Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela

Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela
Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela
Coat of Arms of the Navy
Founded 1811 (1811)
Country  Venezuela
Allegiance President of Venezuela
Branch National Armed Forces of Venezuela
Type Navy
Role Defense of Venezuela's coastline and maritime and inland waters
Size 2 submarines, 3 frigates, 4 corvettes,10 patrol boats,2 landing ship tank, 3 auxiliary ships
Part of Ministry of the Popular Participation for the Defense
Patron Virgen del Valle
Motto(s) Navigare necesse, vivere non necesse (Latin: "Sailing is necessary, but living is not".)
Colors Navy blue     
March Marcha Epica de las Fuerzas Navales (English: "Grand March of the National Navy")
Anniversaries July 24, Birthday of Simon Bolivar, Navy Day and Battle of Lake Maracaibo Anniversary
Engagements Venezuelan War of Independence and the Battle of Lake Maracaibo
Commanders
Minister of the People's Power for Defense of the Republic of Venezuela General-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López
Commanding General, Venezuelan Navy Admiral Giuseppe Alessandrello Cimadevilla
Inspector General, Venezuelan Navy Vice Admiral Carlos José Vieira Acevedo
Chief of Naval Staff, Venezuelan Navy Vice Admiral Jorge Martín Hernández Salazar
Notable
commanders		 José Prudencio Padilla
Luis Brión
Insignia
Naval ensign
Naval jack
Flag
Naval jack (1930–2006)

The Navy of Venezuela is officially called the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela (Spanish: Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela).

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

History

The Navy was born as a coastal defense force during the beginning of the Venezuelan War of Independence. In May 1810, Commander Lino de Clemente, a veteran officer of the Spanish Navy who joined the April 1810 coup against the colonial government, was appointed the first Minister of Defense of the republic and began the long building of the armed forces including the formation of the navy. In April 1811 the Nautical School, with Ensign Vicente Parrado as its first superindentent, was opened by order of the national government in La Guaira to train future naval officers, months before the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence, thus the Navy's origins start from this date, with its first vessels being those formerly used by the naval forces of the Captaincy General of Venezuela, and participated in its first actions in the campaigns in Guayana in 1811-12, the baptism of fire for the fledgling naval service. Colonel Antonio Mendoza from the Venezuelan Army was its first commanding general.

For a long time their vessels, even if obsolete, were maintained properly by its sailors. In 1937 the Navy acquired from Italy two gunboats of the Azio class and rechristened them General Soublette and General Urdaneta; these ships where retained in service until 1951[1] (for other sources in 1948[2] or 1950[3][4]) and scrapped later.[5][6]

Joint exercises

In September, 2008, the Russian Navy's nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, accompanied by three other ships of Russia's Northern Fleet, sailed from its base in Severomorsk on a cruise to the Caribbean Sea for a joint exercise with the Venezuelan Navy. This action represented the first major Russian power projection in that region since the end of the Cold War.[7][8] The fleet of ships, headed by the nuclear-powered Pyotr Velikiy, set off from its base at Severomorsk in the Arctic on 22 September. Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo told the AFP news agency, "It's the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Peter the Great, the anti-submarine warship Admiral Chebanenko and other accompanying ships". The other ships included a tug boat and supply ships.[9]

Organization of the Navy

As of 2016, Admiral Orlando Miguel Maneiro Gaspar is the Commanding General of the National Navy.[10]

The Naval Operations Command is commanded by the Chief of Naval Operations, currently Vice Admiral Antonio Díaz Clemente.[11] This command is aimed towards the defense of the territorial maritime and inland waters and the coastline of the nation, and by extension into its ground and air territories.

Venezuelan Naval Aviation Command

The command serves as the air arm of the Venezuelan Navy, with responsibility for air operations and transport for the entire Navy.[12]

Coast Guard Command

Headquartered in La Guaira, Vargas, it is responsible for the surveillance of Venezuelas jurisdictional waters.[13]

