The Mexican Navy () is the maritime service branch of the Mexican Armed Forces. The Secretariat of the Navy is in charge of administration of the navy. The commander of the navy is the Secretary of the Navy, who is both a cabinet minister and a career naval officer.
The Mexican Navy's stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for external defense, and to help with internal order"."Mission and objectives" As of 2020, the Navy consisted of about 68,200 personnel plus reserves, over 189 ships, and about 130 aircraft. Rendición de cuentas SEMAR 2006 página 40"Material Aereo" (outdated page) The Navy attempts to maintain a constant modernization program to upgrade its response capability.
Given Mexico's large area of water () and extensive coastline (), the Navy's duties are of great importance. Perhaps its most important on-going missions are fighting the Mexican drug war, which includes protecting Pemex's oil wells in Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico. Another important task of the Mexican Navy is to help people in hurricane relief operations and other natural disasters.
The Mexican navy is the second largest navy in Latin America and North America, and the third largest in the Americas after the United States and Brazil.
History
The Mexican Navy has its origins in the creation of the Ministry of War in 1821. From that year until 1939 it existed jointly with the Mexican Army in the organic ministry. Since its declaration of independence from Spain in September 1810, through the mid decades of the 19th century, Mexico found itself in a constant state of war, mostly against Spain which had not recognized its independence. Therefore, its priority was to purchase its first fleet from the U.S. to displace the last remaining Spanish forces from its coasts.
The Mexican Navy has participated in many naval battles to protect and defend Mexico's interests. Some of the most important battles were:
Attempts by Spain to reconquer Mexico Takeover of the San Juan de Ulúa fort (1821–1825) The invasion of Cabo Rojo (1829) Battle of Mariel (February, 1828) The first French intervention in Mexico (The 'Pastry War') (November 1838 – March 1839) An entire Armada was captured at Veracruz Texan Independence (1836–1845) Texas Navy Yucatán Independence (1841–1848) Naval Battle of Campeche The Mexican–American War (1846–1848) The Second French Intervention (1862–1867) The Mexican Revolution (1910–1919) First Battle of Topolobampo Second Battle of Topolobampo Third Battle of Topolobampo Tampico Affair Fourth Battle of Topolobampo Second invasion by the United States (April 9, 1914 – November 23, 1914) United States occupation of Veracruz
Historical ships
Schooner Anáhuac Schooner Iguala
Cutter Campechana Cutter Chalco Cutter Chapala Cutter Orizaba Cutter Texcoco Cutter Zumpango Cutter Papaloapan Cutter Tampico Cutter Tlaxcalteca Cutter Tuxpan Ship Congreso Mexicano (previously called Asia and San Jerónimo) Brigantine Constante Brigantine Vicente Guerrero Steamer paddle frigate Guadalupe Steamer paddle frigate Montezuma Steamer gunboat Libertad
Steamer gunboat Independencia Steamer Guerra Demócrata Steam yacht Orizaba Gunboat Democráta Gunboat México Corvette School ship Yucatán Pontoon Chetumal Gunboat Tampico Gunboat Veracruz Gunboat Nicolás Bravo Transport vessel Progreso Transport Vicente Guerrero Gunboat Agua Prieta Coastal defence Battleship Anáhuac Auxiliary ship Zaragoza II School ship Velero Cuauhtémoc
Organization The President of Mexico is commander in chief of all military forces. Day-to-day control of the Navy lies with the Navy Secretary, José Rafael Ojeda Durán. In Mexico there is no joint force command structure with the army, so the Secretary reports directly to the President. The Navy has a General Headquarters and three naval forces. There are furthermore eight regions (four on the Pacific coast, three on the Mexican Gulf coast and the Región Naval Central, grouping the naval forces, based in and around the capital Mexico City, such as the 7th Naval Infantry Brigade, the Central Special Operations Group and the Air Transport Squadron), thirteen zones, and fourteen naval sectors.
The Navy is divided into three main services designated as "forces": Gulf and Caribbean Sea Naval Force Pacific Naval Force Naval Infantry Force
Other notable services include: Naval Aviation Search and Rescue
Officers are trained at the Mexican Naval Academy, called the "Heroica Escuela Naval Militar" ("Heroic Military Naval School"), located in Antón Lizardo, Veracruz.
Naval Infantry
The Mexican Naval Infantry Corps was reorganized in 2007–2009 into 30 Naval Infantry Battalions (Batallones de Infantería de Marina – BIM), a paratroop battalion, a battalion attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade, two Fast Reaction Forces with six battalions each, and three Special Forces groups.Informe 2009 Secretaria de Marina – Armada de México The Naval Infantry are responsible for port security, protection of the ten-kilometer coastal fringe, and patrolling major waterways.
