"Most Powerful Navies of All Time" Topic

"There have been countless navies in the last three thousand years of human history. Built by seagoing nations or those wishing to expand into the realm of naval powers, multiple navies often compete to provide security and expand national influence.

The most powerful navy of each period of human history is always relative. The Greek Navy recounted by Herodotus is nowhere near as powerful as the U.S. Navy of Samuel Eliot Morison. Both made a sizable contribution to the security of their respective countries. Each was the most powerful navy of its time, and shaped the world around it to make the world we know today…"
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No Modern Powerfull Navy?

Amicalement
Armand

"Other than the Crimean War, which saw the quick destruction of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet, the Royal Navy fought few surface actions."

Fellow has his facts wrong. The Russian navy destroyed itself by scuttling the ships in Sevastopol harbor to keep the French and British out. The guns from the Russian ships were used to keep the allies out of the city for a year or so. The few remaining ships were sunk when the Russians abandoned the south side of the city.

Odd that he gave the UK 1815-1918 but didn't give the USA 1942-2015?

Without doubt, the U.S. has the most powerful navy of all time. Navies historically are indications of world conquest or policing. They can be a sign of aggression, and hence the commercial "A Global Force for Good" was changed, as it was a bit too threatening.

The U.S. currently has as many carriers as the rest of the world combined, given what one defines as a carrier (purely combat jets, or some sort of helicopter or surveillance aircraft.) However, power can also be define in terms of energy potential, meaning nuclear weapons, or ICBM subs. In this case, prior to the START treaty(s), the USSR had the most "power", given its navy was really aimed at very large numbers of SSBM's, but never really had a sizable carrier arm.

Lots of carriers, with 80+ aircraft which can carry a multitude of weapons is an extremely powerful navy.

ilodic.

Are we counting pure hardware, or competence of admirals and captains? Athens did not have a more "powerful" navy than Persia during the Persian Wars, but definitely established itself as a contender by outwitting, outmaneuvering, and ultimately defeating the Persian ships.

This list should have included Spain in the 15th and early 16th centuries and probably left off Japan.

RN 1800ish to 1918

The RN 1797 to 1920, between 1805 to 1914 it was unchallenged, Pax Britannica.

"Without doubt, the U.S. has the most powerful navy of all time. Navies historically are indications of world conquest or policing"

They have more powerful ships as they are modern compared to say RN ships in their own heyday, but whoever is top dog in 100 years will make the latest US tech look as aged as ironclads.

Comparative to its contemporaries the Roman or Royal Navy were far more powerful, for far longer.

Good to see the Chinese included