A naval ship is a military ship used by a navy. Naval ships are differentiated from civilian ships by construction and purpose. Generally, naval ships are damage resilient and armed with weapon systems, though armament on troop transports is light or non-existent. Naval ships designed primarily for naval warfare are termed warships, as opposed to support or shipyard operations.
Aircraft carrierships that serve as mobile seaborne airfields, designed primarily for the purpose of conducting combat operations by Carrier-based aircraft which engage in attacks against airborne, surface, sub-surface and shore targets.
Submarineself-propelled submersible types regardless of whether they are employed as combatant, auxiliary, or research and development vehicles which have at least a residual combat capability.
Patrol combatantcombatants whose mission may extend beyond coastal duties and whose characteristics include adequate endurance and sea keeping providing a capability for operations exceeding 48 hours on the high seas without support.
Amphibious warfareships having organic capability for amphibious assault and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas.
Combat logisticsships that have the capability to provide underway replenishment to fleet units.
Mine warfareships whose primary function is mine warfare on the high seas.
Coastal defenseships whose primary function is coastal patrol and interdiction.
Sealiftships that have the capability to provide direct material support to other deployed units operating far from home base.
Supportships, such as oilers, designed to operate in the open ocean in a variety of sea states to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore based establishments..
Service type craftnavy-subordinated craft designed to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore-based establishments.
Size
In rough order of tonnage, modern surface naval ships are commonly divided into the following different classes. The larger ships in the list can also be classed as capital ships:
Some classes above may now be considered obsolete as no ships matching the class are in current service. There is also much blurring / gray areas between the classes, depending on their intended use, history, and interpretation of the class by different navies.
