Colombian Navy

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Coat of Arms of the Colombian Navy.

The Colombian National Armada (Armada Nacional Colombiana or de Colombia) is the naval armed force of Colombia. It is also known simply as the National Armada (Armada Nacional), or as the Armada of the Republic of Colombia (Armada de la República de Colombia).

The armada is one of the three major forces in the Colombian Military along with the Colombian National Army and the Colombian Air Force.

ARC, for Armada de la República de Colombia is the acronym used in front of the name of all the Colombian navy's ships (as with USS or HMS).

History

The Colombian Armada was born with Colombian independence from Spain. The president of the Supreme Board of Cartagena, José María García Toledo, created the Naval Command Office by means of a decree dated September 17, 1810. The navy was placed under the command of Captain Juan Nepomuceno Eslava, junior son of the (former) Spanish Viceroy Sebastián Eslava.

On June 28, 1822, general Francisco de Paula Santander created the Naval School, which was later on decomissioned until 1907, when general Rafael Reyes Prieto created the Naval Academy, through decree 783 of July 6, which was censured(?) by general Ramón González Valencia in December 28, 1909.

The conflict with Peru in 1932 made the Colombian navy reappear. New ships were acquired and the "Escuela de Grumetes" (School for Navy Sailors) was founded in 1934. The "Escuela de Cadetes" (School for Navy Officers) was founded in 1935. Nowadays both schools continue their work of instructing the Colombian men and women of the sea.

Ships

ARC Almirante Padilla (FM-51)

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ARC Pijao (S-28)

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ARC Intrepido (S-21)

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ARC Gloria

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ARC TF Juan Ricardo Oyola Vera.

A majority of the Colombian Navy ships are gunboats used for patrolling the country's rivers and coastlines.

Frigates (FFG)

Almirante Padilla class

• ARC Almirante Padilla (FM-51)
• ARC Caldas (FM-52)
• ARC Antioquia (FM-53)
• ARC Independiente (FM-54)

Submarines (SSK)

Type SX-506

• ARC Intrépido (S-21)
• ARC Indomable (S-22)

Type 209-A/1200

• ARC Pijao (S-28)
• ARC Tayrona (S-29)

Landing ships

• ARC Morrosquillo

Supply ships (AOR)

Lüneburg class

• ARC Cartagena de Indias (BM-161)
• ARC Buenaventura (BM-162)

Patrol Vessels

• ARC Espartana (PO-41)
• ARC Capitán Pablo José de Porto (PO-42)
• ARC CTCIM Jorge E. Marquez Durán (PO-43)
• ARC Valle del Cauca (PO-44)
• ARC San Andrés (PO-45)

Auxiliary Ships

• ARC Isla Palma (BB-33)
• ARC Ciénaga de Mayorquin (BB-35)
• ARC Quindío (BH-153)
• ARC Abadía Mendez (BO-154)
• ARC Providencia (BO-155)
• ARC Malpelo (BO-156)
• ARC Gorgona (BO-157)

School Ship

• ARC Gloria

Task Force Ships

• ARC TF Juan Ricardo Oyola Vera (TF-613)

Aircraft inventory

Colombian Naval Aviation roundel.

The Colombian Navy operates 30 aircraft, including 10 helicopters, primarily for logistical support of naval facilities and operations.

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | Aero Commander || United States || utility transport || Model 690 || 5 || |----- | Bell 212 Twin Huey || United States || transport helicopter || || 1 || |----- | Bell 412 || United States || transport helicopter || || 5 || |----- | CASA C-212 Aviocar || Spain || transport || C-212-100 || 1 || |----- | CASA CN-235 || Spain || transport/ Maritime patrol || || 2 || |----- | Cessna 206 Stationair || United States || utility || || 3 || |----- | MBB Bo 105 || Germany || ASW/utility helicopter || Bo 105CB || 2 || |----- | Eurocopter AS 555 Fennec || France || utility helicopter || AS 555 || 2 || |----- | Gavilan 358 || Colombia || utility transport || || 2 || |----- | Piper PA-28 Cherokee || United States || utility || || 3 || |----- | Piper PA-34 Seneca || United States || utility || || 4 || |}

External links

• Colombian Navy Official site.
• Colombia: Seguridad & Defensa Extense information about colombian military forces.