Vietnam People's Navy

Vietnam People's Navy Hải quân nhân dân Việt Nam
Symbol of Vietnam People's Navy
Active	1955–Present
Country	Vietnam (North Vietnam 1954-1976)
Branch	Main branches Surface Ships Naval Marine Corps Naval Air Forces Coastal Defense Missiles Submarines
Size	42,000 officers and sailors
Part of	Vietnam People's Army
Headquarters	Hai Phong, Vietnam
Motto	Đảo là nhà, Biển cả là quê hương (Island is home, Sea is country)
Color	Purple, White
March	Lướt sóng ra khơi (Surfing to the sea)
Anniversaries	May 07, 1955
Engagements	Vietnam War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Johnson South Reef Skirmish
Decorations
Battle honours	Gulf of Tonkin incident Battle of Đồng Hới
Commanders
Commander	Admiral Nguyen Van Hien
Political Commissar	Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Huyen
Chief of Staff	Rear Admiral Pham Ngoc Minh
Insignia
Navy Flag
Emblem
Awards
Aircraft flown
Attack	Ka-27
Patrol	C-212, DHC-6, EC225

The Vietnam People's Navy (commonly, Vietnamese Navy – Vietnamese: Hải quân nhân dân Việt Nam) is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.

History

Early period

From the beginning of Vietnam in the 1st millennium BC, the Hung Vuong period spawned many legends of fighting against seaborne invasions of Quynh Chau from the north and Ho Ton from the south. In Kingdom of Âu Lạc era, when constructed Co Loa Citadel, King An Duong Vuong relied on Hoang Giang River as a natural fortification to protect the south flank of the cidatel. In the 6th century, Emperor Lý Nam Đế built naval forces to fend off the invasion of Liang Dynasty's forces in the Tô Lịch River, Dien Triet lake; and then, King Trieu Quang Phuc executed guerrilla tactics on Chinese military at Da Trach lagoon (Khoái Châu, Hải Dương nowadays).

In the 10th century, the national Vietnamese Navy became a regularized force. Naval forces of Khúc Thừa Dụ in Hong Chau (now is Ninh Giang District, Hải Dương), Dương Đình Nghệ in Ai Chau, Thanh Hoa and King Ngô Quyền were raised by enlisting and training the fishermen along rivers and seasides. Those forces became expert and seasoned naval forces, ready to protect the country.

Dynasties period

Battle of Bạch Đằng (1288)

Model of 17th century gunboat

In Lý-Trần Dynasty era, the dynasties were occupied with raising naval forces and naval bases. Particularly, the Van Don port has an important role in protecting the northeast territorial waters of Vietnam. In 1077, the Imperial Vietnamese Navy fought the Battle of Cầu River against the Chinese Song Dynasty forces. This was the final battle Song Dynasty would fight on Vietnamese land or waters. The battle lasted for several months, and ended with the victory of the Vietnamese Navy and the loss of many Song sailors. This victory demonstrated the successful tactics of war and active defense of the famous Admiral Lý Thường Kiệt who faced a naval force numerically superior to his own. The Song Dynasty lost a total of 80,000 soldiers/sailors and 5,19 million ounces of gold, including all costs of the war.

The largest battles (officially recorded in history) were three naval encounters (all three are called Battle of Bạch Đằng): Ngô Quyền against the Chinese Southern Han forces in 938 (killed over 100,000 and captured a thousands Chinese sailors, killed Chinese Prince Liu Hongcao); Lê Hoàn against Song Dynasty in 981; and Trần Quốc Tuấn against Yuan Dynasty (Mongol) in 1288 (over 80,000 Yuan Mongol sailors killed, more than 400 Yuan ships destroyed, Mongol Commander Sogetu perished, and Yuan Admiral Omar captured).

