This list of ships of the Republic of Vietnam Navy, commonly known as the Vietnam Navy (VNN), includes all ships commissioned into service from its foundation in 1955, until its dissolution in 1975.
Hull numbers All VNN ship hull numbers began with the letters HQ (Hải quân, "Navy") followed by a number. Note that six patrol craft were designated HQ-01 to HQ-06, while two destroyer escorts and four high endurance cutters were designated HQ-1 to HQ-6. Also the designation HQ-225 was used twice, first for the LSSL Nguyen Van Tru from 1954 until 1957, and after it was broken up for spare parts was given to the LSSL Nỏ Thần, later renamed Nguyen Van Tru in 1970.
Patrol craft
These s were 280 ton, vessels, with a crew of 65. They had a top speed of . The main armament was one 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm and 20 mm guns. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Chi Lăng (HQ-01) Unknown USS PC-1144 Scrapped 1961. RVNS Đống Đa (HQ-02) Unknown USS PC-1130 Scrapped 1961. RVNS Vạn Kiếp (HQ-03) Unknown USS PC-1167 Scrapped 1965. RVNS Tuy Dong (HQ-04) January 1956 USS PC-1143 Scrapped 1971. RVNS Tay Cây (HQ-05) Unknown USS PC-1146 Scrapped 1965. RVNS Van Don (HQ-06) 23 November 1960 USS Anacortes (PC-1569) Scrapped 1974.
Destroyer escort
The was a 1,253-ton, vessel, with a crew of 186. It had a top speed of and a range of . The main armament was three 3"/50 caliber guns, along with torpedo tubes, depth charges, and 40 mm and 20 mm guns. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Trần Hưng Đạo (HQ-1) 13 February 1971 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-4). RVNS Trần Khánh Dư (HQ-4) 25 September 1971 Captured by North Vietnam, 29 April 1975. To Vietnam People's Navy as VPNS Dai Ky (HQ-03).
Frigate
Originally built as s for the U.S. Navy, these 2,040 ton, vessels were transferred to the Coast Guard after World War II, and reclassified as s. With a crew of 151, they had a top speed of and a range of . The main armament was a single 5"/38 caliber gun. In Vietnamese service they were classified as frigates. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Trần Quang Khải (HQ-02) 1 January 1971 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . RVNS Trần Nhật Duật (HQ-03) 1 January 1971 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. RVNS Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-05) 21 December 1971 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . RVNS Trần Quốc Toản (HQ-06) 21 December 1971 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. RVNS Phạm Ngũ Lão (HQ-15) 15 July 1972 Captured by North Vietnam, 1975. To Vietnam People's Navy as . RVNS Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16) 21 June 1972 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . RVNS Ngô Quyền (HQ-17) 21 June 1972 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as .
Patrol craft escort
The Patrol Craft Escorts were 903 ton, vessels. With a crew of 99, they had a top speed of . The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm guns, and depth charges. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Đống Đa II (HQ-07) 29 November 1961 USS Crestview (PCE-895) Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . RVNS Ngọc Hồi (HQ-12) 11 July 1966 USS Brattleboro (PCE(R)-852) Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . RVNS Van Kiếp II (HQ-14) 1970 USS Amherst (PCE(R)-853) Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as .
Minesweeper Fleet minesweeper
The s were 625 ton, ships. With a crew of 104, they had a top speed of . The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm guns, and depth charges. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Chi Lăng II (HQ-08) 17 April 1962 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20). RVNS Kỳ Hòa (HQ-09) 21 August 1962 Believed captured by North Vietnam, 1975. RVNS Nhựt Tảo (HQ-10) 24 January 1964 Sunk in the Battle of the Paracel Islands, 19 January 1974. RVNS Chí Linh (HQ-11) 24 January 1964 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Datu Tupas (PS-18). RVNS Hà Hồi (HQ-13) 4 June 1970 Captured by North Vietnam, 29 April 1975. To Vietnam People's Navy.
Harbor minesweeper The YMS-1-class auxiliary motor minesweepers were 270 ton, vessels. With a crew of 32, they had a top speed of . The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 20 mm guns, and depth charges. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Hàm Tử (HQ-111) 12 February 1954 USS YMS-28 Scrapped 1958. RVNS Chương Dương (HQ-112) 11 February 1954 USS YMS-83 Scrapped 1964. RVNS Bạch Đằng (HQ-113) 11 February 1954 USS YMS-78 Scrapped 1963.
Coastal minesweeper
These vessels were built for South Vietnam by Stephens Brothers, Inc., Stockton, California, and were assigned hull numbers, but not commissioned into the United States Navy. They were 370 ton, vessels. With a crew of 38, they had a top speed of . Their only armament was two 20 mm guns. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Hàm Tử II (HQ-114) 26 June 1959 MSC-281 Scrapped 1974. RVNS Chương Dương II (HQ-115) 21 August 1959 MSC-282 Scrapped 1974. RVNS Bạch Đằng II (HQ-116) 18 September 1959 MSC-283 Scrapped 1970.
Motor Launch Minesweeper The motor launch minesweeper (MLMS) was a 40 to 60 foot motor launch fitted with basic minesweeping equipment suitable for clearing river channels and harbours. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS HQ-150 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-151 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-152 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-153 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-154 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-155 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-156 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-157 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-158 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-159 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-160 ? ? ? RVNS HQ-161 ? ? ?
Landing Ship Support Large The Landing Ship Support (Large) (LSSL) were 250 ton, amphibious assault ships primarily used to provide close fire support for troops. With a crew of 71, they had a top speed of . The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm and 20 mm guns, and .50 caliber machine guns.
Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Nguyen Van Tru (HQ-225) 12 October 1954 USS LSSL-2 Transferred to Taiwan for spare parts, 1957. RVNS No Than (HQ-225) 1957 USS LSSL-105 Renamed Nguyen Van Tru, 1970. Sunk, 30 July 1970. RVNS Le Trong Dam (HQ-226) 1955 USS LSSL-4 Sunk, 3 October 1970. RVNS Le Van Binh (HQ-227) 15 September 1956 USS LSSL-10 Sunk, 2 October 1966. RVNS Đoàn Ngọc Tang (HQ-228) 15 September 1956 USS LSSL-9 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975.To Philippine Navy as BRP La Union (LF-50). RVNS Lưu Phú Thọ (HQ-229) ? USS LSSL-101 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975.To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. RVNS Nguyễn Ngọc Long (HQ-230) ? USS LSSL-96 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975.To Philippine Navy as BRP Sulu (LF-49). RVNS Nguyễn Đức Bóng (HQ-231) 19 February 1966 USS LSSL-129 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975.To Philippine Navy as BRP Camarines Sur (LF-48). USS LSIL-710 was also transferred to South Vietnam in 1956, but its name and number are not recorded.
Landing Ship Infantry (Large) Landing Ship Infantry (Large) (LSIL) were 234 ton, amphibious assault ships, designed to land large numbers of troops directly onto beaches. It could transport 188 men and 65 tons of cargo. With a crew of 28, they had a top speed of , and a range of at . Armament consisted of five single 20 mm guns, with additional .50 caliber machine guns.
Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Long Dao (HQ-327) ? USS LSI(L)-698 Sunk, 1974. RVNS Thần Tiên (HQ-328) 1955 USS LSI(L)-702 Sunk, 1974. RVNS Thiên Kích (HQ-329) 1956 USS LSI(L)-872 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy. RVNS Loi Cong (HQ-330) 1956 USS LSI(L)-699 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy. RVNS Tam Set (HQ-331) 1956 USS LSI(L)-871 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975
Landing Ship Medium - Hospital The LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium (LSM-H) were amphibious assault ships designed to carry men and vehicles onto a hostile shore. They were 530-ton, vessels, with a crew of 58, and a top speed of . In this case they were modified to act as hospital ships. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Hát Giang (HQ-400) Unknown USS LSM-335 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975.To Philippine Navy as BRP Western Samar (LP-66). RVNS Hàn Giang (HQ-401) October 1955 USS LSM-110 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975.To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. Scrapped, 9 June 1976.
Landing Ship Medium
The LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium (LSM) were amphibious assault ships designed to carry men and vehicles onto a hostile shore. They were 530 ton, vessels, with a crew of 58, and a top speed of . They were capable of carrying between three and five tanks, and 54 troops. Their armament consisted of two 40 mm guns, and four 20 mm guns. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS Lam Giang (HQ-402) October 1956 USS LSM-226 Scuttled to prevent capture by North Vietnam, 2 May 1975 RVNS Ninh Giang (HQ-403) October 1956 USS LSM-85 Captured by North Vietnam, 30 April 1975, and to Vietnam People's Navy. RVNS Hương Giang (HQ-404) 1 August 1961 USS Oceanside (LSM-175) First South Vietnam Navy Ship was led by South Vietnam Captain Khương Hữu Bá from the US to Saigon unescorted in 1958 and coincidentally was led by Navy Captain Khương to return it to the US Navy in 1975 from the fall of Saigon - Returned to the US Navy Subic Bay - Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Batanes (LP-65). RVNS Tiền Giang (HQ-405) 20 June 1962 USS LSM-313 Captured by North Vietnam, 30 April 1975, and to Vietnam People's Navy. Scrapped 1990. RVNS Hậu Giang (HQ-406) ? USS LSM-276 Scuttled May 1975. Raised and to Vietnam People's Navy until 1989. Two further ships - USS LSM-355 and USS LSM-58 - were also transferred to the VVN, though their names and numbers are unknown. USS LSM-58 was transferred to South Vietnam in April 1956, but was returned to U.S. custody on 29 May 1956. USS LSM-355 was transferred to South Vietnam in December 1955, escaped to the Philippines on 30 April 1975, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1989.
Gasoline barge The YOG-5-class self-propelled gasoline barge was a 1,235-ton, vessel, with a crew of 23. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS HQ-470 ? USS YOG-80 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. RVNS HQ-471 ? USS YOG-33 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. RVNS HQ-472 ? USS YOG-67 Unknown. RVNS HQ-473 ? USS YOG-71 Unknown. RVNS HQ-474 ? USS YOG-131 Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. RVNS HQ-475 ? USS YOG-56 Unknown.
Water Barge Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS HQ-480 ? ? Sunk in Saigon Naval Shipyard, June 1969
Refrigerated Covered Lighter This 300 ton, vessel was used to transport food supplies to floating barracks and bases. They had a crew of 17 and were unarmed. Name Acquired Formerly Fate RVNS HQ-490 ? Possibly YFR-889 Unknown. Note: YFR-889 is one of two of the type deployed to Vietnam according to NavSource. The other, YFR-888, was struck in 1985, and disposed of in 1987, according to the NVR database.
Landing Ship Tank
The Landing Ship, Tank (LST) was a vessel created to support amphibious operations by landing vehicles, cargo, and troops directly to shore. These 1,625 ton, vessels had a crew of around 120 men, and a top speed of . It could transport 140 troops and between 1,600 and 1,900 tons of cargo in the form of various vehicles, as well as six LCVPs. The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with a number of 40 mm and 20 mm guns, and .50 and .30 caliber machine guns.