Links between the force and the city is indisputable, with thousands of families having some sort to the Navy, either in the past or present. Many of the Navy’s ships are based at Portsmouth Naval Base.
NOW READ: HMS Montrose decommissioning ceremony in pictures, Contract to provide equipment for Type 31 Frigates secured
This includes huge aircraft carriers, advanced destroyers, frigates, smaller Archer-class vessels, patrol ships and experimental vessels. Even now, the Royal Navy is continuing to expand its fleets to try and protect the nation’s interests across the globe and at home.
Many of these vessels are forward deployed on operations in the Middle East and the Pacific.
Here is every Portsmouth-based ship.
. HMS Queen Elizabeth (RO8)
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest and most powerful vessel at the Royal Navy's disposal. It has state-of-the-art weapons and communication systems, and has the capability to carry 40 aircraft. Photo: Chris Moorhouse
. HMS Prince of Wales (RO9)
The £3.2bn aircraft carrier and Nato flagship weighs 65,000 tonnes and can carry a crew of 700. On deployment, 40 holicopters can be carried and embarked. Photo: LISA FERGUSON
. HMS Duncan (D37)
HMS Duncan is a Type 45 destroyer which has a ship's company of over 280 personnel. In 2019, she was deployed alongside French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle on Operation Inherent Resolve. The vessel provided to the Carrier Strike Group GAN 19 during operations against ISIS off the coast of Syria. Photo: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
. HMS Dragon (D35)
HMS Dragon has sailed over 7,000 nautical miles and has a crew of over 200. She was previously part of Operation Westlant, which put the ships in the Carrier Strike Group through its paces on the eastern seaboard of America. Photo: L(Phot) Dave Jenkins
. HMS Daring (D32)
HMS Daring is a 151 metres long Type 45 Destroyer. She has travelled 50,000 miles and conducted 20 patrols in the Bab-al-Mandeb strait to protect merchant vessels. The vessel is currently going through a regeneration programme. Photo: LPhot Gareth Smith/Royal Navy
. HMS Dauntless (D33)
The 152 metre HMS Dauntless is the second of the Royal Navy's Daring class destroyer. She is part of the six Type 45 Destroyers currently at the Navy's disposal. Photo: LA(PHOT) Guy Pool/Royal Navy
. HMS Defender
HMS Defender was launched in December 2009 and has a top speed of over 30 nautical knots. She is currently on the Joint Viking operation in Norway. Photo: Habibur Rahman
. HMS Diamond (D34)
HMS Diamond is a Type 45 air defence destroyer with cutting-edge military sensors and a range of sophisticated weapon systems. Her motto is honor clarissima gemma – honour is the brightest jewel. Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images
. HMS Westminster (F237)
HMS Westminster is a Type 23 Frigate which weighs 4,900 tonnes and has a top speed of over 28 knots. She braved brutal Atlantic storms and the Arctic circle in 2021 while on the hunt for Russian submarines. Photo: Ian Hargreaves
. HMS Kent (F78)
HMS Kent was built by BAE Systems and was launched on May 27, 1998, by Princess Alexandra of Kent. She is currently on operation with the Carrier Strike Group. Photo: LA(Phot) Simmo Simpson/Royal Navy
. HMS Iron Duke (F234)
HMS Iron Duke is a Type 23 Duke-class frigate which is often deployed to protect trade routes or carry out humanitarian missions. She currently holds a crew of 185. Photo: PO Phot Owen Cooban/Royal Navy
. HMS Lancaster (F229)
HMS Lancaster is a Type 23 Duke class frigate which is currently deployed on Operation Kipion in the Middle East. She has recently been installed with new equipment such as a new Artisan 3D radar and air defence equipment. Photo: Royal Navy
. HMS Argyll.
HMS Argyll is the longest-serving Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy. She was commissioned in 1991 and was upgraded in 2017. Her motto is ‘Ne Obliviscarus’ (Lest we forget). Photo: IAN McCLELLAND
. HMS Chiddingfold
HMS Chiddingfold is one of the Royal Navy's eight Hunt-class minehunters. She is a part of the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM2). HMS Chiddingfold is currently forward deployed in Bahrain as part of Operation Kipion. Photo: Tom Cotterill
1. HMS Queen Elizabeth (RO8)
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest and most powerful vessel at the Royal Navy's disposal. It has state-of-the-art weapons and communication systems, and has the capability to carry 40 aircraft. Photo: Chris Moorhouse
2. HMS Prince of Wales (RO9)
The £3.2bn aircraft carrier and Nato flagship weighs 65,000 tonnes and can carry a crew of 700. On deployment, 40 holicopters can be carried and embarked. Photo: LISA FERGUSON
3. HMS Duncan (D37)
HMS Duncan is a Type 45 destroyer which has a ship's company of over 280 personnel. In 2019, she was deployed alongside French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle on Operation Inherent Resolve. The vessel provided to the Carrier Strike Group GAN 19 during operations against ISIS off the coast of Syria. Photo: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
4. HMS Dragon (D35)
HMS Dragon has sailed over 7,000 nautical miles and has a crew of over 200. She was previously part of Operation Westlant, which put the ships in the Carrier Strike Group through its paces on the eastern seaboard of America. Photo: L(Phot) Dave Jenkins