Boats as the ships were initially small and ancillary units żaglowymi liaison with the type of boat sails. Proper development of the boats started in the second half of the nineteenth century, when applied to a mechanically propelled them - first steam, then the exhaust.

The main branch of the boats was the development of their development as an offensive unit - intended to attack larger ships. Initially developed for this purpose boats steam powered mine, attacking with mines wytykowych, then torpedoes how to lose weight fast they were ousted by torpedo boats powered combustion engine, which develops high-speed, armed with torpedoes and widely used for about 60s The twentieth century. Torpedo boats were in turn superseded by missile boats, armed with rocket missiles przeciwokrętowe, down to the present. In parallel, since the beginning of the twentieth century developed artillery boats, armed with quick-running. The armored boats were used primarily for activities on the rivers against land targets. Larger classes of ships, boats that fill these tasks were torpedo boats, gunboats and missile corvettes. Were akin to a specialized class of submarine chasers.

In addition to boats intended for offensive tasks, boats also developed for other purposes: first of all patrol boats, amphibious boats and sweep boats (their larger counterparts are patrol boats, landing craft and minesweepers).