Myanmar Navy

Pre-independence

A Burmese war boat, in 1795

The naval arm of the Royal Armed Forces consisted mainly of shallow draft river boats. Its primary missions were to control the Irrawaddy River, and to protect the ships carrying the army to the front. The major war boats carried up to 30 musketeers and were armed with 6- or 12-pounder cannon.^[1] By the mid-18th century, the navy had acquired a few seafaring ships, manned by European and foreign sailors, that were used to transport the troops in Siamese and Arakanese campaigns.

The Arakanese and the Mon, from maritime regions, maintained more seaworthy flotillas than the inland riverborne "navy" of the Royal Burmese Army. The Arakanese in particular fielded a formidable seagoing navy that terrorised the coasts of Bay of Bengal during the 15th and 17th centuries.

Founding and the Second World War

The Myanmar Navy was formed as the Navy of Burma in 1940 and, although very small, played an active part in Allied operations against the Japanese during the Second World War.

Burmese independence

In December 1947, the Union of Burma Navy was formed with 700 men. The fleet initially consisted of a small but diverse collection of ships transferred from the Royal Navy under the arrangements made for Burma's independence in January 1948. It included the UBS Mayu, an ex-Royal Navy River-class frigate, and four Landing Craft Gun (Medium). Armed with two 25-pounder (88 mm) guns and two 2-pounder (44 mm) guns, these landing craft were used as support gunboats.^[2]

1950s

In 1950 and 1951, the United States provided 10 coast guard cutters (CGC) under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP). The Myanmar Navy played an important part in the government's fight against the ethnic and ideological insurgent groups which threatened the Union Government in its early days. The Myanmar Navy performed both defensive and offensive roles, protecting convoys, carrying supplies, ferrying troops and giving much-needed fire support. It was instrumental in relieving the port city of Moulmein, which was captured by Karen insurgents in 1948, and the Irrawaddy Delta town of Bassein. Although one armed patrol boat defected to the Karen insurgents, throughout the turbulent years of post independence in Myanmar, the navy was largely unopposed and maintained control over Myanmar's crucial inland waterways.^[3]

In 1956 and 1957, the Myanmar government acquired five 50-long-ton (51 t) Saunders-Roe Dark-class convertible motor torpedo/motor gunboats,^[4] followed by an 1,040-long-ton (1,060 t) Algerine-class minesweeper in 1958 from the United Kingdom.^[5] In the late-1950s and early-1960s, the United States sold the Myanmar Navy six PGM type coastal patrol crafts and seven CGC type patrol boats.^[6] In the mid-1960s, the Myanmar Navy took delivery of ex-US Navy 640-long-ton (650 t) PCE-827 class^[7] corvette and a 650-long-ton (660 t) Admirable-class minesweeper, both of which were commissioned in the mid-1940s. In 1978, the United States provided the Myanmar Navy with six small river patrol crafts.^[8] In 1958, Myanmar's Navy took delivery of 10 Y-301-class river gunboats from Yugoslavia, followed by 25 smaller Michao-class patrol craft.

1960s

Efforts were made to produce locally made naval vessels with assistance from Yugoslavia. In 1960, the Myanmar Navy commissioned two 400-long-ton (410 t) Nawarat-class corvettes. Their armaments include 25-pounder field gun and 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun.^[9] Myanmar shipyards also built a number of smaller patrol craft and a number of landing craft. Landing craft and auxiliary ships are usually armed with Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns and heavy machine guns.^[10]

1970s

Although the Myanmar Navy expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s, the navy was unable to keep pace with loss or deterioration of older vessels in the 1970s until naval replacement program was initiated by BSPP Government in 1979. In 1980, the Myanmar Navy acquired six Carpentaria-class inshore patrol boats from Australia followed by three 128-ton Swift type coastal patrol boats from Singapore and three 385-ton Ospery-class offshore patrol vessels built in Denmark. The Ospery and Swift-class boats have a range of 4,500 and 1,800 miles (7,200 and 2,900 km) respectively and were armed with Oerlikon 20 mm cannons and 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns. In the early years of the 1980s, Myanmar shipyards built three 128-ton PGM type patrol boats based upon US PGM-class patrol boats. Each boat was armed with two 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns and two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns.

1990s

The Myanmar Navy purchased six missile escort boats and 10 submarine chasers from China. Since 1998, the navy has built two 77 m (252 ft 7 in) Anawrahta-class corvettes (771 and 772) and four fast attack craft (551-554).

May 2008 Cyclone Nargis

As many as 25 Burmese naval ships may have been sunk in the storm caused by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, while an unknown number of naval personnel and their family members were killed or are listed as missing.^[11] The Network for Democracy and Development in Thailand reported that 30 officers and 250 Burmese naval personnel were declared missing, while 25 vessels were destroyed by the cyclone in three naval regional command centres: Panmawaddy Regional Command on Hainggyi Island; Irrawaddy Regional Command; and Danyawaddy Regional Command in Sittwe in Arakan State.

