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Ecuadorian Navy

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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).

Ecuadorian Navy
Armada del Ecuador (Spanish)
Ecuadorian Navy insignia
Founded1832
Country Ecuador
TypeNavy
Size9,400[1]
27 vessels
Part ofArmed Forces of Ecuador
Anniversaries25 July, Navy Day and the anniversary of the Battle of Jambelí
Battle honoursEcuadorian–Peruvian War 1941
Commanders
Commander-in-chief of the NavyRear Admiral Luis Santiago Chávez
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack
Naval Aviation roundel

Mission

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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.

Vision

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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.

History

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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.

Present day

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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.

Active ships

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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]
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Name Origin Type Version Used by Notes
Naval artillery
QF 4.5 inch naval gun   United Kingdom Dual-purpose naval gun Mark VI Condell class frigate
Oto Melara 76/62 Compact Gun   Italy Dual-purpose naval gun 76/62 Compact Esmeraldas-class
Oto Melara Twin 40 Compact Gun   Italy Close-in weapon system (CIWS) Twin 40L70 Esmeraldas-class
Raytheon Phalanx 20mm Gatling Gun   United States Close-in weapon system (CIWS) Phalanx Block 0 Condell-class
Oerlikon GDM-A de 35   Italy
   Switzerland		 Naval turret Two 35mm autocannon TNC 45 Seawolf class
Anti-ship missiles
MBDA Exocet   France anti-ship missile (AShM) MM40 Block II
MM38		 Condell class frigate
Esmeraldas-class
TNC 45 Seawolf class FAC
IAI Gabriel   Israel anti-ship missile (AShM) Mk 2 TNC 45 Seawolf class FAC
Surface-to-air missile
MBDA Aspide   Italy surface-to-air missile (SAM) Albatros Aspide MK-1A Esmeraldas-class
MBDA Simbad   France surface-to-air missile (SAM) Mistral Condell-class
Anti-submarine torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo   United States anti-submarine lightweight torpedo Mod 5A Condell class frigate
Whitehead A244-S   Italy anti-submarine lightweight torpedo A244/S Esmeraldas-class
Torpedoes
WASS Black Shark   Italy 533 mm heavyweight torpedo Type 209 submarine [15]
Whitehead A-184   Italy 533 mm heavyweight torpedo A184 Mod 3 Type 209 submarine
Atlas Elektronik SST   Germany 533 mm heavyweight torpedo SST-4 Mod 0 Type 209 submarine
Atlas SUT   Germany 533 mm heavyweight torpedo AEG SUT 264 Type 209 submarine
STN Atlas Seehecht   Germany 533 mm heavyweight torpedo DM2A4 Type 209 submarine
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The Ecuadorian Naval Aviation (Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana) was formed in 1967 with fixed-wing aircraft and received some helicopters in 1973. It remains the least effective section of the navy; capable of performing limited maritime patrol missions, it consists of a fixed wing and a rotary wing element. Aircraft are based at Base Aérea Simón Bolívar in Guayaquil and the Eloy Alfaro Air Base in Manta. The most recent acquisitions of the ANE are two Heron 1 and four Searcher Mk. III[16] from Israel. These have increased the Navy's coastal surveillance capacity significantly.

Active aircraft

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Currently [when?] the Navy consists of the following aircraft:

Aircraft Origin Type Version In service Notes
Maritime patrol aircraft
Beechcraft Super King Air   United States Maritime surveillance aircraft CATPASS 250MP 3 Two units delivered in January and June 1997 respectively. CATPASS conversion includes a bottom-mounted surface-search radar, FLIR and ESM provisions.
CASA CN-235 Persuader   Spain Maritime patrol aircraft CN-235-100 MP Persuader
CN-235-300 MP Persuader 		1
1 		Maritime patrol/multipurpose transport aircraft equipped with the FITS system.
Helicopters
Bell 206 JetRanger
Bell TH-57 SeaRanger 		  United States Utility helicopter / Training helicopter 206B
TH-57A 		3
3
Bell 230   United States Radar surveillance helicopter 230T 1 Two units delivered in total. One unit crashed at sea in 2009.
Bell 430   United States Utility helicopter 430 3 Two units delivered on August 1, 2010. The first 430 received a Garmin GNS400 GPS coupled to the autopilot. Both were equipped with a Honeywell Mark XXII EGPWS, right hand sliding door, hoist provisions and some maintenance items.[17] Two units delivered on September 11, 2014. 1 crashed in 2024.[18]
Trainer Aircraft
Beechcraft T-34 Turbo Mentor   United States Advanced trainer T-34C-1 5
ENAER T-35 Pillán   Chile Basic trainer T-35B 4
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
IAI Heron   Israel MALE UAV Heron I 2 [19]
IAI Searcher   Israel Reconnaissance UAV Searcher III 4 [20]
Utility Aircraft
Beechcraft Super King Air   United States Light transport B200
B300
B350 		2
1
1
Beechcraft King Air   United States Light transport C90A 2
Cessna 172   United States Liaison aircraft SP 2

