Ecuadorian Navy | |
---|---|
Armada del Ecuador (Spanish) | |
Founded | 1832 |
Country | Ecuador |
Type | Navy |
Size | 9,400[1] 27 vessels |
Part of | Armed Forces of Ecuador |
Anniversaries | 25 July, Navy Day and the anniversary of the Battle of Jambelí |
Battle honours | Ecuadorian–Peruvian War 1941 |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-chief of the Navy | Rear Admiral Luis Santiago Chávez |
Insignia | |
Naval Ensign | |
Naval Jack | |
Naval Aviation roundel |
The Ecuadorian Navy (Spanish: Armada del Ecuador) is an Ecuadorian entity responsible for the surveillance and protection of national maritime territory and has a personnel of 9,400[1] men to protect a coastline of 2,237 km which reaches far into the Pacific Ocean. The vessels are identified by a ship prefix of B.A.E.: Buque de la Armada del Ecuador (Ship of the Ecuadorian Navy) or L.A.E.: Lancha de la Armada del Ecuador (Boat of the Ecuadorian Navy).
Organize, train, equip and maintain naval capabilities, as well as to assist and support all procedures involving national security and development. Contribute to the achievement of safeguarding national objectives in times of peace and war.
Maintain highly trained naval forces to secure victory within the maritime zone in order to support developing communities. As a consequence operate highly qualified military personnel whom are able to fulfill this role based on elevated moral, values and principles.
The roots of the Ecuadorian Navy or (Armada Ecuatoriana) date back to 1823 whilst forming a part of the Gran Colombian fleet. The government of President Eloy Alfaro (1906–1911) made one of the most notable naval acquisitions of the time, the torpedo ship Libertador Bolívar, with the aim of restoring the navy. In 1832, the Ecuadorian Congress officially established the Ecuadorian Maritime Department. On 25 July 1941 during the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War, the gunboat Abdón Calderón commanded by Rafael Morán Valverde encountered the Peruvian destroyer Almirante Villar in the Jambeli channel.[2] The Ecuadorian gunboat opened fire on Villar, keeping its distance while doing shots for elevation, but the Peruvian destroyer returned fire for the duration of the chase, which was ended by the Peruvians when the Calderon took refuge in the channels. The Calderon was unharmed in the skirmish and according to Ecuador, the Peruvian Villar suffered damages, an allegation that has always been refuted by Perú.[3] However, this event had no influence over the general outcome of the war as Puerto Bolivar was lost to Peruvian troops only two days later.
Today, the Ecuadorian Navy is a compact, efficient and well-balanced force. However, limited funds hinder any major acquisitions and the chances of maintaining a strong force within the Pacific Ocean. Since introduction of a restructuring program within the Armed Forces (PATRIA I), the Navy's structure became simplified. It supervises the Pacific Coast and Galápagos Islands as one naval zone. Most seagoing assets are based at Guayaquil.
Currently [when?] the Navy consists of the following vessels:
Vessel | Origin | Type | Class | In service[4] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Training ship (1 in service) | |||||
BAE Guayas (BE-21) | Spain | Sail training ship | steel-hulled barque | Yes | As an ambassador of its country, the Guayas is a participant in tall ship regattas. By the end of 2008 the Guayas had visited 60 harbours in 25 countries and covered about 340,000 nautical miles (630,000 km). |
Submarines (2 in service) | |||||
BAE Shyri (S101) | Germany | Diesel-electric submarine | Type 209/1300 | Yes | [5] |
BAE Huancavilca (S102) | Germany | Diesel-electric submarine | Type 209/1300 | Yes | On September 16, 2011, the submarine was sent to the ASMAR shipyard in Chile for modernization, which was completed in 2014.[6][7] |
Guided missile frigates (2 in service) | |||||
BAE Presidente Eloy Alfaro (FM-01) | United Kingdom | guided missile frigate | Condell-class frigate | Yes | Acquired from Chile in March, 2008. |
BAE Morán Valverde (FM-02) | United Kingdom | guided missile frigate | Condell-class frigate | Yes | Extensively refitted between April 2004 and December 2005. Acquired from Chile in March, 2008.[8] |
Guided missile corvettes (6 in service) | |||||
BAE Esmeraldas (CM-11) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Refitted in 2006 under the Esmeraldas program.[9] |
BAE Manabí (CM-12) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Modernised, returned to fleet 2018. |
BAE Los Rios (CM-13) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Modernised, returned to fleet 2018.[10] |
BAE El Oro (CM-14) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Refitted in 2008 under the Esmeraldas program. |
BAE Galápagos (CM-15) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Refitted in 2010 under the Esmeraldas program. |
BAE Loja (CM-16) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Modernised, returned to fleet 2019. |
Offshore Patrol Vessel (2 in service) | |||||
LAE Isla San Cristobal (LG-30) | Netherlands | Offshore Patrol Vessel | Damen Stan patrol vessel 5009 class | Yes | |
LAE Isla Isabela (LG-31) | Netherlands | Offshore Patrol Vessel | Damen Stan patrol vessel 5009 class | Yes | |
Fast attack craft (3 in service) | |||||
LAE Quito (LM-31) | Germany | Fast attack craft | TNC 45 Seawolf class | Yes | Modernised |
LAE Guayaquil (LM-32) | Germany | Fast attack craft | TNC 45 Seawolf class | Yes | Modernised |
LAE Cuenca (LM-33) | Germany | Fast attack craft | TNC 45 Seawolf class | Yes | Modernised |
Auxiliaries (12 in service) | |||||
BAE Huacolpo (TR-61) | People's Republic of China | Cargo ship | Cargo - Hazard B class | Yes | ex-Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 |
BAE Calicuchima (TR-62) | United Kingdom | ammunition supply ship | Kintebury class | Yes | ex-RMAS Throsk (A379)[11] |
BAE Atahualpa (TR-63) | Italy | water harbour tanker | Brenta type | Yes | ex-A 5356 Basento |
BAE Quisquis (TR-64) | United Kingdom | water harbour tanker | Waterfall class | Yes | ex-Waterside (Y-20)[12] |
BAE Taurus (TR-65) | Ecuador | coastal oil tanker | Taurus class | Yes | Civilian ship bought in 1987. Built by Astinave, Guayaquil. Currently status is unknown. |
BAE Chimborazo (RA-70) | United States | Fleet Tug | Abnaki-class tug | Yes | Ex-USS Chowanoc (ATF-100)[13] |
BAE Sangay (RB-72) | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | ||
BAE Cotopaxi (RB-73) | United States | Tugboat | Yes | ||
BAE Wolf (RB-74) | Netherlands | Tugboat | Yes | ||
BAE Iliniza (RB-75) | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | ||
BAE Altar (RB-76) | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | ||
BAE Quilotoa (RB-78) | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | ||
Scientific research vessels (2 in service) | |||||
BAE Orion (BI-91) | Japan | Oceanographic research ship | Orion class | Yes | |
LAE Sirius | Ecuador | Oceanographic research ship | Sirius class | Yes | [14] |
Main article: Military ranks of Ecuador |
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ecuadorian Navy[32] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contralmirante | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Teniente de fragata | Alferez de fragata |
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ecuadorian Navy[33] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sub-oficial mayor | Sub-oficial primero | Sub-oficial segundo | Sargento primero | Sargento segundo | Cabo primero | Cabo segundo | Marinero | Grumete 2do año | Grumete 1er año |