Attacks on Thai fishers and civilians

In May 1998, Colonel Zaw Min, landed on Christie Island and found 59 people gathering wood and bamboo in violation of Burmese law. The order came down from General Than Shwe that they were to be "eliminated" and they were all subsequently murdered.^[12]

A few days later, members of the Burmese Navy captured a Thai fishing boat that had strayed close to Christie Island. The 22 fishermen on board were shot and buried on the island.^[12]

December 2016 Bay of Bengal shooting incident

In December 2016, Bangladesh' border guard accused the Myanmar Navy of firing on four Bangladeshi fishermen in a trawler on the Bay of Bengal, leading to a formal protest.^[13]

Commanders of Naval Region Command

Frigates

The Myanmar Navy started its modernisation program in 2001 in an attempt to replace older ships and equipment. In 2012, the navy took delivery of two Type 053H1 class frigates from China. These two ships were upgraded extensively. Upgrades included the replacing of HY 2 anti ship missiles by C-802 missiles and installing new sensors. The first indigenous frigate, the Aung Zeya entered service in 2011 and took part in a joint exercise with Indian Navy ships off Visakhapatnam in early 2013. A second ship, Kyan Sittha entered service in 2012 and is the navy's first stealth frigate. The navy plans to build six indigenous frigates; combining Russian, Indian, Chinese, and Western weapons systems. These ships are equipped with Kh-35E anti-ship missiles, OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Cannons, AK-630 6-barrel 30mm close-in weapon system (CIWS) and Chinese ASW rockets and torpedoes. Radars and electronic systems are mainly from Bharat Electronics of India. Myanmar acquired surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles from China for its newly built frigates and OPVs. Myanmar Navy Shipyard which was acquired from China in late-1990s is one of the most modern shipyards in the region. Many Myanmar naval engineers underwent shipbuilding training in China and Russia.

Corvettes and FAC (stealth)

In early 2011, two corvettes, 771 and 772, were upgraded to by installing C-802 missiles, SAMs, sonar, RBU 1200 ASW rockets, and new surface and air search radars. The most significant development was the launching of two new FAC (stealth) (pennant number P 491) which is 49 meters long and armed with 4 x C 802 missiles and a single AK 630 CIWS.

Twenty 45-meter class FACs (guns and missiles) are the backbone of the navy, but these ships are too small for new weapons and electronic systems. This is the main reason for initiating the 49 meter class FAC (stealth). Older Hainan class FAC (submarine chaser) will be degraded to Category B reserve by 2016.

Administrative and support units

• Naval headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Naypyidaw)
• Strategic Naval Command (headquarters in Naypyidaw)
• Naval Training Command (Seikkyi)
• Naval Shipyard Headquarters (Yangon)
• Central Naval Hydrographic Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Diving and Salvage Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Engineering Depot (botataung,Yangon)
• Central Naval Stores Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Communications Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Armaments Deport (Seikkyi)

Naval regional commands and bases

• Irrawaddy Regional Command (headquarters in Yangon)
  • Thanhklyet Soon Naval Base
  • Bassein Naval Base
  • Coco Island Base (Naval Radar Unit)
• Danyawaddy Regional Command (headquarters in Sittwe)
  • Kyaukpyu Naval Base
  • Thandwe (Sandoway) Naval Base
• Panmawaddy Regional Command (headquarters on Hainggyi Island)
• Mawyawaddy Regional Command (headquarters in Moulmein)
• Tanintharyi Regional Command (headquarters in Mergui)
  • Zadetkyi Island Naval Base
  • Mali (Tavoy) Naval Base
  • Palai Island Naval Base
  • Kadan Naval Base
  • Sakanthit Naval Base
  • Lambi Naval Base
  • Pearl Island Naval Base
  • Zadetkale Naval Base (Radar Unit)

Naval infantry

The Myanmar Navy formed a naval infantry battalion of 800 men in 1964, and a second battalion in 1967. Third and fourth battalions may have also been raised. They battalions traditionally are deployed mainly in the Arakan, Tenasserim, and Irrawaddy delta coastal regions primarily to assist in the army's counter-insurgency operations.

Naval base air defence force

Myanmar Naval air defence forces use Bofors 40mm & ZPU-2 AAA for naval bases.