Coast Guard

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The Coast Guard (Cuerpo de Guardacostas de la Armada) became fully operational in 1980. Their mission is to control maritime activities on national territory, including all river zones. The objectives are internal security, protection of human life at sea, and environmental protection. It consists of around 250 men and 30 major as well as 40 smaller modern patrol vessels.[21] In 2011 Ecuador ordered four 26.5 metres (87 ft) patrol vessels based on the Damen Stan 2600 design for the Coast Guard.[22][23][24][25]

Marines

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The Naval Infantry Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina) was formed on 12 November 1962. It maintains a strength of around 1700[26] marines, with their HQ in Guayaquil. The units are individually spread across the naval coast of Ecuador and are equipped with infantry support weapons, including 60 mm and 81 mm mortars, 106 mm recoilless rifles (RCLs) and Humvees. However, it lacks amphibious assault and sealift capacity. The Ecuadorian Marines are to maintain a high level of alert in order to execute special operations in difficult territory as well as to provide a fast response to counter amphibious incursions. Structure:

  • Escuela de la Infanteria Marina (Naval Infantry School)
  • Compañia de Seguridad "Guayaquil" (Security Detachment)
  • Batallon de Infanteria Marina "Jambeli"
  • Battallon de Infanteria Marina "San Eduardo"
  • Battallon de Infanteria Marina "San Lorenzo"
  • Battallon de Infanteria Marina "Jaramijo"
  • Battallon de Infanteria Marina "Esmeraldas"
Name Type Caliber Origin In service Notes
General-purpose machine gun
Heckler & Koch HK21 HK21E 7.62×51mm NATO   Germany Standard general-purpose machine gun.
Assault rifle
M16 rifle A2/A4 5.56×45mm NATO   United States Standard assault rifle.
M4 carbine A1 5.56×45mm NATO   United States Special Forces.
Submachine gun
Heckler & Koch MP5 9×19mm Parabellum   Germany Special Forces.
Colt 9mm SMG 9×19mm Parabellum   United States Special Forces.
Semi-automatic pistol
M1911 pistol .45 ACP   United States Standard pistol.
Hand grenade
M26 grenade M26A1/M61   United States
Red dot sight
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight Reflex sight   United States Used by special forces.
Aimpoint CompM4 Reflex sight   United States Used by special forces.
Grenade launcher
Milkor MGL 40 mm grenade   South Africa
M203 grenade launcher 40 mm grenade   United States Grenade launcher coupled in M4 carbines.
Anti-materiel rifle
Barrett M82 .50 BMG   United States
Infantry mortar
M1 mortar 81 mm   United States
M29 mortar 81 mm   United States
Hirtenberger M6C-210 60 mm   Austria Light mortar, used by special operations units.
Recoilless rifle
M40 recoilless rifle 105 mm   United States
M67 recoilless rifle Shoulder-launched missile 90 mm   United States
Rocket-propelled grenade
RPG-7 Shoulder-launched missile 40 mm   Soviet Union
Man-portable air-defense system
MBDA Mistral MANPADS   France Some mounted on Humvee and truck platform.
Howitzer
M101 howitzer Towed 105mm Howitzer   United States
Light utility vehicle
Humvee 4×4   United States 30 Around 30 humvees are in use within the Naval Infantry Corps.[27][28][29]
Military truck
M939 Truck 6×6   United States Donated by the US NAS program in 2003.[30]
Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6   Germany
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  •  
    Ecuadorian navy FSG Corvette ESMERALDAS (CM 11), equipped with 2 x 3 MM40 Exocet SSM, 1 x 4 Aspide SAM, 1 x 76mm gun, 6 x 324mm ASTI, helicopter on deck (Bell 206).
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    An Ecuadorian Marine with a HK-33 rifle, during an amphibious assault exercise (UNITAS), in the background a US Amphibious Assault Vehicle.
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    Ecuadorian submarine BAE Shyri in 2003. Ecuador owns two of these submarines.
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    An Ecuadorian Coast Guard combat ship (LG-40) during an exercise.
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    The Ecuadorian corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14) during an exercise.
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    The Ecuadorian Navy corvette BAE Manabi (CM 12) during an exercise.
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    The school ship Guayas on a visit in Argentina.
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    The Guayas in Sweden (2008).
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    Ecuadorian sailors assigned to the Ecuadorian Corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14).
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    Ecuadorian Navy ship Guayas, visiting Pearl Harbor.
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    In 1991, acquired from the Royal Navy along with the former Danae (F47), the Eloy Alfaro was decommissioned on 19 March 2008, after 17 years of service in the Ecuadorian Navy.
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    Acquired in 1991 from the Royal Navy, the Morán Valverde was decommissioned in October 2008.
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    Along with her sister ship Almirante Lynch, the former Almirante Condell, renamed BAE Eloy Alfaro (FM 01). Both ships were handed over by the Chilean Navy to the Navy of Ecuador on 18 April 2008.[31]
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    In March 2008, the Almirante Lynch and sister ship Almirante Condell (PFG-06) were sold to Ecuador. The former Almirante Lynch is in active service under the name BAE Morán Valverde.
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    An Ecuadorian maritime interdiction team, armed with MP5s, assigned to conduct a visit, board, search, and seizure exercise.