One of the renown victories in Vietnamese Naval history was the Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút in Tay Son dynasty, during which Nguyễn Huệ (Emperor Quang Trung) defeated the Siamese (Thai) naval force. The battle occurred in present-day Tiền Giang Province on January 19, 1785. Nguyễn Huệ's forces completely destroyed over 50,000 Siamese sailors and 300 warships.

Model of warship used by Nguyễn Huệ in the Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút

The Vietnamese Navy was greatly developed during the Nguyễn Dynasty with 26,800 sailors and hundreds of copper clad ships

In the Nguyễn Dynasty period, 19th century Emperor Gia Long used his new base to improve the Vietnamese Navy. Gia Long had first attempted to acquire modern naval vessels in 1781, when on the advice of Pigneau de Behaine, he had chartered Portuguese vessels of European design, complete with crew and artillery. This initial experience proved to be disastrous. For reasons that remain unclear, two of the vessels fled in the midst of battle against the Tay Son, while angry Vietnamese soldiers killed the third crew.

In 1789, Pigneau de Behaine returned to Vietnam from Pondicherry with two vessels, which stayed in the Nguyễn Dynasty service long-term. Over time, Vietnamese sailors replaced the original French and Indian crew under the command of French officers. These vessels became the foundation for an expanded military and merchant Nguyễn Dynasty naval force, with Gia Long chartering and purchasing more European vessels to reinforce Vietnamese-built ships. However, traditional Vietnamese-style galleys and small sailing ships remained the majority of the fleet. In 1799, a British trader by the name of Berry reported that the Nguyễn Dynasty's fleet had departed Saigon along the Saigon River with 100 galleys, 40 junks, 200 smaller boats and 800 carriers, accompanied by three European sloops. In 1801, one naval division was reported to have included nine European vessels armed with 60 guns, five vessels with 50 guns, 40 with 16 guns, 100 junks, 119 galleys and 365 smaller boats.

French ships invaded Saigon with the brig L'Esperance that was sunk in 1861 by Nguyen Trung Truc's naval forces

In the middle of the 19th century, the Vietnamese Navy fought against the French in many battles. Due to disadvantages in technology, the Vietnamese Navy could not defeat the French Navy, but there were still several battles during which the Vietnamese Navy caused heavy damages to the French. The Vietnamese were especially successful in the Battle of Nhat Tao canal held by Nguyen Trung Truc on December 10, 1861. Nguyen Trung Truc's naval forces ambushed the French brig L'Esperance at the Vam Co River, Mekong Delta. Truc's 150 men were grouped into three columns. The first group of 61 sailors under Hoang Khac Nhuong was to attack a nearby pro-French village in order to provoke an incident and lure the French forces into an ambush. Truc commanded the second group of 59 partisans along with Vo Van Quang, and was assigned to burn and sink the vessel. A third force of 30 sailors was commanded by Ho Quang and Nguyen Van Hoc. Due to the surprise attack, the French Navy suffered major damage: the brig L'Esperance was sunk, 17 French sailors and 20 pro-Vietnamese naval auxiliaries were killed, only eight people escaped, including two French sailors and six sailors of Tagal (Filipino) background employed by the French.

Vietnam War period

A North Vietnamese P-4 engaging USS Maddox in Gulf of Tonkin incident 1964

On July 19, 1946, Acting President of Democratic Republic of Vietnam Huynh Thuc Khang signed into law a decree establishing the modern Vietnamese Navy. Then, on September 10 of that year, General Vo Nguyen Giap started to build a flotilla as the core of the new navy. On March 8, 1949, Vietnam established the Department of Naval Research under the General Staff. This department has performed both research and training to prepare for combat missions.

Following the Geneva Conference in 1954, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam went about creating its own naval forces. On May 7, 1955 the Vietnam People's Navy was created with the establishment of the General Directorate of Coastal Defence, it formed the basis for the Navy Operational Command (based on the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence decree No. 284/ND signed by General Võ Nguyên Giáp to established Naval Research Board, under the General Staff, on March 8, 1949). The primary mission of the Navy was to patrol the coastal areas and the inland waterways.