Naval aviation

The Myanmar Navy formed a naval aviation unit in 2014. Current inventory of the naval aviation fleets involve:

Frigates

Class	Photo	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Kyan Sittha Class		Naval Dockyard (Myanmar)	F12 - Kyansittha F14 - Sinbyushin	2014 2015	1× Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Cannons 3 x NG-18 6-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns 6 x turret-mounted Igla SAM 8 x C-802 anti-ship missiles[19] ASW torpedoes Rocket Launchers, possibly ASW rockets or decoy rockets	Stealth shaping, with helicopter hangar
Aung Zeya Class[20]		Naval Dockyard (Myanmar)	F11 - Aung Zeya	2008	1× Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Cannons 4 x AK-630 6-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns 6 × SA-N-5 SAM 8 x Kh-35E anti-ship missiles Triple 324 mm YU-7 ASW torpedoes Rocket Launchers, possibly ASW rockets or decoy rockets
Jianghu-II Class Type 053H1		Hudong Shipyard (People's Republic of China)	F22 - Mahar Bandoola F23 - Mahar Thiha Thura	2012	2 x 100 mm gun 4 x dual 37 mm AA guns 8 x C-802 anti ship Missile 2 x Type 81 (RBU-1200) 5-tube ASW RL (30 rockets), or 2 x Type 3200 6-tube ASW RL (36 rockets) 2 x Type 62 5-tube A/S mortar launchers 2 x depth charge (DC) racks & projector

Corvettes

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Anawratha Class	Myanmar Navy dock yard	771 - UMS Anawratha 772 - UMS Bayinnaung 773 - UMS Tabinshwehti	2001 2003[21] 2016	1 × Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Cannons 1 × Type 69/AK-230 twin-barrel 30 mm CIWS gun 2 × Type 58/ZPU 2 Anti-aircraft Gun 6 × SA-N-5 SAM 4 × C-802 Surface-to-Surface Missile 2 × RBU-1200 or Type 81 ASW rocket launchers 1 helipad	UMS Tabinshwehti was the latest design of the class and featured the stealth shaping. Launched on 2014 and commissioned on 24 December 2016.

FAC - missile

Class	Photo	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Stealth ship		Naval Dockyard (Myanmar)	491	2012	1 × AK-630 six-barrel 30 mm CIWS gun 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns 4 x C-802A anti-ship missile	[22]
Houxin class		Qiuxin Shipyards, Shanghai,	471 - MaGa 472 - SaitTra 473 - DuWa 474 - ZeyHta 475 - HanTha 476 - BanDa	1995,1996,1997	2 × 30 mm AK 230 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns 4 × C-802 Surface-to-Surface Missile
5-Series class[23]		Naval Dockyard (Myanmar)	556 557 558 559 560	2004	2 × 30 mm AK 230 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns 4 × C-802 Surface-to-Surface Missile
5-Series class[23]		Naval Dockyard (Myanmar)	561 562 567 568 569 570	2008, 2012	2 × 30 mm AK 230 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns 6 × SA-N-5 SAM 2 x C-802A Surface to Surface Anti-ship Missile

FAC - gun

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
5-Series class[23]	Naval Dockyard (Myanmar)	551 552 553 554 555 563 564 565 566	1996,2013	1 × 37 mm AA gun 2 × Type 87 - 25 mm twin guns 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns

FAC - submarine chaser

Class	Photo	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Hainan		Dalian, Qiuxin and Huangpu Shipyard,	442-Yan Htet Aung 443-Yan Nyein Aung 444-Yan Khwinn Aung 445-Yan Min Aung 446-Yan Ye Aung 447-Yan Pang Aung 448-Yan Win Aung 449-Yan Aye Aung 450-Yan Zwe Aung	1991,1993	2 × Type 66 - 57mm twin guns 2 × Type 87 - 25 mm twin guns 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns RBU	441, Yan Sit Aung was sunk by cyclone Nargis[24] 1991, Six Crafts and 1993, four crafts

Large patrol combatants

Class	Photo	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Osprey Class-50[23][25]		Danyard A/S, Frederikshavn,  Denmark	55 (Indaw) 57 (Inya)	1982	1 / 40mm 60-cal. Bofors AA 2 / 20mm 70-cal. Oerlikon AA	56 (Inma) sank
Inle Class		Naval Dock,  Myanmar	54 (Inle)	2017[26][27]	Guns, Helipad

Coastal patrol craft

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
PGM 43 class[23][25]	Marinette Marine, Wisconsin; last two by Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, WI, United States	401 402 403 404 405 406	1959–1961	1 x Bofors 40 mm gun 2 x dual Oerlikon 20 mm canon 2 x 12.7mm MG
Y311 class - modified Y301[23][25]	Sinmalaik, Burma	Y311	1967	2 x Bofors 40 mm gun	Y-312 was reported sunk by cyclone Nargis[24]
Y Series class[23][25]	Uljanik SY, Pola, Yugoslavia	301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310	1957–1960	2 x Bofors 40 mm gun 2 x Oerlikon 20 mm canon

Cruiser patrol craft

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
PGM-421 class or Swift class[23][25]	Vosper Naval Systems Pte Ltd, Singapore	422 423	1980	2 x 40 mm Bofors 2 x Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 2 x 12.7 mm Machine Guns Pathfinder Radar	421 lost at sea