Current ships

Class Image Type Ships Origin Note
Submarine(2)
Type 209Diesel-electricS-31 Sábalo
S-32 Caribe		 Germany1,810 tonnes
Frigates (3)
Mariscal Sucre classMissile frigatesF-21 Mariscal Sucre
F-22 Almirante Brion
F-24 General Soublette		  Italy2,506 tonnes
Corvettes (4)
Guaiquerí classOffshore patrol vesselsPC-21 Guaiquerí
PC-22 Warao (Not operational)
PC-23 Yekuana
PC-24 Kariña		 Spain2,419 tons
Patrol vessels (10)
Guaicamacuto classCoast patrolGC-21 Guaicamacuto
GC-22 Yavire
GC-23 Naiguata
GC-24 Tamanaco		 Spain1,453 tons
Constitución classPatrol boatPC-11 Constitución
PC-12 Federación
PC-13 Independencia
PC-14 Libertad
PC-15 Patria
PC-16 Victoria		 United Kingdom950 tons
Amphibious ship and service ships (5)
Capana classLanding Ship TankT-61 Capana
T-64 Los Llanos		 South Korea?
Ciudad Bolívar classSupply shipT-81 Ciudad Bolívar South Korea?
Bricbarc type
Simón Bolívar		Training sailboatBE-11 Simón Bolívar Spain?
Punta Brava classOceanographic shipBO-11 Punta Brava Spain?

Fleet forces and Coast Guard ship organization

The following was the roster of active duty vessels and ships of the Venezuelan Navy as of October 2001.[14]

Vessels
Class Origin Type Currently in service Notes
Los Frailes Cuba, Netherlands Amphibious landing ship 4, with 8 more to be built[15]
Guaiquerí Spain Patrol (POVZEE) 4
Guaicamacuto Spain Patrol coast guard (BVL) 3
Pagalo Venezuela Cutter 1 -- Commissioned in 2008.[16][17]
Puerto Cabello Norway Logistic ship 1
Almirante Francisco de Miranda Venezuela, Netherlands Tugboat 1

Light frigates

Venezuelan frigates General Salóm (foreground) and Mariscal Sucre conduct maneuvers
  • Three Lupo/Mariscal Sucre-class missile frigates class[18]
    • F-21 Mariscal Sucre, in service 1980[14]
    • F-22 Almirante Brion, in service 1981[14]
    • F-24 General Soublette, in service (Modernized in Cuba 2014 - 2016 ?) [14]

Corvettes

PC-21 Guaiquerí
  • Four Spanish-made offshore patrol vessels of the Guaiquerí class.
    • PC-21 Guaiquerí, in service[19]
    • PC-22 Warao, to be repaired after grounding off Fortaleza, Brazil in August 2012[20][21]
    • PC-23 Yekuana, in service
    • PC-24 Kariña, in service

Coast patrol

GC-21 Guaicamacuto
  • Four Spanish-made offshore patrol vessels of the BVL class .
    • GC-21 Guaicamacuto, in service[22]
    • GC-22 Yavire, in service
    • GC-23 Naiguata, in service
    • GC-24 Tamanaco, completed in Venezuela 2014

Amphibious and service ships

  • Four Capana-class LST.
    • T-61 Capana, into service 1983, as of 2001.[14]
    • T-64 Los Llanos, into service 1983, as of 2001.[14]
  • Four Los Frailes-class LST
  • One Ciudad Bolívar-class supply ship.
    • T-81 Ciudad Bolívar, in service since 09-23-2001[23]
  • One Bricbarc type/Simón Bolívar training sailboat.[24]
    • BE-11 Simón Bolívar, in service since 08-6-1980
  • One Almirante Francisco de Miranda-class tugboat[25]
    • RA-11 Almirante Francisco de Miranda, in service since 28-03-2007

Coast guard ships

CASA 212

Airplanes

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service
as of 2012[29]		 Notes
CASA C-212-200 Patrullero Spain Maritime Patrol aircraft C-212-200S43 Patrullero 3
CASA C-212-400 Aviocar Spain Transport aircraft C-212-400 Aviocar 4
Beechcraft Super King Air USA Transport/liaison aircraft B200
B90		 1
1
Turbo Commander U.S. Transport aircraft 1

Note: The Navy has others two or three light aircraft.

