Mexican Navy

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Mexican Military

Components Mexican Air Force Mexican Army Mexican Navy Ranks Air Force ranks and insignia Army ranks and insignia Navy ranks and insignia History Military History of Mexico Awards Military decorations of Mexico

The Mexican Navy (official name Armada de México) is a branch of the Mexican Military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order".^[1] The Navy consists of over 37,000 men and women, over 589 ships and about 100 aircraft.^{[2] [3]} The Navy has entered a constant modernization program, in order to upgrade its response capability.

For Mexico's huge mass of water the importance of its navy is really decisive, mainly to protect PEMEX's oil wells in Campeche over the Mexican Gulf. Another important task of Mexican Navy is to help people in hurricane relief operations, applying "Plan Marina" (Navy plan) in order to help affected people in case of natural disasters .

Contents 1 Organization 2 Modernization budget 3 Naval Infantry 3.1 Navy Special Forces 4 Missiles 5 Equipment 5.1 Surface equipment 5.1.1 Destroyers 5.1.2 Frigates 5.1.3 Amphibious ships 5.1.4 Missile boats 5.1.5 Offshore Patrol Vessels 5.1.6 Other ships 5.2 Aircraft 5.2.1 Future Aircraft 5.3 Land vehicles 6 See also 7 Notes 8 External links

[edit] Organization

The commander in chief of all military forces is the President of Mexico. Day-to-day control of the Navy is the Navy Secretary (currently Mariano Francisco Saynez Mendoza.

The Navy is divided into three main forces, the Fuerza Naval del Golfo (Naval Force of the Gulf), the Fuerza Naval del Pacifico (Naval Force of the Pacific) and Fuerza Aeronaval (Navy Air Force).

[edit] Modernization budget

The anual Navy's budget has a 3 to 1 proportion of the national budget to the Army & Air Force versus Navy. For the year 2007, the Army got 3 billion dollars budget, versus one billion dollars for the the Navy. The Navy has a reputation for being a well-run and well organized outfit. This reputation allows for a close relationship with the U.S. Navy, as evidenced by the procurement of numerous former USN ships.

The Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Francisco Saynez Mendoza, announced on October 1, 2007, detailed plans to upgrade and modernise the country's naval capabilities. On the following day, La Jornada newspaper from Mexico City, published the disclosure of the Mexican Navy plans, which are among others, to build eleven oceanic patrol vessels (OPV) with length of 86 meters, 1680 tons and each housing a Eurocopter Panther helicopter as well as small high speed interception boats. The budget for this project is above $200 million USD.

Another project is to build twelve CB 90 HMN high speed (50 knots) interception boats under license by a Sweden boat company to the Mexican Navy. Also, a number of fully equipped planes for surveillance and maritime patrol are being considered. Combinations of options and development are being defined.

[edit] Naval Infantry

The Mexican Marines consists 8,000 of a paratroop brigade of three battalions, a battalion attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade, three battalions with headquarters in Mexico City, Acapulco, and Veracruz, and thirty-five independent companies and detachments distributed among ports, bases, and zonal headquarters. The marines are responsible for port security, protection of the ten-kilometer coastal fringe, and patrolling major waterways. In addition to having light arms, the marines are equipped with 105 mm towed howitzers, 60 mm and 81 mm mortars, and 106 mm recoilless rifles, as well as Pegaso BMR VAP-3550 and BTR-60 amphibious vehicles. The marines riverine duties have been increasingly taken over by the Mexican Army. More recently the Navy has ceded most of its riverine responsibilities (formally handled by the Marines) to the Army, and has reduced the size of the Marine force, putting them back aboard ships where they play a vital role in drug interdiction and boarding of suspect vessels in territorial waters.

• Infantry Weapon: M-16 rifle , FN P90
• Artillery: OTO Melara Mod 56
• Land Vehicles: Pegaso BMR, BTR-60/BTR-70

[edit] Navy Special Forces

• Fuerzas Especiales (FES)
• Ixtoc-Alfa

[edit] Missiles

• SA-18 Grouse: Surface to Air Missiles
• Gabriel missile: Anti-Ship Missile

The Mexican Navy initiated studies to develop and construct its first missile, according to a May 2005 interview with the undersecretary of the Navy, Armando Sanchez; he explained that the missile should should have an average range of 12 to 15 kilometers and target enemy ships and aircraft. The undersecretary added that they already have the solid propellant, and the basic design of the missile. All aspects relative to their fuselage were solved as well as the launch platforms. The Mexican Navy is currently developing the software to direct the missile to its target. As of May 2008, the project is reported to be 40% complete.^[4]

Currently, the Mexican missile ships make use of the Israeli Gabriel MK II missile, which has an average range of 15 kilometers and targets enemy ships and aircraft.^[5] Mexican oil rigs are also protected with Igla, a portable Russian anti-aircraft missile system.^[6]

[edit] Equipment

The Navy consists of surface ships and some aircraft.