Patrol craft

Class	Photo	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Carpentaria class[23][25]		Australia	112 113 114 115 116 117[23]	1978–1980	MK10 AA, radar, 20mm 70cal
412 class[23][25]		Burma Naval Dockyard, Rangoon	412 413 414 416	1983–1984	2x40mm AA, 2x12.7mm machine gun	415 was sunk
PB-90[23][25]		Yugoslavia	424 425 426	1990	M-75 AA, Radar, 2x quadruplet 20mm cal
Super Dvora Mk III-class patrol boat[28]		Israel	271 272	2017	1 × Typhoon 25-30 mm stabilized cannon/Oerlikon 20 mm cannon2 × 12.7 mm machine guns

Torpedo boat

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Torpedo Boat	Naval Dockyard (Myanmar)	T201	2014	8 × torpedo	With an aluminium body and a length of 70 ft (21 m), the new torpedo boat has low observable radar characteristics, a maximum speed of 35 kt, and is reportedly armed with up to eight Russian- or Chinese-manufactured torpedoes.[29]

Minesweeper

Class	Photo	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Admirable-class minesweeper		United States	41 ( Yan Tang Aung) 42[30](Yan Gyi Aung)	1967	1x76mm Cannon 2x 40mm Bofer Anti Aircraft Gun 4xAuliGun Hedgehog Anti Submarine Destroyer	41 and 42 seen on 67th Myanmar Navy Anniversary, December 2014, Honoring Commander in Chief

Coastal land craft mechanised

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
LCM	Naval Engineering Depot [23]	709 710	1967
LCM	Naval Engineering Depot [31]	1611	2005
LCM	Naval Engineering Depot [31]	1612 1613	2013
LCM	Naval Engineering Depot	1614 1615	2017		Commissioned in 2017 Dec 24, 56m Long[32][33]
LCT	Naval Engineering Depot [31]	1701 1702 1703 1704 1705 1706	2015	Machine Gun	Commissioned in 2015 Dec 24[34] 29m long
LCT	Navel Engineering Depot	1707 1708 1709 1710 1711 1712	2016	Machine Gun	Commissioned in 2016 Dec 24[35] 29meter long
LCT	Naval Engineering Depot	1713 1714 1715 1716	2017		Commissioned in 2017 Dec 24, 29m Long[36][37]

Coastal land craft utility

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
LCU	Naval Dock	605[23]	1984
LCU		603[23]	1963–1968

Coastal survey ship

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Survey ship[23]	Tito SY, Belgrade, Yugoslavia	801 Thutaythi	1965	helipad 2 x40 mm, 2x 20 mm machine gun

Coastal logistics and tanker ships

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
coastal tanker[23][25]	Watenabe Zosen K.K., Hakata, Japan  Japan	608	1991	None
coastal tanker[23][25]	Shimoda Dockyard, Shimoda, Japan  Japan	609 class	1986	None
coastal logistics ship[23][25]	Germany	601 Pyi Daw Aye (1)	1975	None
coastal logistics ship[23][25]	Japan	602 Pyi Daw Aye (2)	2002	None
coastal logistics ship[23][25]	A/S Nordsovaerftet, Ringkobing,  Norway	Ayidawaya	1991	None
coastal transport[23][25]	Myanmar	612 613 615 618	1990	AA Gun
Yadanabon[23][25]	Myanmar	VIP Transport	1990
Thanlwin	Myanmar	Hospital AH-02	2015		Commissioned in 2015 Dec 24[34] 25-bed hospital including CT scan room, minor eye operation room, minor operation theater, and major operation theater
Shwe Pu Zun	Myanmar	Hospital AH-01	2012
Chin Dwin	Myanmar	Troop Carrier AP-01	2016[38]

River patrol craft

Class		Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
PBR class		United States[23]	211 212 213 214 215 216	1978–1982	1 × twin M2HB .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns (forward in a rotating tub) 1 × single M2HB (rear) 1 or 2 × M60 7.62 mm machine gun(s) (side-mounted) 1 × 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher
Yan Naing class[23]		Myanmar	501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510	1970	Machine Gun, OA
Michao Class[23]		Yugoslavia	001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022 023 024 025	1963–1968	2x20mm OA

Floating dry dock

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Floating dry dock	China	FD01 - Saya Shan[31]	2013

Unmanned surface vehicle - USV

Class	Builder	Serial Number	Year Entered Service	Armament	Note
Unmanned Surface Vehicle	Myanmar		2014	seen on 67th Myanmar Navy Anniversary, 24 December 2014[39]
Unmanned Surface Vehicle	Myanmar		2016	seen on 69th Myanmar Navy Anniversary, 24 December 2016[40]