Ecuadorian Navy

The Ecuadorian Navy () is an Ecuadorian entity responsible for the surveillance and protection of national maritime territory and has a personnel of 9,400 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.'': (Ship of the Ecuadorian Navy) or ''L.A.E.'': (Boat of the Ecuadorian Navy).

Mission

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

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

The roots of the Ecuadorian Navy or () 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 , 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 commanded by Rafael Morán Valverde encountered the Peruvian destroyer ''Almirante Villar'' in the Jambeli channel. 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. 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

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

Currently the Navy consists of the following vessels:

Naval weapon systems

Naval aviation

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 from Israel. These have increased the Navy's coastal surveillance capacity significantly.

Active aircraft

Currently the Navy consists of the following aircraft:

Coast Guard

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.
In 2011 Ecuador ordered four patrol vessels based on the Damen Stan 2600 design for the Coast Guard.

Marines

The Naval Infantry Corps (''Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina'') was formed on 12 November 1962. It maintains a strength of around 1700 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)
*''Batallón de Infanteria Marina "Jambeli"''
*''Batallón de Infanteria Marina "San Eduardo"''
*''Batallón de Infanteria Marina "San Lorenzo"''
*''Batallón de Infanteria Marina "Jaramijo"''
*''Batallón de Infanteria Marina "Esmeraldas"''

Equipment gallery

File:Ecuadorian navy ship ESMERALDAS.jpg, 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).
File:Ecuadoran marine DN-ST-92-03538.jpg, An Ecuadorian Marine with a HK-33 rifle, during an amphibious assault exercise ( UNITAS), in the background a US Amphibious Assault Vehicle.
File:Submarino Shyri.jpg, Ecuadorian submarine BAE Shyri in 2003. Ecuador owns two of these submarines.
File:US Navy 070902-N-7029R-004 A rigid hull inflatable boat prepares to embark Ecuadorian surface combat ship LAE 11 De Noviembre (LG 40) to conduct a visit, board, search and seizure training exercise during PANAMAX 2007.jpg, An Ecuadorian Coast Guard combat ship (LG-40) during an exercise.
File:US Navy 050807-F-4883S-001 The Ecuadorian corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14) sits pier side in Panama City, Panama before beginning at sea exercises during PANAMAX 2005.jpg, The Ecuadorian corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14) during an exercise.
File:US Navy 050712-N-4374S-005 The Ecuadorian Navy corvette BAE Manabi (CM 12) underway in front of a formation during UNITAS 46-05 Pacific Phase.jpg, The Ecuadorian Navy corvette BAE Manabi (CM 12) during an exercise.
File:Guayas-MDQ-2.jpg, The school ship ''Guayas'' on a visit in Argentina.
File:Guayas Schweden 2008.jpg, The ''Guayas'' in Sweden (2008).
File:US Navy 050807-F-4883S-030 Ecuadorian Sailors assigned to the Ecuadorian Corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14), prepare for quarters while in port at Panama City, Panama, before beginning at sea exercises during PANAMAX 2005.jpg, Ecuadorian sailors assigned to the Ecuadorian Corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14).
File:US Navy 081016-N-9758L-055 cuadorian Navy tall ship ES Guayas passes the USS Arizona Memorial as she makes her way into Naval Station Pearl Harbor.jpg, Ecuadorian Navy ship ''Guayas'', visiting Pearl Harbor.
File:Ex-hms-penelope-entregada-a-ecuador-en-1991.jpg, 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.
File:21 HMS Danae Mediterranean Jan1970.jpg, Acquired in 1991 from the Royal Navy, the Morán Valverde was decommissioned in October 2008.
File:DN-SN-97-01703.jpg, 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.Armada de Chile website

File:Chilean frigate Almirante Lynch.jpg, In March 2008, the ''Almirante Lynch'' and sister ship were sold to Ecuador. The former ''Almirante Lynch'' is in active service under the name BAE ''Morán Valverde''.
File:US Navy 080816-N-7643B-002 A maritime interdiction team assigned to the Ecuadorian corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14) conduct a visit, board, search and seizure exercise.jpg, An Ecuadorian maritime interdiction team, armed with MP5s, assigned to conduct a visit, board, search, and seizure exercise.

Ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

See also

*Armed Forces of Ecuador
* Bolivarian Armada of Venezuela
* Colombian National Armada
*Peruvian Navy

References

External links

*

{{authority control

Military history of the Pacific Ocean