Royal Navy surface fleet

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Royal Navy Surface Fleet Fleet Air Arm Submarine Service Royal Navy Regulating Branch Royal Naval Reserve Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
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HMS Illustrious (R06), an Invincible class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, and current flagship of the First Sea Lord.

The Surface Fleet is the name given to the collection of surface vessels (as opposed to submarines or aircraft) of the British Royal Navy. In 2002 it consisted of two flotillas based at Portsmouth and Devonport, both on the south coast of England.

The Surface Fleet consists of a wide variety of vessels, ranging from aircraft carriers to mine countermeasures vessels to offshore patrol vessels, but the backbone of the fleet consists of destroyers (type 42) and frigates (types 22 and 23).

By 2006, the surface fleet was engaged in numerous operations in the North Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. Closer to home, the Surface fleet also conducts Fishery Protection Patrols in UK waters, in a formal agreement with DEFRA. The Fishery Protection Squadron is the largest front line squadron in the Royal Navy.