<P> On 6 December 2014, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced it would expand the UK's naval facilities in Bahrain to support larger Royal Navy ships deployed to the Persian Gulf . Once complete, it will be the UK's first permanent military base located East of Suez since it withdrew from the region in 1971 . The base will reportedly be large enough to accommodate Type 45 destroyers and Queen Elizabeth - class aircraft carriers . </P> <P> The navy of the United Kingdom is commonly referred to as the "Royal Navy" both in the United Kingdom and other countries . Navies of other Commonwealth countries where the British monarch is also head of state include their national name, e.g. Royal Australian Navy . Some navies of other monarchies, such as the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) and Kungliga Flottan (Royal Swedish Navy), are also called "Royal Navy" in their own language . The Danish Navy stands out with the term Royal incorporated in its official name (Royal Danish Navy), but only using the term "Flåden" (Navy) in everyday speech . The French Navy, despite France being a republic since 1870, is often nicknamed "La Royale" (literally: The Royal). </P> <P> Royal Navy ships in commission are prefixed since 1789 with Her Majesty's Ship (His Majesty's Ship), abbreviated to "HMS"; for example, HMS Beagle . Submarines are styled HM Submarine, also abbreviated "HMS". Names are allocated to ships and submarines by a naming committee within the MOD and given by class, with the names of ships within a class often being thematic (for example, the Type 23s are named after British dukes) or traditional (for example, the Invincible - class aircraft carriers all carry the names of famous historic ships). Names are frequently re-used, offering a new ship the rich heritage, battle honours and traditions of her predecessors . Often, a particular vessel class will be named after the first ship of that type to be built . </P> <P> As well as a name, each ship and submarine of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is given a pennant number which in part denotes its role . For example, the destroyer HMS Daring displays the pennant number' D32' . </P>

How big was the royal navy at its peak