyer Błyskawica is Poland's ceremonial flagship, with an active duty crew, but no longer has functioning boilers.
 
Portuguese Navy
 
NRP Sagres
Barque
 
Romanian Naval Forces
 
Regele Ferdinand
Frigate
 
Russian Navy
 
Admiral Kuznetsov
Aircraft carrier [9]
 
Russian Navy (Ceremonial)
 
Aurora
Cruiser In 2013, the Russian Navy recommissioned Aurora and made her the ceremonial flagship of the Russian Navy. [10]
 
Serbian River Flotilla
 
Kozara
Command ship
 
South African Navy
 
SAS Amatola
Frigate
 
Republic of Korea Navy
 
ROKS Dokdo
Amphibious assault ship
 
Spanish Navy
 
Juan Carlos I
Amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I assumed the role as Spain's flagship following the decommissioning of the Príncipe de Asturias in 2013.
 
Sri Lankan Navy
 
SLNS Sayurala
Patrol ship
 
Swedish Royal Navy
 
HSwMS Carlskrona
Patrol ship
 ,
Royal Thai Navy
 
HTMS Chakri Naruebet
Aircraft carrier
 
Tongan Maritime Force
 
Ngahau Koula
Patrol ship
 
Turkish Naval Forces
 
TCG Anadolu
Amphibious assault ship
 
Royal Navy
 
HMS Queen Elizabeth
Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) took over as the Royal Navy's flagship on Wednesday 27 January 2021. [11]
 
Royal Navy (Ceremonial)
 
HMS Victory
Ship of the line HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, and although no longer sails, remains the flagship of the First Sea Lord.
 
United States Coast Guard
 
USCGC Eagle
Barque Eagle is one of only two commissioned sailing vessels in the United States armed forces, the other being the U.S. Navy's USS Constitution. [12]
 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States)
 
NOAAS Ronald H. Brown
Research vessel in NOAA fleet. [13]
 
Uruguayan Navy
 
ROU Uruguay
Frigate
 
Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela
 
ARV Mariscal Sucre
Frigate

Former permanent flagships edit

Fleet Ship Class Notes References
 
Argentine Navy
 
ARA Rivadavia
Battleship 1914-1952
 
Argentine Navy
 
ARA Independencia
Aircraft carrier 1958-1969
 
Argentine Navy
 
ARA Veinticinco de Mayo
Aircraft carrier 1969-1997
 
Royal Australian Navy
 
HMAS Australia
Battlecruiser 1913-1921
 
Royal Australian Navy
 
HMAS Sydney
Aircraft carrier 1948-1955
 
Royal Australian Navy
 
HMAS Melbourne
Aircraft carrier 1955-1982 [14]
 
Belgian Navy
 
Lieutenant ter zee Victor Billet
Frigate 1947-1958
 
Brazilian Navy
 
Riachuelo
Battleship 1889-1910
 
Brazilian Navy
 
Minas Geraes
Battleship 1910-1951
 
Brazilian Navy
 
Almirante Tamandaré
Cruiser 1951-1976
 
Brazilian Navy
 
Minas Gerais
Aircraft carrier 1976-2001
 
Brazilian Navy
 
São Paulo
Aircraft carrier 2001-2017
 
Royal Canadian Navy
 
HMCS Uganda
Cruiser 1944-1946
 
Royal Canadian Navy
 
HMCS Warrior
Aircraft carrier 1946-1948
 
Royal Canadian Navy
 
HMCS Magnificent
Aircraft carrier 1948-1957
 
Royal Canadian Navy
 
HMCS Bonaventure
Aircraft carrier 1957-1970
 
Royal Canadian Navy
 
HMCS Iroquois
Destroyer 1972-2015
 
Royal Canadian Navy
 
HMCS Athabaskan
Destroyer 2015-2017
 
Chilean Navy
 
Capitán Prat
Battleship 1893-1920
 
Chilean Navy
 
Almirante Latorre
Battleship 1920-1958
 
Chilean Navy
 
O'Higgins
Cruiser 1958-1992
 
Chilean Navy
 
Blanco Encalada
Destroyer 1992-2003
 
Imperial Chinese Navy
 
Dingyuan
Battleship 1885-1895, sunk in action
 
Republic of China Navy
 
CNS Ning Hai
Cruiser 1932-1937, sunk in action
 
Republic of China Navy
 
CNS Chung King
Cruiser 1948-1949, sunk in action
 
Dominican Navy
 
Presidente Trujillo / Mella
Frigate 1946-1998
 
Royal Danish Navy
 
HDMS Niels Juel
Coastal defense ship 1923-1943, sunk in action
 
Ethiopian Navy
 
Ethiopia
Frigate 1962-1991
 
Estonian Navy
(Ceremonial)
 