Throughout the Vietnam War the role played by the Vietnam People's Navy (or North Vietnamese Navy) was largely unknown to the public. However on August 2, 1964, three North Vietnamese Swatow class patrol boats attacked the USS Maddox (DD-731) in what became known as the Tonkin Gulf Incident. The second attack, which the United States claimed to have occurred on August 4, was dismissed by the North Vietnamese as a fabrication.

The North Vietnamese, however, had maintained their own version of the events which took place. According to official VPN accounts the Maddox penetrated North Vietnamese waters on July 31, 1964, and provoked a battle with the North Vietnamese. In response to American provocation, three 123K class torpedo boats from the 135th Torpedo Boat Battalion were dispatched to intercept the American destroyer. The resulting clash became known as the 'Battle of Thanh Hoa' in which North Vietnamese "torpedo boats succeeded in driving the Maddox out of Vietnam’s territorial waters, shooting down a U.S. aircraft and damaging another".

Apart from patrolling territorial waters, the Navy also had the mission of transporting military supplies to support the Vietnam People's Army and their NLF ally during the Vietnam War. On October 31, 1961, a sea route version of the Ho Chi Minh Trail was established by the North Vietnam Navy, with the 759th Transport Unit responsible for carrying military supplies and other goods for the Communist ground forces in South Vietnam. In order to avoid detection by the South Vietnamese and U.S navies, North Vietnamese transport ships were often disguised as fishing trawlers. On February 16, 1965, a 100-ton North Vietnamese trawler from the Transportation Group 125 was discovered at Vung Ro Bay. This led to the creation of Operation Market Time by the US Navy to intercept disguised enemy ships.

On April 19, 1972, the North Vietnamese Navy and Air Force participated in the Battle of Dong Hoi off the coast of North Vietnam. During this battle it was believed that the U.S Navy destroyed a Soviet-made cruise missile for the first time. The USS Higbee (DD-806) was damaged after an VPAF MiG-17 dropped a 250 lb (110 kg) bomb, destroying a 5" aft gun mount.

In the years following the complete withdrawal of U.S and other allied forces, the North Vietnamese went back on the offensive. As part of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the North Vietnamese Navy increased the transportation of military supplies, food and uniform to the Communist forces in the South. When the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) occupied the northern provinces of South Vietnam in 1975, captured South Vietnamese vessels were pressed into service with the Vietnam People's Navy. On April 1975, ex-South Vietnamese Navy vessels carried North Vietnamese troops to capture the Spratly Islands. Opening battle in the island Southwest Cay (vietnamese: Song Tử tây) in April 4, 1975, amphibious raid by sea of the Naval Marine corp number 1 (precursor of the 126th Brigade Naval Marine corps) and three vessels of the 125 corps coordinated with the commandos of the 5th Military Region, after 30 minutes, Vietnamese Navy controlled the main battle area, facilitating the solution development process release of the other islands. Then, Vietnamese Navy continue control Sand Cay island (April 26), Namyit Island (April 27), Sin Cowe Island (April 28) and Spratly Island (proper) (April 29). At around the same time the Chinese Navy took over control of the Paracel Islands from the South Vietnamese Navy. These islands are also claimed by Vietnam, however they have no current presence there.

VPN's Naval Infantry in Spratly islands

Prior to 1975, the North Vietnamese Navy operated fewer than forty patrol boats along with the coastal junk force. With the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam on April 30, 1975, the Vietnam People's Navy was expanded with ships from the defunct South Vietnamese Navy. Captured vessels included two patrol frigates, over one hundred patrol craft, and about fifty amphibious warfare ships. In the late 1970s the naval infantry (or marines) was formed to be stationed on the areas claimed by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Spratly Islands. The naval infantry is equipped with PT-76 light tanks, BTR-60 personnel carriers and naval infantrymen are armed with AK-74 rifle, AKM-47 assault rifles, Makarov PM pistol (Officers), and PKM machinegun infantry weapons, and more.

