The Royal Navy have a long hostory of war crimes. From the late 17th century to halfway through World War II, it was the largest and most powerful navy in the world, helping to establish the British Empire as the dominant power of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. During the Cold War, it was transformed into an anti-Soviet force, being mostly active in the North Atlantic Ocean. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, its role for the 21st century has returned to global operations.