Dominican Navy

Dominican Navy Armada de Republica Dominicana
Active	April 15, 1844 - present
Country	Dominican Republic
Branch	Navy
Type	Navy
Size	4,000 personnel, 33 ships
Anniversaries	April 15
Engagements	Dominican War of Independence Dominican Civil War
Commanders
Current commander	Vicealmirante Edmundo Nestor M. Felix Pimentel
Notable commanders	Adm. Juan Bautista Cambiaso
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack

The Navy of the Dominican Republic or Armada de Republica Dominicana (A.R.D), is one of the three branches of the Military of the Dominican Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force.

History

The three Dominican schooners later on in Santo Domingo circa 1850.

After the Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti on February 27, 1844, there was a need to create a Naval fleet. Three schooners were commissioned for this, the "Separación Dominicana" (flagship), the "María Chica" and the "Leonor". These were the original three Dominican vessels which were incorporated in the newly created Dominican as authorized by the Junta Central Gubernativa with the Naval Act of 1844 on April 23, 1844, the same day the Navy was created. Even though, the three schooners had been in action since April 15 at the Battle of Tortuguero, where they were led by Adm. Juan Bautista Cambiaso and sank 6 Haitian ships.

During the Dominican Civil War, a part of the Navy opposed the "Return to the Legitime Government" which was victim of a Coup d'état in September 1963 and used the frigate F-451 "Mella" to bombard the National Palace with the help of the Air Force.

On the other side of the conflict, The Elite Navy Force "Hombres Ranas" (Frog Men) under Commander Ramon Montes Arache, fought to bring the 1962 Democratically Elected President back in office. The other navy commanders were afraid of "Hombres Ranas" taking control over "Las Calderas" Naval Base. See United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1965–1966)

Naval bases

The Navy maintaines several naval stations and detachments, but has two main bases:

• Base Naval "27 de Febrero", located in the city of Santo Domingo, the Chief of Staff and the Naval Academy "Vice-Admiral Cesar de Windt Lavandier" are located here.
• Base Naval de Las Calderas, located in Peravia Province, is the largest Naval Base. The Bahia Las Calderas Naval Shipyard (ANABALCA)is located here. This shipyard is responsible for the maintenance of naval units of the fleet, as well as civilian vessels. Military and civilian vessels, such as tugs, boats, barges, pilot boats have also been built at this site.

List of current vessels

Class	Name	Origin	In service	Notes	Image
Patrol Division
USCG 180' Class Seagoing Buoy Tender Cutters (Mesquite Class)[1]	PA-301 Almirante Didiez Burgos	United States	1	The Flagship of the Dominican Navy, transferred to the Navy by the USCG in 2001. It is used for coastal patrol, navigational aid maintenance, midshipman cruises, humanitarian assistance, naval training exercises, troop transport, and at sea refueling. It is armed with two M-2 0.50 caliber machine guns and two single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, but it can also be armed with two extra 0.50 cal. machine guns, two M60 machine guns and one 3/50 (single) gun.	PA-301 Almirante Juan Alejandro Acosta
USCG 133' White Class Coastal Buoy Tender	PM-203 Tortuguero PM-204 Capotillo	United States	2	The Tortuguero and the Capotill were transferred to the Navy by the USCG in 1999 and in 2002, respectively. They are used for coastal patrol, navigational aids maintenance, midshipman cruises, humanitarian assistance, naval training exercises, and at sea refueling. They are armed with two M-2 0.50 cal. machine guns.	PM-204 Capotillo
Coast Guard Division
USCG Point Class Cutters	GC-101 Aries GC-105 Antares GC-110 Sirius	United States	2	They are used for coastal and riverine patrol, search and rescue operations, anti-narcotics operations. They are armed with two M-2 0.50 cal. machine guns.	GC-105 Antares
Seaward Class Patrol Boat	GC-103 Procion GC-104 Aldebarán GC-106 Bellatrix GC-108 Capella	United States	4	Were acquired between 1968 and 1971. Between 2003 and 2005 they underwent a general renovation, receiving new engines,new generators, new radars, GPS navigation system, auto-pilot system, etc. They are used for coastal and river patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations. They are armed with three M-2 0.50 cal. machine guns.	GC-106 Bellatrix
Swiftships 110' Class Patrol Boat	GC-107 Canopus GC-109 Orión	United States	2	Built in 1984 by the Swiftships shipbuilders. Between 2003 and 2005 they underwent a general renovation, receiving new engines, new generators, new radars, a GPS navigation system, and an auto-pilot system. They are used for coastal and river patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations. They are armed with two M-2 0.50 cal. machine guns, one Oerlikon 20mm cannon (single) and one M60 machine gun.	GC-109 Orion
Swiftships 35 Meter Patrol Boat	GC-112 Altair	United States	1	Built in 2003 by the Swiftships shipbuilders. It is used for coastal and river patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations. It is armed with two M-2 0.50 cal. machine guns and one Oerlikon 20mm cannon (single).	GC-112 Altair
Salvage and Rescue Unit
Damen Stan Patrol 1500 Class Patrol Boat	LR-151 Hamal LR-152 Vega LR-153 Deneb LR-154 Acamar	Dominican Republic	3	These patrol boats were built in The Dominican Republic by Astilleros Navales Bahia Las Calderas (ANABALCA) in 2004. They are used for coastal and river patrols, search and rescue operations, anti-narcotics operations. These patrol boats are unarmed, but they carry M16 rifles and can be fitted with a M60 machine gun. LR-152 Vega sank while underway to Las Calderas Naval base.	LR-153 Deneb
Interceptor Boat Division
Interceptor Nor-Tech 4300 Class	LR-155 Castor LR-156 Pollux LR-157 Atria LR-158 Shaula	United States	4 (out of service)	These Nor-techs were built without bunks and water tanks to fit 100 extra gallons of fuel and other equipment, such as a FLIR camera and communications equipment. They are used for coastal and river patrols, search and rescue operations, anti-narcotics operations, and go-fast interdiction. These patrol boats are unarmed, but they carry M16 rifles.	LR-155 Castor
32' Defender Class Boston Whaler Justice Speedboat	LI-159 "Enif" LI-161 "Elnath" LI-162 "Polaris" LI-163 "Nunki" LI-164 "Dubhe" LI-165 "Denebola" LI-166 "Regulus" L-167 "Acrux" LI-168 "Algenib" LI-169 "Castor"	United States	9	They are used for coastal and river patrols, search and rescue operations, anti-narcotics operations, and go-fast interdiction. They are armed with a M60 machine gun(165-166-167 are fitted with 3 M60 mounts) and they carry M16 rifles.	LR-161, 162 & 163
28' Speedboat	LR-160 "Rigel"	United States	2
Auxiliary Vessels Division
Ocean Tug ATR 165´Class	RM-1 Guarocuya	United States	1	Before serving in the Dominican Navy, it was civilian tug used by smugglers to transport illegal drugs. After being confiscated by the Navy it underwent a general renovation and was incorporated for Naval operations.	RM-1 Guarocuya
Damen Stan Tug 2608 Class	RM-2 Guarionex RM-3 Guaroa	Dominican Republic	2	Built in the Dominican Republic by ANABALCA. They are currently being operated on a lease by the company "Remolcadores Dominicanos".	RM-3 Guaroa
Dredgers	BD-12 San Pedro	United States	1	Sank while underway.	BD-12 San Pedro
Oil Fuel Barge	BC-1 Mencia	United States	1
Landing Craft Utility LCU-1600 Class	LD-31 Neyba	United States	1
Floating Docks	DF-1	United States	1	Refurbished and operated by ANABALCA.