[edit] Surface equipment

[edit] Destroyers

• Quetzalcoatl Class
  • ARM Netzahualcoyotl (D-102)
• Manuel Azueta Class
  • ARM Manuel Azueta (D-111)

[edit] Frigates

• Bravo Class (Ex- US Bronstein class frigate)
  • ARM Bravo (F-201)
  • ARM Galeana (F-202)

• Allende Class (Ex- US Knox class frigate)
  • ARM Allende (F-211)
  • ARM Abasolo (F-212)
  • ARM Victoria (F-213)
  • ARM Mina (F-214)

[edit] Amphibious ships

• Panuco Class
  • ARM Manzanillo (A-402)
• Papaloapan Class
  • ARM Papaloapan (A-411)
  • ARM Usumacinta (A-412)

[edit] Missile boats

• Huracan Class
  • ARM Huracan (A-301, formerly INS Aliya)
  • ARM Tormenta (A-302, formerly INS Geula)

[edit] Offshore Patrol Vessels

Mexican Navy patrol boat Image:Fragatas.jpg Durango class patrol ships Valle class ARM Barrera ARM Escobedo ARM Doblado ARM Santos ARM Alvarez ARM Zamora ARM Farias ARM Zarco ARM Vallarta ARM Ortega ARM Matamoros Uribe class ARM Uribe ARM Azueta ARM Baranda ARM Breton ARM Blanco ARM Monasterio

Holzinger class ARM Holzinger ARM Godinez ARM DE LA Vega ARM Berriozabal Sierra class ARM Sierra (PO-141) ARM Juarez (PO-142) ARM Prieto (PO-143) ARM Romero (PO-144) Durango class ARM Durango (PO-151) ARM Sonora (PO-152) ARM Guanajuato (PO-153) ARM Veracruz (PO-154) Oaxaca class ARM Oaxaca (PO-161) ARM Baja California (PO-162)

[edit] Other ships

The Mexican Navy counts with 60 smaller patrol boats and 32 auxiliary ships. The Mexican Navy acquired 40 units, designated CB 90 HMN, between 1999 and 2001 and obtained a production license in 2002 allowing further units to be manufactured in Mexico. For the year 2008 budget, the Mexican Congress approved a $15 million USD funds to build only 17 out of 60 combat boats requested; these ships, designated CB 90 HMN, are to increase its fast boat fleet. Additional budgets will be awarded each passing year.^[7] In total, the Mexican Navy has over 589 operational ships.^[8]

A project under code name "Bulom", was started by the Mexican Navy to replace existing U.S. Navy ships in the Mexican fleet with a new multi-purpose ship. The new ship is a compact frigate and is capable of carrying a fully loaded helicopter on its landing pad and house it internally.^[9] These multipurpose ships will have a length of 436.35 ft (133 mts), beam 65.6 ft (20 mts), draft 9.84 ft (3 mts), ballasted 19.68 ft (6 mts). Storage for small size fast boats, procurement to other ships, both for amphibious assaults and logistical support.^[10]

[edit] Aircraft

The aircraft quantities are approximate.^[11][12]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Version	In service [13]	Notes
Fixed wing
Antonov	Russia	Utility transport	An-32B	6	About to be retired
de Havilland	United States	Utility transport	DHC-5 Buffalo DH-8	1 1
Turbo Commander	United States	Transport	980 Turbo	4
Cessna	United States	Transport	182 206 210 337 402 404 441	10 11 3 3 4 4 2	Many of these Cessnas were seized in antidrug operations
Beechcraft	United States	Transport	Baron 55 Bonanza 33	5 5
Rockwell	United States	Transport	695	1
Learjet	United States	VIP transport	LJ25 LJ31 LJ60	1 1 1
Gulfstream	United States	VIP transport	Gulfstream III	2
Grumman	United States	Surveillance/AEW	E-2C Hawkeye	3	Purchased from Israel
CASA	Spain	Surveillance	C-212	7
De Havilland	Canada	Utility	Dash 8	1
Lancair	United States	Transport Training	IV-P Super ES	3 2	Currently building two more IV-P and two Legacy 2000
Sabreliner	United States	Transport	60	1
Maule Air	United States	Training	MX-7-235	14
Valmet	Finland	Training	L-90	7	Turboprop engine: 313kW Allison 250-B17F
Moravan	Czech Republic	Training	Zlin Z-242L	10	Acquired in 2002[14]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Version	In service [15]	Notes
Helicopters
Eurocopter	European Union	Search & rescue Combat	Fennec Panther	4 2	Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required for anti-narcotic operations. Option for 8 more Panthers.
Bölkow Bo 105	Germany	Surveillance	EC-Super Five	11	Armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required.
Robinson	United States	Training	R-44 R-22	1 2
MD	United States	Training	MD-500	4
Mil	Russia	Transport	Mi-2 Mi-8M Mi-17	4 3 21	Mi-17 armed with gatling guns and/or rocket launchers when required for anti-narcotic operations.
Agusta	Italy	Transport	A109 K2 A109 E	1 1
MD	United States	Combat	MD-500 MD-902	19 12	Side-mounted General Dynamics 0.5in multi-barrel GAU-19/A rotary machine-guns and M2 pods containing seven 2.75in rockets each, for anti-narcotic operations.[16]

[edit] Future Aircraft

The Mérida Initiative

A purchase request of two CN-235 Persuader is included in the $1.4 billion USD program package of the Mérida Initiative for naval patrol operations reinforcement. Included in this package are also eight Bell 412 EP helicopters for the Mexican Air Force.^[17][18] As of May 2008, the U.S. congress had not yet approved this budget.

[edit] Land vehicles

• Gama Goat
• Ural-4320
• BTR-70/BTR-60
• Pegaso BMR
• Other minor transport vehicles as buses, trucks, pick-ups, and cars.

[edit] See also

• Naval ranks and insignia of Mexico

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Design
• Naval Missile Picture
• Naval Missile Picture2
• Naval Missile Picture3