In 1988, Vietnam People's Navy fought against the Chinese Navy at Johnson Reef of sovereignty of the Spratly islands, causing the losses to the Vietnamese of several armed ships and up to 200 deaths. The battle was won by the Chinese Navy who had fewer ships and sailors but had more advanced ships and weapons. This prompted the Vietnamese Navy to modernize its naval weapons and its overall naval capabilities

Organizational structure

VPN's Naval regions

Naval Regions

Naval Regions are inter-military campaign of naval tactics, territorial division, comprising the regions, fleets, naval air forces, marines, defense island soldiers, coastal artillery and combat units to ensure (radar, information technology, logistics ...).

October 26, 1975, Ministry of Defence (Vietnam) issued Decision No.141/QD-QP established five Coastal Areas of Naval Command and jurisdiction provisions of the five regions. In 1978, renamed become Naval Regions.

• 1st Regional Command (A Regional Command): Gulf of Tonkin, manage north coast from Quang Ninh to Ha Tinh and the islands in Gulf of Tonkin. Command Headquarters: Hai Phong.
• 3rd Regional Command (C Regional Command): manage north central coast, from Quang Binh to Binh Dinh, including the islands of Con Co, Ly Son,...and Paracel Islands. Command Headquarters: Da Nang.
• 4th Regional Command (D Regional Command): manage south central coast including Spratly Islands, Phu Quy island and the south central coast, from Phu Yen to Binh Thuan. Headquarters Command: Cam Ranh Bay military port, Khanh Hoa.
• 2nd Regional Command (B Regional Command): manage south coast from Binh Thuan to Bac Lieu, southern continental shelf, including the key areas are economic science service areas (called are DK1, DK2). Command Headquarters: Nhon Trach, Dong Nai.
• 5th Regional Command (E Regional Command): manage south coast in Gulf of Thailand from Ca Mau to Kien Giang. Command Headquarters: Phu Quoc, Kien Giang.

Service branches

Surface Ships	Naval Infantry	Naval Marine Corps	Naval Air Forces	Coastal Defense Missiles	Submarines

Ranks in Vietnam People's Navy

See also: Vietnamese military ranks and insignia

In the Vietnam People's Navy system has no ranks of Fleet Admiral. Vietnam People's Navy ranks are divided into four basic steps: Commissioned Officer, Non-commissioned Officer, and Soldiers/Seamen. Officer ranks use the executive curl on the sleeves of their service and full dress blue uniforms, similar to those used in various navies worldwide.

Level	Ranks	Translation	Insignia	Lapel	Sleeve
Flag Officers	Đô đốc	Admiral
	Phó Đô đốc	Vice Admiral
	Chuẩn Đô đốc	Rear Admiral
Senior Officers	Đại tá	Commodore
	Thượng tá	Captain
	Trung tá	Commander
	Thiếu tá	Lieutenant Commander
Junior Officers	Đại úy	Senior Lieutenant
	Thượng úy	Lieutenant
	Trung úy	Sublieutenant
	Thiếu úy	Ensign
Petty Officers	Thượng sĩ	Master Chief Petty Officer		None	None
	Trung sĩ	Chief Petty Officer		None	None
	Hạ sĩ	Petty Officer		None	None
Seamen	Binh nhất	Seaman		None	None
	Binh nhì	Seaman Recruit		None	None
Naval Cadets (Midshipmen)	Học viên Sĩ quân Hải quân	Naval Student Officer		None	None

Naval Academy

Vietnam Naval Academy's symbol

See also: Vietnamese military academies

Vietnam Naval Academy, with its headquarters in Nha Trang, is a military institute belongs to Vietnam People's Navy for training naval commanding officers in division level and commanding staffs in tactical/campaign level, include undergraduates and postgraduates of military.