The Naval Infantry also is responsible for 23 National Service Training Units under the responsibility of the Navy Secretary, enforcing the National Service obligation for Mexicans of teenage and young adult age.
Naval Aviation
Search and rescue units
In 2008, the Mexican Navy created its new search and rescue system, allocated in strategic ports at Pacific and Gulf of Mexico ports, to provide assistance to any ships which are in jeopardy or at risk due to mechanical failure, weather conditions or life risk to the crew. To provide such support, the Navy has ordered Coast Guard Defender class ships (two per station, and one 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat coast guard vessel). Other stations will be provided only with s.
Maritime role On April 1, 2014, SEMAR officially announced the creation of Port Protection Naval Units (Unidades Navales de Protección Portuaria: UNAPROP) which will include a marine section. The main task of UNAPROPs is to ensure maritime surveillance and inspection.
Training and education
The Navy offers several options for graduate studies in their educational institutions:
Heroica Escuela Naval Militar It is the school where future officers are trained for the General Corps of the Navy. Candidates can enter upon completing high school. Upon completion of studies, graduates obtain the degree of Sub-Lieutenant and the title of Naval Science Engineer.
Naval Medical School This school Located in Mexico City, offers a career in medicine. Officers are trained with skills for the prevention and health care of naval personnel. By adopting a professional examination, graduates are commissioned Sub-Lieutenants.
Naval Engineering School In the Naval Engineering School, officers are responsible for the preventive and corrective maintenance of systems and electronic equipment installed on ships and installations of the Mexican Navy. This school offers career of Electronic Engineering and Naval Communications. It is located between the town of Mata Grape and Anton Lizardo, from the port of Veracruz.
Naval Nursing School Here the time to achieve a nursing degree lasts eight semesters. Officers are trained with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable them to assist medical personnel in caring for patients in hospitals, sanatoriums, clinics, health sections on land, aboard ships and at The Naval Medical Center.
Naval Aviation School The Naval Aviation School trains pilots for the Mexican Naval Aviation as well as National Guard aviators and Naval personnel from various countries of Central America. This school is located on La Paz, Baja California Sur.SIAL Sistema Informativo Aeronáutico Latinoamericano
Search, Rescue and Diving School Located in Acapulco, members of The Navy are trained for marine search, rescue and diving. It also trains state police officers and firefighters.
Rank insignia
Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Other ranks The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Modernization and budget The annual Navy's budget is in a one to three proportion of the national budget relative to the Mexican Army and Mexican Air Force. The Navy has a reputation for being well-run and well-organized. This reputation allows for a close relationship with the United States Navy (USN), as evidenced by the procurement of numerous former USN ships.
Ships The Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Mariano Francisco Saynez Mendoza, announced on October 1, 2007, detailed plans to upgrade and modernize the country's naval capabilities. On the following day, La Jornada newspaper from Mexico City, disclosed the Mexican Navy plans, which are among others, to build six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) with a length of , 1,680 tons and each housing a Eurocopter Panther helicopter as well as small high-speed interception boats. The budget for this project is above US$200 million.
Another project is to build 12 CB 90 HMN high speed () interception boats under license from a Swedish boat company Dockstavarvet to the Mexican Navy. Also, a number of fully equipped planes for surveillance and maritime patrol are being considered. Combinations of options and development are being defined.
Shipbuilding
The Mexican Navy depends upon their naval shipyards for construction and repairs of their ships. There are five shipyards located in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean: Gulf of Mexico Naval shipyard 1 (ASTIMAR 1) – Tampico, Tamaulipas Naval shipyard 3 (ASTIMAR 3) – Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz Pacific Ocean Naval shipyard 6 (ASTIMAR 6) – Guaymas, Sonora Naval shipyard 18 (ASTIMAR 18) – Acapulco, Guerrero Naval shipyard 20 (ASTIMAR 20) – Salina Cruz, Oaxaca
Missiles The Mexican Navy initiated studies to develop and construct its first missile, according to a May 2005 interview with the undersecretary of the Navy, Armando Sanchez, the missile was to have an average range of and be able to target enemy ships and aircraft. The undersecretary added that they already had the solid propellant, and the basic design of the missile. All aspects relative to their fuselage were solved as well as the launch platforms. The Mexican Navy was developing the software to direct the missile to its target. In July 2008, the project was reported to be 80% complete. Despite this effort, the missile development was canceled in 2009 due to "problems with the propulsion system".Mexican Naval missile
Radar modernization In 2009, the Mexican Navy began operating a batch of new MPQ-64 Sentinel radars in the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico. The radar network was installed in 2007 for a trial phase while military personnel were trained to get familiar with the system. The new installations will work together with combat surface vessels that patrol the area.
Present fleet