Myanmar Navy

The Myanmar Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of Myanmar with 16,000 men and women. The Myanmar Navy currently operates more than 122 vessels. Before 1988, the Myanmar Navy was small and its role in the many counterinsurgency operations against insurgents was much less conspicuous than those of the army and air force. Yet the navy has always been, and remains, an important factor in Myanmar's security and it was dramatically expanded in recent years to a provide blue water capability and external threat defence role in Myanmar's territorial waters.

History

Myanmar Naval Ensign

Before 1988

The Myanmar Navy was formed in 1940 and, although very small, played an active part in Allied operations against the Japanese during the Second World War. 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 UK under the arrangements made for Burma's independence in January 1948. It included UBS Mayu, ex-Royal Navy River class frigate and four Landing Craft Gun (Medium). Armed with two 25-pounder (88mm) guns and two 2-pounder (44mm) guns, these landing craft were used as support gunboats. In 1950 and 1951, the US provided 10 coast guard cutters (CGC) under the Mutual Defence 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 independance in Myanmar, the navy was largely unopposed and managed to maintain control over Myanmar's crucial inland waterways.

File:Myanmarnavy1.jpg

UMS Anawrahta, a 77 meter corvette of Myanmar Navy. Myanmar Navy shipyard has built three corvettes between 1997 to 2006 and two more corvettes and a 108-metre frigates are being built.

In 1956 and 1957, Myanmar government acquired five 50-ton Saunders-Roe Dark class convertible motor torpedo/motor gunboats, followed by an 1040-tons Algerine class minesweeper in 1958 from United Kingdom.In the late 1950s and early 1960s, United States sold Myanmar Navy six PGM type coastal patrol crafts and seven CGC type patrol boats. In the mid 1960s, Myanmar Navy took delivery of ex-US Navy 640-tons PCE-827 class corvette and 650-tons Admirable class minesweeper, both of which were commissioned in the mid 1940s. In 1978, United States provided Myanmar Navy with six small river patrol crafts. In 1958, Myanmar Navy took delivery of 10 Y-301 class river gunboats from Yugoslavia, followed by 25 smaller Michao class patrol crafts.

Efforts were made to produce locally made Naval vessels with assistance from Yugoslavia. In 1960, Myanmar Navy commissioned two 400-ton Nawarat Class corvettes. Their armaments include 25 pounder field gun and 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft gun. Myanmar shipyards also built the navy a number of smaller patrol crafts and a number of landing crafts. Landing crafts and auxiliary ships are usually armed with Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft guns and Heavy machine guns. Although Myanmar Navy has expanded rapidly during 1950s and 1960s, however, the navy was unable to keep pace with loss or deterioration of older vassels in 1970s until naval replacement program was initiated by BSPP Government in 1979. In 1980, 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 respectively and were armed with Oerlikon 20 mm cannons and 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft guns. In the early years of 1980s, Myanmar shipyards built three 128-ton PGM type patrol boats based upon US PGM Class patrol boats. Each were armed with two 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft guns and two 12.7mm Heavy machine guns.

A naval infantry battalion (of 800 men) was formed in 1964, followed by a second battalion in 1967. They were deployed mainly to the Arakan and Tenasserim areas, and to the Irrawaddy delta, to assist in counter-insurgency operations, but also performed other security duties.

By 1988, Myanmar Navy's strength was about 100 vessels, with displacements ranging from 8 tons to 650 tons.

Vessel Type	Quantity
Corvettes	4
Offshore Patrol Boats	3
Coastal Patrol Crafts	12
Inshore Patrol Boats	6
River Patrol Craft	36
Gunboats	21
Suvery Ships	2
Support Ships	2
Transport/Landing Ships	14

Role

The primary task of Myanmar Navy was patrolling the country's rivers and inshore waters in support of the army's counterinsurgency operations. One third of the fleet was dedicated for this operation under "Strategic Naval Force" (Sit Byu Ha Yay Yin Su) at any time. The navy was used for reconnaissance, provide fire support and help maintain static defence around strategic towns. Myanmar Navy also help supplement the army's logistics supply system during counterinsurgency campaigns.

The secondary task was coastal surveillance and fisheries protection for 148,000 kilometre maritime zone against fish poaching, smuggling, insurgent movements and pirate activities. Long-range patrols were conducted by the navy's larger warships although operations further afield were rare. The navy's flagship, UBS Mayu made several longer voyages including a number diplomatic visits to regional countries before it was decommissioned.

Myanmar navy does not operate a separate fleet air arm. If needed navy drew resources from Myanmar Air Force for maritime surveillance and other forms of fleet air support.

File:Myanmarnavy3.jpg

a 45 metre Missile FAC. Myanmar Naval Shipyard(Thilawar) has built ten ships of this class and another four are being built

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Order of Battle

Administrative and Support Units

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

Ships

File:Myanmarnavy2.jpg

a 45 meter missile FAC of Myanmar Navy

Class or name	Builder	Type	Quantity	Year Entered Service	Details	Serial	Armanent
?	?	Frigate	1	?	?	F108	1 × Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Canon 4 × 30 mm AK 230 4× C-802 Surface-to-Surface Missile RBU
Nawarat Class	locally built	Corvette	3	1996-2007	replaced ex-USN ships	771, 772, 773	2 × Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Canons 2 × 30 mm AK 230 4× C-802 Surface-to-Surface Missile
Houxin class	PRC	FAC Missile	6	?	?	471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476	4 × C-802 Surface-to-Surface Missile 2 × 30 mm AK 230 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns
Myanmar class	?	FAC Missile	5	?	?	556,557, 558, 559, 560	4 × C-802 Surface-to-Surface Missile 2 × 30 mm AK 230 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns
Myanmar class	(Yugoslavia)	FAC Gun	5	?	?	551, 552, 553, 554, 555	1 × Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon 2 × Type 87 - 25 mm twin guns 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns
Hainan/Yan Sit Aung class	PRC	FAC Submarine chaser	10	?	?	441-450	2 × Type 66 - 57mm twin guns 2 × Type 87 - 25 mm twin guns 2 × Type 69 14.5 mm twin Anti-Aircraft Guns RBU
Osprey Class	Denmark	Patrol Boat	3	?	Indaw, Inya, Inma	?	?
?	mix of locally built; some for Singapore, Australia	FPB - different types	21	?	?	?	?

References

See also

• UBS Mayu
• Aung San
• Myanmar Army
• Myanmar Navy
• Myanmar Air Force
• Military Intelligence of Myanmar
• Myanmar Police Force
• Myanmar Frontier Forces