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.Nikolay Mityukov. "Zagadka boya v prolivye Hambeli" (Mystery of a skirmish in Jambeli channel), Tekhnika i Vooruzhenie 10/2005, p. 28-31 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:
VesselOriginTypeClassIn serviceNotesTraining ship (1 in service) Sail training ship steel-hulled barque 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) Diesel-electric submarine Type 209/1300 in Spanish BAE Huancavilca (S102) Diesel-electric submarine Type 209/1300 On September 16, 2011, the submarine was sent to the ASMAR shipyard in Chile for modernization, which was completed in 2014. In SpanishGuided missile frigates (2 in service) guided missile frigate Acquired from Chile in March, 2008. BAE Morán Valverde FM-02 guided missile frigate Extensively refitted between April 2004 and December 2005. Acquired from Chile in March, 2008.Guided missile corvettes (6 in service) BAE Esmeraldas (CM-11) guided missile corvette Esmeraldas-class Refitted in 2006 under the Esmeraldas program. BAE Manabí (CM-12) guided missile corvette Esmeraldas-class Modernised, returned to fleet 2018. BAE Los Rios (CM-13) guided missile corvette Esmeraldas-class Modernised, returned to fleet 2018. BAE El Oro (CM-14) guided missile corvette Esmeraldas-class Refitted in 2008 under the Esmeraldas program. BAE Galápagos (CM-15) guided missile corvette Esmeraldas-class Refitted in 2010 under the Esmeraldas program. BAE Loja (CM-16) guided missile corvette Esmeraldas-class Modernised, returned to fleet 2019.Offshore Patrol Vessel (2 in service) LAE Isla San Cristobal (LG-30) Offshore Patrol Vessel Damen Stan patrol vessel 5009 class LAE Isla Isabela (LG-31) Offshore Patrol Vessel Damen Stan patrol vessel 5009 class Fast attack craft (3 in service) LAE Quito (LM-31) Fast attack craft TNC 45 Seawolf class Modernised LAE Guayaquil (LM-32) Fast attack craft TNC 45 Seawolf class Modernised LAE Cuenca (LM-33) Fast attack craft TNC 45 Seawolf class ModernisedAuxiliaries (12 in service) BAE Huacolpo (TR-61) Cargo ship Cargo - Hazard B class ex-Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 BAE Calicuchima (TR-62) ammunition supply ship Kintebury class ex-RMAS Throsk (A379) BAE Atahualpa (TR-63) water harbour tanker Brenta type ex-A 5356 Basento BAE Quisquis (TR-64) water harbour tanker Waterfall class ex-Waterside (Y-20) BAE Taurus (TR-65) coastal oil tanker Taurus class Civilian ship bought in 1987. Built by Astinave, Guayaquil. Currently status is unknown. BAE Chimborazo (RA-70) Fleet Tug Ex- BAE Sangay (RB-72) Tugboat YTM class tug BAE Cotopaxi (RB-73) Tugboat BAE Wolf (RB-74) Tugboat BAE Iliniza (RB-75) Tugboat YTM class tug BAE Altar (RB-76) Tugboat YTM class tug BAE Quilotoa (RB-78) Tugboat YTM class tug Scientific research vessels (2 in service) BAE Orion (BI-91) Oceanographic research ship Orion class LAE Sirius Oceanographic research ship Sirius class
Naval weapon systems NameOriginTypeVersionUsed byNotes Naval artillery QF 4.5 inch naval gun Dual-purpose naval gun Mark VI Condell class frigate Oto Melara 76/62 Compact Gun Dual-purpose naval gun 76/62 Compact Esmeraldas-class Oto Melara Twin 40 Compact Gun Close-in weapon system (CIWS) Twin 40L70 Esmeraldas-class Raytheon Phalanx 20mm Gatling Gun Close-in weapon system (CIWS) Phalanx Block 0 Condell-class Oerlikon GDM-A de 35 Naval turret Two 35mm autocannon TNC 45 Seawolf class Anti-ship missiles MBDA Exocet anti-ship missile (AShM) MM40 Block IIMM38 Condell class frigateEsmeraldas-classTNC 45 Seawolf class FAC IAI Gabriel anti-ship missile (AShM) Mk 2 TNC 45 Seawolf class FAC Surface-to-air missile MBDA Aspide surface-to-air missile (SAM) Albatros Aspide MK-1A Esmeraldas-class MBDA Simbad surface-to-air missile (SAM) Mistral Condell-class Anti-submarine torpedo Mark 46 torpedo anti-submarine lightweight torpedo Mod 5A Condell class frigate Whitehead A244-S anti-submarine lightweight torpedo A244/S Esmeraldas-class Torpedoes WASS Black Shark 533 mm heavyweight torpedo Type 209 submarine Whitehead A-184 533 mm heavyweight torpedo A184 Mod 3 Type 209 submarine Atlas Elektronik SST 533 mm heavyweight torpedo SST-4 Mod 0 Type 209 submarine Atlas SUT 533 mm heavyweight torpedo AEG SUT 264 Type 209 submarine STN Atlas Seehecht 533 mm heavyweight torpedo DM2A4 Type 209 submarine
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:
AircraftOriginTypeVersionIn serviceNotes Maritime patrol aircraft Beechcraft Super King Air 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 Maritime patrol aircraft CN-235-100 MP PersuaderCN-235-300 MP Persuader 11 Maritime patrol/multipurpose transport aircraft equipped with the FITS system. Helicopters Bell 206 JetRangerBell TH-57 SeaRanger Utility helicopter / Training helicopter 206BTH-57A 33 Bell 230 Radar surveillance helicopter 230T 1 Two units delivered in total. One unit crashed at sea in 2009. Bell 430 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. Two units delivered on September 11, 2014. 1 crashed in 2024. Trainer Aircraft Beechcraft T-34 Turbo Mentor Advanced trainer T-34C-1 5 ENAER T-35 Pillán Basic trainer T-35B 4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles IAI Heron MALE UAV Heron I 2 IAI Searcher Reconnaissance UAV Searcher III 4 Utility Aircraft Beechcraft Super King Air Light transport B200B300B350 211 Beechcraft King Air Light transport C90A 2 Cessna 172 Liaison aircraft SP 2
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"
NameTypeCaliberOriginIn serviceNotesGeneral-purpose machine gun Heckler & Koch HK21 HK21E 7.62×51mm NATO Standard general-purpose machine gun.Assault rifle M16 rifle A2/A4 5.56×45mm NATO Standard assault rifle.M4 carbine A1 5.56×45mm NATO Special Forces.Submachine gun Heckler & Koch MP5 9×19mm Parabellum Special Forces.Colt 9mm SMG 9×19mm Parabellum Special Forces.Semi-automatic pistol M1911 pistol .45 ACP Standard pistol.Hand grenadeM26 grenade M26A1/M61 Red dot sightAdvanced Combat Optical Gunsight Reflex sight Used by special forces.Aimpoint CompM4 Reflex sight Used by special forces.Grenade launcher Milkor MGL 40 mm grenade M203 grenade launcher 40 mm grenade Grenade launcher coupled in M4 carbines.Anti-materiel rifle Barrett M82 .50 BMG Infantry mortarM1 mortar 81 mm M29 mortar 81 mm Hirtenberger M6C-210 60 mm Light mortar, used by special operations units.Recoilless rifleM40 recoilless rifle 105 mm M67 recoilless rifle Shoulder-launched missile 90 mm Rocket-propelled grenadeRPG-7 Shoulder-launched missile 40 mm Man-portable air-defense systemMBDA Mistral MANPADS Some mounted on Humvee and truck platform.HowitzerM101 howitzer Towed 105mm Howitzer Light utility vehicleHumvee 4×4 30 Around 30 humvees are in use within the Naval Infantry Corps.Military truck M939 Truck 6×6 Donated by the US NAS program in 2003.Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6
Equipment gallery
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