This list is extracted from the Sunlight Almanac for 1895, which from internal evidence was written in the last few months of 1894; dispositions of ships are probably thus those of late 1894.

All spellings, numbers, etc. are as given in the original source. Please contact me if you wish one of these double-checked for transcription errors.

Major warships are listed in three categories - battleships, coastal defence ships, and cruisers - which are divided here into groups (A, B, C) and classes (I, II or III).

Battleships were those which fought in the line of battle - ie, against other battleships. Group A included those of 10,000 tons displacement and upwards; Group B those under 10,000 tons. Class I indicates a modern vessel; Class II one which was obsolescent in armament, armour, or speed.

Coastal defence ships were intended to guard the coasts and ports against any enemy warship which had broken through the main line of battle; some of these were built expressly for the purpose, but most were former battleships now obsolete for reasons of age or armament. Group A were seagoing vessels, Class I vessels of this group being capable of 14 knots and carrying breechloading armament, whilst A.II indicated seagoing but slow or badly armed. Group B were fit only for harbour defence, with B.I vessels being capable of 12 knots, and equipped with breechloading armament, and B.II vessels deficient in either regard.

Cruisers filled the role of "the lower rates of olden times, and the frigates"; they would act as protection for commercial traffic, or as scouts and messengers for the main battlefleet. Group A was those of more than 7,000 tons with horizontal and steel decks, or those with partial vertical armor; A.I indicated a vessel with breechloading armament capable of 16 knots, and A.II a vessel deficient in either regard. Group B was of vessels with complete or partial steel decks and 4-7,000 tons displacement; B.I indicated a vessel with breechloading armament capable of 18 knots, and B.II a vessel deficient in either regard. Group C was of vessels with deck-protected or partially protected vessels, and unprotected vessels from 2-4,000 tons displacement; C.I indicated a vessel with breechloading armament capable of 18 knots, and C.II a vessel deficient in either regard. All vessels listed here as C.II were noted as having no protective deck.

There were a total of eighteen first-class (A.I) battleships, with ten more building, plus three rated A.II, two B.I, and seventeen B.II, for a total of forty with ten under construction. In addition, there were three first-class (A.I) coastal defence ships, and another twelve in classes B.I and B.II. There were a total of 89 cruisers of all classes with another eleven under construction, and a large number of smaller craft; the Royal Navy did not, at this time, possess any submarines. (These figures do not count ships on the ineffective list) With regard to the location of ships, it is interesting to note that the force in the Mediterranean was nearly twice as strong as that in the English Channel.

The original source used "Reserve" and "Fleet Reserve" somewhat indiscriminately; these have been listed together. The 1st Reserve Squadron was noted seperately, and a number of ships were given as "Reserve" with no location. These are listed at the end under "[Unknown assignments]".