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A green-water navy is a naval term that refers to a naval force based around a coastal or littoral capability.^{[citation needed]} This is a relatively new terminology, as non blue-water navies used to be collectively referred to as brown-water navy.

Generally speaking, a blue-water navy is one with over-sea power-projection capability, preferably with aircraft carriers^{[citation needed]} to provide air cover. Green-water navies have ships of corvette-class or better, and can operate in coastal (littoral) and regional area.^{[citation needed]} However, green-water navies usually lack aircraft carriers, and must depend on land-based aircraft for protection.

Green-water navies might be capable of sending a few ships overseas on friendly visits, or even joint-exercise with other navies. But they lack the ability for sustained long-distance combat operations.^{[citation needed]} The Finnish Navy, Italian Navy, Spanish Navy , and Thailand's Royal Thai Navy fall under this category, with some expeditionary capabilities. The Royal Netherlands Navy is changing its role from national defence to intervention. Australia, Brazil and Canada also have some expeditionary capabilities that they are strengthening ^[1]. The Republic of Korea Navy ^[2] aims to operate a blue-water navy by 2020. It has embarked upon an ambitious construction programme, with the Dokdo Class Amphibious Ship due to be commissioned sometime in 2007.

A good comparison of blue-water navy vs. green-water navy, is the British Royal Navy vs. the Argentine Navy during the 1982 Falklands War. Although both UK and Argentina had aircraft carriers, the Royal Navy was capable of sustained combat deployment across the Atlantic, while such feats were out of reach for the Argentine navy.^{[citation needed]}

• Maritime geography
• Blue-water navy
• Brown-water navy

1. ^ Warship 2006, Conway's Maritime Press - World Navies in Review 2006)
2. ^ Global Security report on RoK Navy

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