
For instance, China's navy includes more than 100 hovercraft, which sources may or may not consider navy ships. What's more, different sources have contrasting guidelines about which types of ship they consider part of a country's navy. But it's what happens when navies are compared based solely on their total number of ships. This is akin to saying a squirrel is the same as a rhino, or a scooter is the same as an 18-wheel semi-truck.

Yet, when totaling the number of ships in a country's navy, each of these three very different vessels counts as the same thing: one ship. Navies can be made up of a wide variety of ships, from antiquated 180-foot-long patrol boats to 500-foot submarines armed with nuclear missiles to state-of-the-art 1000-foot aircraft carriers laden with up to 90 fighter planes and/or attack helicopters. Size is one thing, but strength is something else entirely. While the above data are helpful, it's vital to keep in mind that they can also be misleading. Modern navies and why "largest" does not mean "most powerful" Top 10 Largest Navies in the World (by total number of warships and submarines - 2020): In light of this sea change, it is unlikely that any future navy will ever have more ships than the WWII-era U.S. Since that peak, most countries around the world have reduced the size of their navies, investing in fewer, but more capable ships or other assets entirely. The largest naval fleet of all time belonged to the United States during World War II. What country had the largest navy of all time?

In an attempt to more convincingly preside over these territories, many nations have assembled truly magnificent naval fleets. With such an overwhelming abundance of seas, rivers, and lakes, it’s no surprise that civilizations have been feuding over sea passages and strategic water-based territory since before the Bronze Age. We humans may live predominantly on land, but the fact remains that 71% of the Earth's surface is covered in water.
