Editing Royal Navy (section)

==Role==
The Royal Navy stated its six major roles in umbrella terms in 2017 as:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/what-we-do/preventing-conflict|title=What we do|publisher=Royal Navy|access-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230225720/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/what-we-do/preventing-conflict|archive-date=30 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Preventing Conflict – On a global and regional level
* Providing Security At Sea – To ensure the stability of [[international trade]] at sea
* International Partnerships – To help cement the relationship with the United Kingdom's allies (such as [[NATO]])
* Maintaining a Readiness To Fight – To protect the United Kingdom's interests across the globe 
* Protecting the Economy – To safeguard vital [[trade route]]s to guarantee the United Kingdom's and its allies' economic prosperity at sea
* Providing Humanitarian Aid – To deliver a fast and effective response to global catastrophes

The Royal Navy protects British interests at home and abroad, executing the foreign and defence policies of His Majesty's Government through the exercise of military effect, diplomatic activities and other activities in support of these objectives. It is also a key element of the British contribution to NATO, with a number of ships or aircraft allocated to NATO tasks at any time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3655 |publisher=Royal Navy |title=Joint operations |access-date=7 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624143506/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3655 |archive-date=24 June 2007 }}</ref> In 2007 core capabilities were described as:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3689 |publisher=Royal Navy |title=Core Capabilities |access-date=7 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609235304/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3689 |archive-date=9 June 2007 }}</ref>

* Maintenance of the UK Nuclear Deterrent through a policy of [[Vanguard class submarine|''Continuous at Sea Deterrence'']]
* Provision of two medium-scale [[Carrier battle group|maritime task groups]] with the [[Fleet Air Arm]]
* Delivery of the UK [[British Commandos|Commando]] force
* Contribution of assets to the [[Joint Aviation Command]]
* Maintenance of [[Standing Royal Navy deployments|standing patrol commitments]]
* Provision of [[Minehunter|mine counter measures]] capability to United Kingdom and allied commitments
* Provision of [[Hydrography|hydrographic]] and [[meteorological]] services deployable worldwide
* Protection of Britain's [[Exclusive Economic Zone]]