Notes:

• The Dominican Navy has other vessels of less draft.

Ranks

In the Dominican Navy, the ranks are organized in Admirals Officers, Senior Officers, Junior Officers and Enlisted.

Dominican Naval Auxiliary Corps

The Dominican Naval Auxiliary Corps is a civilian force that possesses its own resources to assist in search operations, rescue and environmental protection. This organization was created by the Executive by Decree 887-09 and it is composed of a group of business and professional volunteers.

The organization operates private boats, barges and aircraft made available to the Navy, in order to assist with non-military activities or public order and safety at sea. The Dominican Naval Auxiliary has a presence in the north, northeast, east, south and center of the country.

Naval Commandos

The Naval Commandos are the Special Operations component of the Dominican Navy and are only employed in emergency situations. The Naval Commandos are capable of undertaking unconventional warfare, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, VBSS (Visit Board Search and Seizure) and are experts in handling explosives and amphibious operations. They are also trained in parachuting, hand-to-hand combat, CQC and other key skills. The team's armament includes the M16 rifle with the M203 grenade launcher, the Colt M4A1, M14 rifle, Mossberg 500 shotgun, the M60 machine gun and small arms. The team operates inflated zodiac boats, RHIBs, and night vision goggles, among other equipment.

Some team members first saw action during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dominican troops, comprising a battalion of special components of the Dominican Armed forces, were under constant mortar attacks but suffered no casualties. While in Iraq, the troops were serving in the Plus Ultra Brigade, which was under Spanish command and operating in Southern Iraq.

Marine Infantry Command

Raised in 2008 the MIC serves as the youngest arm of service in the Dominican Navy, which is tasked for amphibious and landing operations. One Marine Battalion is of active service as of the present. It also the youngest Marine unit in all of Latin America.

Plans

The Navy plans to build a ship called a "Multipurpose Platform", which will be between 164 and 190 feet long. Its construction will be in Bahia de Las Calderas, at the "Astilleros Navales Bahia de Las Calderas" (ANABALCA) shipyard. All the installations of the Dominican Navy located in Santo Domingo: the Naval Base, the Naval academy, the military docks and the Dredging, Dams and Beacons department, will be transferred to the municipality of Andres Boca Chica. There are also plans for the construction of a new building in Santo Domingo that will house the Chief of Staff.

See also

• Military of the Dominican Republic

References

External links

• Marina de Guerra Dominicana (in Spanish)