Helicopters

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service
as of 2012[29]		 Notes
Bell 412
Bell 212		 U.S. Assault/transport helicopter 10 (9) One Bell 212 was taken out of service following an accident on 31 May 2018, which killed the pilot.[30]
Mil Mi-17 Russia Assault/transport helicopter Mi-17V-5 6
Bell 206 U.S. Training light helicopter TH-57A 2
Harbin Z-9 China Anti-submarine warfare 8 on order First delivery in 2015[31]

List of Commanders of the Navy

Commanders of the Boliviarian Navy of Venezuela
Commanding general Term of office
COL ANTONIO MENDOZA1811 - 1812
ADM LUIS BRION DETROX1816 - 1820
VADM LINO DE CLEMENTE Y PALACIOS1820 - 1822
RADM AGUSTIN ARMARIO1822 - 1827
CPT FELIPE SANTIAGO1827 - 1828
RADM RENATO BELUCHE LAPORTE1828 - 1829
CPT FELIPE SANTIAGO1829 - 1830
CDR JOAQUÍN QUINTERO1860
GEN MANUEL E., BRUZUAL1863 - 1868
RADM JOSE RAMON YEPES MOREN1874 - 1879
GEN FROILAN ANZOLA AQUINO1879
GEN AGUSTIN COLL FONT1879 - 1880
BRIG/RADM RAMON GIMENEZ GOMEZ1880
GEN CARLOS T IRWIN1880 - 1882
GEN FRANCISCO VARGUILLAS AQUINO1886
GEN FRANCISCO CARABAÑO1886 - 1888
GEN ANDRES EUSEBIO LEVEL1888 - 1892
GEN JOSE A PEREZ CALVO1892
GEN MARTIN JOSE VELARDE1892 - 1894
GENERAL MANUEL ANTONIO SANCHEZ1894 - 1895
GENERAL MANUEL SALVADOR BRICEÑO1895 - 1896
GENERAL RAMON GORDILS1896 - 1897
COL J M ESPAÑA NUÑEZ1897 - 1902
COMMO MANUEL VICENTE CASTRO ZAVALA1902 - 1910
COMMO ISMAEL PEREIRA ALVAREZ1910 - 1914
GEN DR. NUMA POMPILIO OSUNA1914 - 1917
COL MARIANO HENRIQUE LOPEZ MENDEZ1917 - 1931
COL CARLOS SANCHEZ1931 - 1936
CPT FELIPE LARRAZÀBAL1936 - 1940
CPT ANTONIO PICARDI1940 - 1945
RADM MANUEL ANTONIO VEGA GARCIA1945 - 1947
CDR WOLFGANG LARRAZÀBAL UGUETO1947 - 1949 (first term)
CPT OSCAR EMILIO GHERSY GOMEZ1949 - 1958
RADM WOLFGANG LARRAZABAL UGUETO1958 (second term, acting)
RADM CARLOS LARRAZABAL UGUETO1958 - 1962
RADM RICARDO SOSA RIOS1962 - 1964
RDML JUAN PEDRO TORREALBA MORALES1964 - 1967
RADM JESUS CARBONELL IZQUIERDO1967 - 1969
RDML JOSE CONSTANTINO SEIJAS VILLALOBOS1969 - 1973
RDML ARMANDO PEREZ LEEFMANS1973 - 1974
RDML ALFONSO MENDOZA RAMIREZ1974 - 1976
RADM FELIX JESUS MENDOZA ACOSTA1976 - 1977
RADM MAGIN MOISES LA GRAVE FRY1977 - 1979
RDML ERNESTO JOSE REYES LEAL1979 - 1980
RADM JESUS RAFEL BERTORELLI MORENO1980 - 1983
RADM HAROLDO JOSE RODRIGUEZ FIGUEROA1983 - 1984
RADM JUSTO PASTOR FERNANDEZ MARQUEZ1984 - 1986
RADM DIOFANTE ANTONIO TORREALBA CHAPARRO1986 - 1987
RADM FAUSTINO EDUVIGIS ALVARADO RODRIGUEZ1987 - 1989
RADM HECTOR RICARDO JURADO TORO1989 - 1990
RADM JUAN ARGENIS GARCIA1990 - 1991
RADM IGNACIO PEÑA CIMARRO1991 - 1993
RADM JULIAN ENRIQUE MAUCO QUINTANA1993 - 1994
RADM CARLOS AUGUSTO RAMOS FLORES1994 - 1995
RADM JESUS ENRIQUE BRICEÑO GARCIA1995 - 1996
RADM OSCAR JOSE MORALES MARTINEZ1996 - 1997
RADM JULIO HENRY CHACON HERNANDEZ1997 - 1999
RADM OSWALDO PASCUAL QUINTANA CASTRO1999 - 2000
RADM JORGE M., SIERRAALTA ZAVARCE2000 - 2002
RADM FERNANDO MIGUEL CAMEJO ARENAS2002 - 2003
RADM RAMON ORLANDO MANIGLIA FERREIRA2003 - 2004
(Later appointed Minister of Defense)
RADM ARMANDO JOSE LAGUNA LAGUNA2004 - 2007
RADM BENIGNO REMIGIO CALVO Díaz2007 - 2008
VADM ZAIM QUINTANA CASTRO2008 - 2009
VADM CARLOS ANIASI TURCHIO2010 - 2011
VADM DIEGO MOLERO BELLAVIA2011 - 2012
(Later appointed Minister of Defense)
VADM DIEGO ANTONIO GUERRA BARRETO2012 - 2013
VADM GILBERTO AMILCAR PINTO BLANCO2013 - 2014
VADM JAIRO AVENDAÑO QUINTERO2014 - 2015
VADM FRANKLIN MONTPLAISIER2015–2016
VADM ORLANDO GASPAR2016–2017
VADM EDGLIS EMILIO BALZA2017-2018
VADM GIUSEPPE CIMADEVILLA2018–present

