List of ship commissionings in 1996
The list of ship commissionings in 1996 includes a chronological list of all ships commissioned in 1996.
| Operator | Ship | Flag | Class and type | Pennant | Other notes | |
| 16 February | ' | SSN-772 | ||||
| 30 March | ' | DDG-65 | ||||
| 13 April | ' | DDG-64 | ||||
| 28 May | ' | Type 052 destroyer | 113 | Date of initial operational capability | ||
| 8 June | ' | DDG-67 | ||||
| 8 June | ' | LSD-51 | ||||
| 13 September | ' | SSN-773 | ||||
| 20 September | ' | Type 23 frigate | F82 | |||
| 12 October | ' | DDG-66 | ||||
| 2 November | ' | S30 | ||||
| 23 November | ' | DDG-69 | ||||
| 25 November | ' | 903 |