The US Navy Loses to China Using This Metric

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from Modern Warships & Submarines compiled by Military Factory to come up with a list of the fastest naval warships around the globe.
• China came in first with its Chinese Type 726 Landing Craft, Air-Cushioned Amphibious Vessel.
• Our list includes ships in active service in navies around the world.
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The fastest ship in the world’s top navies can reach over 90 mph. The Chinese Type 726 Landing Craft, Air-Cushioned Amphibious Vessel reaches speeds of 92.1 mph, or 80 knots. These ships began service in China in 2010 with the goal in mind of getting combat-ready troops, vehicles, and supplies from ship to shore quickly, even if under enemy fire. Naval fleets are key to the world’s economic system and are also important for protecting their nations’ defenses. (See the countries with the largest naval fleets.) 

24/7 Wall St. created a list of the fastest naval warships around the globe by reviewing data from Modern Warships & Submarines compiled by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. We ranked warship classes based on top speeds and only included ships that are currently in service with top speeds of over 41 miles per hour. We’ve also included supplemental information about the year the ship entered service, personnel, displacement, and which navies employ these ships (via Military Factory.)

Our list contains ships that are currently in active service in navies around the world including, the U.S., Russia, China, India, Iran, South Korea, and Turkey. Although the U.S. has the most entries on the list, China comes in first with the fastest vessel. Coming in second is Norway with its Skjold-class stealth coastal patrol corvette that reaches speeds of 74.8 mph (65 knots).

On the other hand, the U.S.’ fastest ship is the Sea Fighter-class littoral combat ship with a top speed of 63.3 miles per hour (55 knots). The Sea Fighter represents a new, more flexible type of warship in the U.S. Navy, meant for speed and agility, rather than the more conventional large battleships of the past. This modern ship can get closer to shore and operate on stealthier missions. (These are the oldest ships and submarines still operating in the U.S. Navy.)

Why This Matters

The world’s largest and most technologically advanced navies protect their nation’s maritime interests and can also show a force of power in the ocean, all while staying in international waters. Today’s newest warships need to factor in the need for speed and agility with the use of heavy armor and weapons. This result means the most useful navy ship may not be the swiftest. A look at military ships around the world provides readers with some insight into the influence nations may have on maritime waters.

Here are the fastest military ships and submarines in the world:

19. Houbei-class fast attack missile boat

• Top speed: 41.4 mph (36 knots)
• Year entered service: 2004
• Navy(s) serving in: China
• Personnel: 12
• Displacement: 225 tons

18. Sina-class fast attack missile boat

• Top speed: 41.4 mph (36 knots)
• Year entered service: 2003
• Navy(s) serving in: Iran
• Personnel: 31
• Displacement: 275 tons

17. Alvand-class light frigate warship

• Top speed: 44.9 mph (39 knots)
• Year entered service: 1971
• Navy(s) serving in: Iran
• Personnel: 135
• Displacement: 1,100 tons

16. CB90-class shallow-draught fast assault craft

• Top speed: 46.0 mph (40 knots)
• Year entered service: 2007
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 24
• Displacement: 22 tons

15. Naval special warfare special forces inflatable insertion-extraction boat

• Top speed: 46.0 mph (40 knots)
• Year entered service: 1992
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 13
• Displacement: 09 tons

14. Patrol boat light light-class patrol boat

• Top speed: 46.0 mph (40 knots)
• Year entered service: 1990
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 11
• Displacement: 06 tons

13. LCAC hovercraft

• Top speed: 46.0 mph (40 knots)
• Year entered service: 1987
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 5
• Displacement: 87 tons

12. Stridsbat-90H-class personnel fast landing craft

• Top speed: 46.0 mph (40 knots)
• Year entered service: 1991
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 25
• Displacement: 16,865 tons

11. Tarantul-class guided-missile corvette warship

• Top speed: 48.3 mph (42 knots)
• Year entered service: 1977
• Navy(s) serving in: India, Russia, Turkey
• Personnel: 50
• Displacement: 550 tons

10. Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport

• Top speed: 49.5 mph (43 knots)
• Year entered service: 2012
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 350
• Displacement: 2,362 tons

9. Independence-class littoral combat ship

• Top speed: 50.6 mph (44 knots)
• Year entered service: 2017
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 75
• Displacement: 3,300 tons

8. Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessel

• Top speed: 50.6 mph (44 knots)
• Year entered service: 2011
• Navy(s) serving in: South Korea
• Personnel: 40
• Displacement: 630 tons

7. Tuo Chiang-class stealth coastal guided-missile corvette

• Top speed: 51.8 mph (45 knots)
• Year entered service: 2014
• Navy(s) serving in: Taiwan
• Personnel: 41
• Displacement: 567 tons

6. Freedom-class littoral combat ship

• Top speed: 54.1 mph (47 knots)
• Year entered service: 2008
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 125
• Displacement: 3,000 tons

5. Patrol Boat Mark V high-speed insertion-extraction vessel

• Top speed: 57.5 mph (50 knots)
• Year entered service: 1995
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 22
• Displacement: 68 tons

4. Sea Fighter-class littoral combat ship

• Top speed: 63.3 mph (55 knots)
• Year entered service: 2005
• Navy(s) serving in: United States
• Personnel: 26
• Displacement: 1,600 tons

3. Zubr-class air-cushioned landing craft

• Top speed: 69.0 mph (60 knots)
• Year entered service: 1988
• Navy(s) serving in: Greece, Ukraine, Russia, China
• Personnel: 31
• Displacement: 415 tons

2. Skjold-class stealth coastal patrol corvette

• Top speed: 74.8 mph (65 knots)
• Year entered service: 1999
• Navy(s) serving in: Norway
• Personnel: 14
• Displacement: 300 tons

1. Type 726 landing craft, air-cushioned amphibious vessel

• Top speed: 92.1 mph (80 knots)
• Year entered service: 2010
• Navy(s) serving in: China
• Personnel: 5
• Displacement: 150 tons

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