References

  1. ↑ "Тральщики и минные заградители Италии". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "...:: Museo della Cantieristica ::..." Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Корабли, лодки, яхты…". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Battleships.ru Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Italian Dardanelli, ARV General Soublette - Warships 1900-1950". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "oceania / IN Ostia-1926". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  7. ↑ http://wcbstv.com/national/hugo.chavez.venezuela.2.822252.html%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  8. ↑ Reuters: Russia says to send battleship to Caribbean Sea
  9. ↑ "Russian navy sails to Venezuela". BBC News. September 22, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela - Comandante". Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela - Poder Naval". Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  13. ↑ Jane's Fighting Ships 2005-2006, ISBN 0-7106-2692-4 p.923
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "World Navies Today: Venezuela". 2001-10-26. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  15. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  16. ↑ "El presidente Chávez abandera el primer buque de guerra construido en Venezuela" [President Chavez championed the first warship built in Venezuela]. Soitu (in Spanish). 2008-09-11.
  17. ↑ "Chávez abandera el primer buque patrullero fabricado en Venezuela" [Chavez is leading the first patrol vessel manufactured in Venezuela]. El Economista (in Spanish). Agence France-Presse. 2008-09-11.
  18. ↑ John Pike. "Venezuela Warships". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  19. ↑ Navantia entrega a la Armada venezolana el primer Patrullero Oceánico de Vigilancia
  20. ↑ "El patrullero oceánico Warao (PC-22) de la Armada de Venezuela será reparado en Brasil". infodefense.com (in Spanish). 9 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "El patrullero oceánico Warao de la Armada de Venezuela arriba a Río de Janeiro para su eventual reparación". infodefense.com (in Spanish). 7 March 2013.
  22. ↑ "Navantia Launches and Commissions Two OPVs to Venezuelan Navy".
  23. ↑ http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo-503011-A.R.B.V.+CIUDAD+BOLIVAR+T-81
  24. 1 2 Jane's Fighting Ships 2005-2006, ISBN 0-7106-2692-4 p.925
  25. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  26. ↑ Mauricio Miranda (2008-02-26). "Analizan adquisición de un guardacostas en Venezuela" [Analyze acquisition of a cutter in Venezuela]. El Nuevo Diario. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  27. ↑ "Casi listo patrullero venezolano similar al ofertado a Nicaragua" [Almost ready like Venezuelan patrol offered to Nicaragua]. Nuestro Mar. 2008-03-06. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  28. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-08-08. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  29. 1 2 World Air Forces 2013 - Flightglobal.com, pg 30, December 11, 2012
  30. ↑ "Una teniente de fragata muerta y un oficial herido tras precipitarse helicóptero a tierra en Puerto Cabello - El Carabobeño". El Carabobeño (in Spanish). 2018-05-31. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  31. ↑ [ http://dmilt.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7868:venezuela-navy-orders-chinese-z-9-asw-helicopters&catid=35:latin-america&Itemid=58%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D Venezuela; Navy orders Chinese Z-9 ASW helicopters] - Dmilt.com, 7 September 2013
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