List of warship classes of the Royal Australian Navy

This is a list of major classes of warship operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

Following the Second World War, the RAN began a policy of blue water operations built around an aircraft carrier.

Melbourne continued as the RAN's flagship until 1982, when it was planned to replace her with a STOVL carrier, again purchased from the Royal Navy.

When the RAN was first founded, it was decided that a capital ship would be constructed to serve as the fleet flagship.

Initially conceived as a unit of the Royal Navy, the second Indefatigable-class battlecruiser was paid for and crewed by Australians, and was thus commissioned as HMAS Australia.