Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)

British Merchant Navy
British Merchant Navy
	Badge of the Merchant Navy
Active	1835–present
Country	United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Channel Islands
Type	Civilian
Role	Create wealth for the crown, country and shipowner; Support any war effort; To help create and maintain diplomatic relationships;
Size	10th Largest; 30 Million Gross Registered Tonnage; 40.7 Million Deadweight Tonnage;
Anniversaries	Battle of the Atlantic (May); Trafalgar Day (21st October );
Fleet	Cargo; Passenger; Special purpose vessels;
Engagements	U-boat Campaign, (1914–1918); Battle of the Atlantic, (1939–1944); Operation Pedestal, (1942); Falklands War, (1982); Gulf war, (1991);
Insignia
Red Ensign
Civil Jack

The British Merchant Navy is the collective name given to British civilian ships. In the UK, it is simply referred to as the Merchant Navy or MN. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). King George V bestowed the title of "Merchant Navy" on the British merchant shipping fleets following their service in the First World War; a number of other nations have since adopted the title. Previously it had been known as the Mercantile Marine or Merchant Service, although the term "Merchant Navy" was already informally used from the 19th century.

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