Ranks

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Main article: Military ranks of Ecuador

Commissioned officer ranks

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Ecuadorian Navy[32]
                     
Almirante Vicealmirante Contralmirante Capitán de navío Capitán de fragata Capitán de corbeta Teniente de navío Teniente de fragata Alferez de fragata

Other ranks

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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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. London: Routledge. p. 410. ISBN 9781032012278.
  2. ^ Wikisource. "Parte oficial peruano sobre el Combate Naval de Jambeli". Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  3. ^ Nikolay Mityukov. "Zagadka boya v prolivye Hambeli" (Mystery of a skirmish in Jambeli channel), Tekhnika i Vooruzhenie 10/2005, p. 28-31 (in Russian)
  4. ^ Ecuadorian Navy website. "Comandancia de Escuadra". Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  5. ^ http://www.elciudadano.gob.ec/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36938:termino-proceso-de-modernizacion-del-submarino-shyri-en-los-astilleros-de-chile&catid=40:actualidad&Itemid=63[permanent dead link‍] in Spanish
  6. ^ "Armada de Chile | Submarino ecuatoriano recaló en Asmar Talcahuano". Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012. In Spanish
  7. ^ "BAE Huancavilca SS-102 termino su modernizacion en ASMAR (Chile)". www.elSnorkel.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  8. ^ Ecuadorian Navy website. "FM - 01 Presidente Alfaro". Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  9. ^ Ecuadorian Navy website. "CM 11 Esmeraldas". Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  10. ^ "Ecuadorian Navy rejoins 'Unitas LIX' exercise". Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  11. ^ Ecuadorian Navy website. "TR - 62 Calicuchima". Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  12. ^ Ecuadorian Navy website. "TR - 64 Quisquis". Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  13. ^ Ecuadorian Navy website. "RA - 70 R. Chimborazo". Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  14. ^ Ecuadorian Navy website. "L.A.E SIRIUS se incorporó a la Fuerza Naval". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Microsoft Word - FUERZA OPERATIVA.docx". armada.mil.ec. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  16. ^ El Telègrafo. "Seis aviones no tripulados ingresan a filas navales". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  17. ^ "Ecuadorian Navy receives delivery of two Bell 430's from URS" (PDF).[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Armada confirma muerte de piloto y copiloto que iban en helicóptero accidentado en La Frutilla, Santa Elena". El Universo (in Spanish). 6 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  19. ^ IAI Website. "HERON 1". Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  20. ^ IAI Website. "SEARCHER Mk III". Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  21. ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  22. ^ "L'Equateur commande une vedette garde-côte" [Ecuador orders a star Coast Guard]. Mer et Maritime. 16 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011. The Dutch group Damen shipyard and the Ecuadorian Astinave signed with the coastguard service of Ecuador, the order type of a star Stan Patrol 2606.
  23. ^ "Damen Signs Contract to Build Stan Patrol 2606 Boat at Astinave Yard in Ecuador". World Maritime News. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  24. ^ "Astinave contracts Damen for fourth Patrol Vessel". Damen Group. 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014. Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos EP - has recently awarded Damen Shipyards Group the contract for a fourth Patrol Vessel of the Damen Stan Patrol 2606 type. This contract represents the last of this SPa 2606 series for the Ecuadorian Coastguard to be built locally.
  25. ^ "Signing of contract SPa 2606 Ecuador". Damen Group. 2 November 2011. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  26. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ^ "Modelarstwo Plastikowe • (HUMVEE) /Zakończony/ M998 MAPATS Ekwador (1:72)". Modelwork.pl. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  28. ^ "Guнa: HUMVEE - HMMWV (USO MILITAR) - MercadoLibre". Guia.mercadolibre.com.ar. 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  29. ^ "Country Overview | Just the Facts - U.S. military aid to Latin America and the Caribbean". Justf.org. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  30. ^ Publicado por Intelligence, Defense, Security Service (3 September 2010). "Intelligence, Defense and Security: ECUADOR RECIBE DONACION DE CAMIONES MILITARES DE EEUU". Intelligenceservicechile.blogspot.com. Retrieved 15 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Armada de Chile website Archived 24 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
  32. ^ "Rangos". armada.mil.ec (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Tripulantes". armada.mil.ec (in Spanish). Ecuadorian Navy. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
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