Navy of Venezuela

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The navy of Venezuela is categorized as a "modern, medium naval force with limited oceanic capabilities". The estimated numerical strength of the Navy is of 18,300 troops, who include 7,800 marines and 500 Naval Aviation troops.

It serves the purpose of defending the naval sovereignty of the country, including inland, fluvial security, it also serves to prevent illegal activities in the Venezuelan borders and contributes with international organisms to safeguard international waters from criminal activities.

Contents 1 Escuadra 1.1 Organisation 1.1.1 Frigates 1.1.2 Submarines 1.1.3 Patrol boats 1.1.4 Amphibious and service ships 2 Marine Infantry 2.1 Divisional units 2.2 1º Brigade of Marine Infantry General Carlos Soublette 2.3 2º Brigade of Marine Infantry CA José Eugenio Hernández 2.4 1º Borderline fluvial brigade General en Jefe José António Páez 2.5 2º Borderline fluvial brigade General de Brigada Franz António Risques Irribarren 2.6 Brigade of Engineers CA José Ramón Yépez 2.7 Brigade of Naval Police 2.8 Brigade of Naval Reserve 3 Arms and equipment 3.1 Armor 3.2 Artillery and anti-aircraft batteries 3.3 Tactical and transport land vehicles 3.4 Speedboats and launches 4 Coast Guard 4.1 Combat order 4.1.1 Coast guard ships

[edit] Escuadra

The headquarters of the naval Escuadra (Fleet), Base Naval Contralmirante Agustín Armario, is located in the city of Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, it controls the four squads of the Escuadra: frigates, submarines, patrol boats, and amphibious and service ships. It is also responsible for the Submarine school and Centre of Tactical Training.

[edit] Organisation

The Venezuelan Escuadra has four squadrons, numbering a total of 21 operational ships and submarines.

[edit] Frigates

Based in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo.

• Six missile frigates Type Lupo/ Mariscal Sucre class

• • F-21 Mariscal Sucre, in service since 07-14-1980
  • F-22 Almirante Brión, in service since 03-07-1981
  • F-23 General Urdaneta, in service since 08-08-1981
  • F-24 General Soublette, in service since 12-04-1981
  • F-25 General Salóm, in service since 04-03-1982
  • F-26 Almirante García, in service since 07-30-1982

[edit] Submarines

Based in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo.

• Two Type 209/A-1300, Sábalo class, diesel electric submarines.

• • S-31 Sábalo, in service since 08-06-1976
  • S-32 Caribe, in service since 03-11-1977

[edit] Patrol boats

Based in Punto Fijo, Falcón.

• Three Type Vosper 37m./Federación class missile patrol boats.
  • PC-12 Federación, in service since 03-25-1975
  • PC-14 Libertad, in service since 06-12-1975
  • PC-16 Victoria, in service since 09-22-1975

• Three Type Vosper 37m./Constitución class cannon patrol boats.
  • PC-11 Constitución, in service since 03-25-1975
  • PC-13 Independencia, in service since 06-12-1975
  • PC-15 Patria, in service since 01-09-1975

[edit] Amphibious and service ships

Based in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo.

• Four Type LST/Capana class disembarking ships.
  • T-61 Capana, in service since 07-24-1984
  • T-62 Esequibo, in service since 07-24-1984
  • T-63 Goajira, in service since 11-01-1984
  • T-64 Los Llanos, in service since 11-01-1984

• One Ciudad Bolívar class supply ship.
  • T-81 Ciudad Bolívar, in service since 09-23-2001

• One Punta Brava class oceanographic ship
  • BO-11 Punta Brava, in service since 03-24-1991

• One Bricbarc type/Simón Bolívar training sailboat.
  • BE-11 Simón Bolívar, in service since 08-12-1980

[edit] Marine Infantry

Headquartered in Meseta de Mamo, Vargas, the estimated numerical strength of this unit is of approx. 8,000 men and women.Its mission is to "enlist and direct its units in order to form the disembarking force and/or support of amphibious or special operations; executing naval safeguarding and environmental policing, as well as actively participating in the national development".

The Marine Infantry's battle order is the following:

[edit] Divisional units

• Support Battalion Almirante Luis Brión
• Artillery Group VA Lino de Clemente
• Communication Battalion CF. Felipe Baptista
• Command of Special Operations Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda
• Replacement Regiment CA Armando López Conde

[edit] 1º Brigade of Marine Infantry General Carlos Soublette

• Marine Infantry Battalion General Rafael Urdaneta
• Marine Infantry Battalion Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda
• Marine Infantry Battalion Contraalmirante Renato Beluche
• Amphibious Vehicles Battalion Capitán de Corbeta Manuel Ponce Lugo

[edit] 2º Brigade of Marine Infantry CA José Eugenio Hernández

• Marine Infantry Battalion Gral. Simón Bolívar
• Marine Infantry Battalion Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre
• Marine Infantry Battalion Gral. José Francisco Bermudez

[edit] 1º Borderline fluvial brigade General en Jefe José António Páez

• Borderline fluvial command Teniente de Navío Jacinto Muñoz
• Orinoco-Apure axis fluvial command General Manuel Piar

[edit] 2º Borderline fluvial brigade General de Brigada Franz António Risques Irribarren

• Borderline fluvial command CA Armando Medina
• Borderline fluvial command CA Francisco Pérez Hernández

Each borderline fluvial command has a command, an IM Battalion, a Maintenance company and a Service Support company. These units have a base of operations and five naval outposts with an IM company and no less than 6 assault and fluvial combat speedboats each.