EML Lembit
Submarine 1994-2011
 
Estonian Navy
 
EML Admiral Pitka
Frigate 2000-2013
 
Finnish Navy
 
Väinämöinen
Coastal defense ship 1932-1947
 
French Navy
 
Béarn
Aircraft carrier 1940-1943
 
French Navy
 
Richelieu
Battleship 1943-1946
 
French Navy
 
Arromanches
Aircraft carrier 1946-1961
 
French Navy
 
Clemenceau
Aircraft carrier 1961-1997
 
French Navy
 
Foch
Aircraft carrier 1997-2000
 
Royal Hellenic Navy
 
HS Elli
Cruiser 1951-1965
 
Indian Navy
 
INS Delhi
Cruiser 1948-1961
 
Indian Navy
 
INS Vikrant
Aircraft carrier 1961-1987
 
Indian Navy
 
INS Viraat
Aircraft carrier 1987-2013 [15]
 
Indonesian Navy
 
KRI Irian
Cruiser 1963-1970
 
Irish Naval Service
 
Eithne
Patrol ship 1984-2022 [16]
 
Italian Navy
 
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Cruiser 1961-1969
 
Italian Navy
 
Vittorio Veneto
Cruiser 1969-1985
 
Italian Navy
 
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Aircraft carrier 1985-2008
 
Imperial Japanese Navy
 
Mikasa
Battleship 1904-1905
 
Imperial Japanese Navy
 
Yamato
Battleship 1942-1943, 1944-1945, sunk in action
 
Imperial Japanese Navy
 
Musashi
Battleship 1943-1944, sunk in action
 
Royal Netherlands Navy
 
HNLMS Karel Doorman
Aircraft carrier 1948-1968
 
Royal Norwegian Navy
 
HNoMS Norge
Coastal defense ship 1900-1940, sunk in action
 
Royal Norwegian Navy
 
HNoMS Stord
Destroyer 1943-1959
 
Pakistan Navy
 
PNS Babur
Cruiser 1956-1985
 
Peruvian Navy
 
BAP Almirante Grau
Cruiser 1906-1958
 
Peruvian Navy
 
BAP Almirante Grau
Cruiser 1959-1973
 
Peruvian Navy
 
BAP Almirante Grau
Cruiser 1973-2017
 
Portuguese Navy
 
NRP Vasco da Gama
Cruiser 1876-1935
 
Romanian Naval Forces
 
ROS Mărășești
Destroyer 1985-2001
 
Spanish Navy
 
Pelayo
Battleship 1888-1914
 
Spanish Navy
 
España
Battleship 1914-1923
 
Spanish Republican Navy
 
Jaime I
Battleship 1933-1937
 
Spanish Navy
 
Canarias
Cruiser 1939-1967
 
Spanish Navy
 
Dédalo
Aircraft carrier 1967-1989
 
Spanish Navy
 
Príncipe de Asturias
Aircraft carrier 1989-2013
 
Swedish Royal Navy
 
HSwMS Gustav V
Coastal defense ship 1939-1945, 1947-1957
 
Turkish Naval Forces
 
TCG Yavuz
Battlecruiser 1914-1950
 
Ukrainian Navy
 
Hetman Sahaidachniy
Frigate 1993-2022. Scuttled during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Final Status TBD
 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States)
 
NOAAS Oceanographer
Research vessel Prior to serving as flagship of the NOAA fleet, Oeanographer was flagship of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. [17]
 
Royal Yugoslav Navy
 
KB Dubrovnik
Destroyer leader 1932-1941, captured in action
 
Yugoslav Navy
 
JRM Split
Destroyer leader 1958-1980

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "HMAS Canberra (III)". navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "Canadian World War II destroyer becomes ceremonial flagship". navaltoday.com. Naval Today. 28 May 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  3. ^ Crampton, Liz (July 1, 2014). "Crowd of hundreds greets Tampa arrival of tall ship 'Gloria'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  4. ^ "Everything you need to know about the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier".
  5. ^ ""Handfeste Affäre": Der "Gorch Fock"-Skandal weitet sich aus". Yacht Online. January 14, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "Italian vessel to be Iraqi navy's flagship".
  7. ^ "allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Navy Flagship Leaves Calabar for Military Exercise in Australia". Archived from the original on 2013-08-26.
  8. ^ "Janes | Latest defence and security news". Archived from the original on 2017-09-28.
  9. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (April 2, 2018). "Modernization of Russia's Sole Aircraft Carrier Still Facing Delays". The Diplomat. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  10. ^ http://2-news.ru/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi [dead link]
  11. ^ "HMS Queen Elizabeth assumes role as new Fleet Flagship". Royal Navy. January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  12. ^ "Tall Ship Eagle". uscga.edu. United States Coast Guard Academy. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  13. ^ "Ronald H. Brown". washington.edu. University of Washington. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  14. ^ Hall, Timothy (1982). HMAS Melbourne. North Sydney, NSW: George Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0-86861-284-7. OCLC 9753221.
  15. ^ Mambra, Shamseer (November 17, 2017). "INS Viraat – 'Mother' Air Craft Carrier Of Indian Navy". Marine Insight. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  16. ^ "Ageing Naval Service Flaghip LÉ Eithne to Be Replaced By MRV, Opens to Public This Saturday". afloat.ie. Afloat. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  17. ^ "Oceanographer". noaa.gov. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 23, 2019.