[edit] Brigade of Engineers CA José Ramón Yépez

• 141 Battalion of Combat Engineers Teniento de Navío Jerónigo Rengifo
• 142 Battalion of Maintenance and Construction CA José María García
• 143 Battalion of Maintenance and Construction Capital de Navíos Nicolás Jolly
• 144 Battalion of Maintenance and Construction General Ezequiel Zamora

[edit] Brigade of Naval Police

• 1º Naval Police Battalion Capitán de Navío Alejo Sánchez Navarro
• 2º Naval Police Battalion (not yet active)
• 3º Naval Police Battalion (not yet active)
• 4º Naval Police Battalion (not yet active)

[edit] Brigade of Naval Reserve

• Naval Reserve Battalion Batalla de Chichiriviche
• Naval Reserve Battalion Batalla de Punta Brava
• Naval Reserve Battalion Expedición de la Vela de Coro
• Naval Reserve Battalion Expedición de Los Cayos

[edit] Arms and equipment

Naval Infantry's equipment is the same standard issue as the rest of the armed forces, excluding Special Forces armaments. Armored units and heavy equipments of the Naval Infantry is the following:

[edit] Armor

• 6x6 Engesa EE-11 Urutú Amphibious Assault APC. (Brazil)- 38 EE-11, (3 EE-11 VCMDM3S1+3 EE-11 VRCPM3S2 +12 EE-11 VTTRM3S7 +20 EE-11 VTTRM3S6)
• FMC LVTP-7 Amphibious Assault Armored Vehicle. (USA)- 11 AAVT-7s, (1 AAVTC-7 +1AAVTR-7 +9AAVTP-7)

[edit] Artillery and anti-aircraft batteries

• Oto Melara M-56 105/14mm towed howitzer. (Italy)- 12
• Thomson-Brandt MO-120 120mm heavy mortar. (France)- 18
• Bofors RBS-70 anti-aircraft battery. (United Kingdom)- 12

[edit] Tactical and transport land vehicles

• Land Rover Defender 90HT/110HT. (United Kingdom)
• Ford M-151 Mutt. (United States)
• Chevrolet M-705. (United States)
• IAI M-325 Commandacar.
• Steyr-MAN L-80 series, tactical transport truck.
• Engesa EE-25, tactical transport truck. (Brazil)

[edit] Speedboats and launches

• Guardian 22' patrol speedboat. (United States)
• Guardian 25' patrol speedboat. (United States)

Other models in service include Caroní, Manapiare, Caimán, 22 Apure/Apure II assault launches, (all designed and made in Venezuela) and US Coibas.

[edit] Coast Guard

Headquartered in La Guaira, Vargas, its mission is to "Plan, execute and control naval security, environmental protection, natural resource preservation and traffic controlling activities. It also serves to combat piracy and narco-traffic"

[edit] Combat order

• One company of naval salvage.
• Boarding and inspection teams.
• A squad of coast guard ships.

[edit] Coast guard ships

• Two Almirante Clemente class frigates.
  • CG-11 Almirante Clemente, in service since 04-12-1956
  • CG-12 General Morán, in service since 10-01-1957

• Twelve Gavión class patrol ships.
  • PG-401 Gavión, in service since 10-06-1999.
  • PG-402 Alca, in service since 10-06-1999.
  • PG-403 Bernacia, in service since 10-06-1999.
  • PG-404 Chamán, in service since 10-06-1999.
  • PG-405 Cormorán, in service since 06-09-2000.
  • PG-406 Colimbo, in service since 06-09-2000.
  • PG-407 Fardela, in service since 06-09-2000.
  • PG-408 Sumarela, in service since 06-09-2000.
  • PG-409 Negrón, in service since 06-09-2000.
  • PG-410 Picargo, in service since 06-09-2000.
  • PG-411 Pagaza, in service since 06-09-2000.
  • PG-412 Serreta, in service since 06-09-2000.

• Four USCG. Point class patrol boats.
  • PG-13, in service since 06-26-1967, transferred to Venezuela since 10-15-1991
  • PG-14 Alcatraz, in service since 07-26-1966, transferred to Venezuela since 01-15-1992
  • PG-33 Albatros, in service since 09-18-1962, transferred to Venezuela since 08-03-1999
  • PG-34 Pelícano, in service since 11-14-1966, transferred to Venezuela since 08-03-1999

• Two Los Tanques class tactical/utility ships.
  • LG-11 Los Tanques, in service since 05-15-1981
  • LG-12 Los Cayos, in service since 09-1984

These utility ships are former commercial units, decommissioned and transferred to the Navy by courts of law.

Other ships in the coast guard squadron include a towing ship, US Chololoco, and plans for the national construction of at least 15 P.698 PT Boats.