The forerunner of Vietnam Naval Academy is Coastal Training School, was established in April 26, 1955 by the General Staff. The school has changed name in several times such as the Naval Training School in 1959, the Naval School of Vietnam in 1961, the Naval Officers School in 1967, School of Commander Naval engineering in 1980. Finally, the school has named Naval Academy in 1993.

After 55 years of construction, combat and growth, Vietnam Naval Academy has trained thousands of officers and technical staffs for major specialized fields such as: control vessel; mines - anti-mine; missile anti-submarine; gunship; information; radar - sonar; coastal radar; ship factory and power; the commander of the Marine Police and Border Defense Force.

In addition, Vietnam Naval Academy has trained officers for Royal Cambodian Navy and Lao People's Navy.123

Modernization

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus speaks with Vietnam People's Navy Commander Admiral Nguyen Van Hien in November 26, 2010

VPN's honor guard at ASEAN defense ministers meeting, 2010

US Navy Lt.Robert Gillenwater explains to Vietnamese Naval Officers the purpose of the diver's decompression chamber, 2006

Today, the Vietnam People's Navy is responsible for protecting the nation's sovereignty and economic activities at sea, and to repulse unauthorized foreign vessells intruding into Vietnamese waters. In general, Vietnam's policy has considered the modernization the Navy a priority task in the overall military modernization plan. The Vietnam People's Navy and the Vietnam People's Air Force are the branches with the fatest modernization rates, constantly upgrading weapons, ammunition and combat capacity, the ability to master the equipment. As stated on August 5, 2011 by Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh: "The direction of building up the armed forces is one to follow the revolutionary spirit, regularization and effectiveness and gradual modernization. Within this context, the Navy, the Air Force, the Signal Corps and Electronic Warfare will proceed directly into modernization to protect the country".

• Frigates and Corvettes: Laid down two Gepard class frigate in 2011 by Zelenodolsk shipyard-Russia, named HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang and HQ-012 Ly Thai To; and two more order. Contract with Schelde Naval Shipbuilding-Netherlands to built two Sigma class corvette. Especially, Vietnam People's Navy has built itself many Tarantul class corvette (Molniya class) with Russia supervision; besides, Vietnam People's Navy has designed and built the first warship names TT-400TP gunboat.
• Submarines: Vietnam has built the first submarine flotilla name 182 on June 1, 1982. This flotilla was trained in Cam Ranh Bay under guidance of Soviet submarine officers and used North Korea's Yugo class submarine. In April 2011, Vietnam has ordered six Kilo class submarine, worth about 1.8 billion dollars, the contract is said to occupy the entire defense budget of Vietnam in 2009. With six submarines, the first to be delivered in 2012 and the last one to be delivered by 2016, Vietnam will own the largest and most modern submarines team in Southeast Asia.
• Naval Air Force: Vietnam People's Navy prepared to build Naval Air Force to increase the capacity of coastal defense. On February 27, 2010, the General Staff (Vietnam People's Army) decides to build and make regular member the 954th Naval Air Force Regiment of Vietnamese Navy. Vietnam has purchased three CASA C-212 Aviocar aircraft Series 400 professional beach patrol and tracking. The aircraft equipped with radar MSS 6000 and Naval Air Force will use for general patrol purposes. Vietnamese Navy received two Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma to offshore patrol and search and rescue missions. Viking Air Company of Canada has contracted to sell to Vietnam six Seaplane DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 from 2012 to 2014. And 7 Kamov Ka-27 helicopters will be transferred to naval air force.
• Coastal defense missile force: Vietnam People's Navy is building Coastal defense missile force (the 679th Coastal missile Regiment) become the core force in maritime security strategy by equip Russian and Indian missile systems. Vietnamese Navy has already produced itself P-5 Pyatyorka/Shaddock anti-ships missile, range upgraded to 550 km, in fact, Vietnam was the only customer that USSR export this missile system. Russia has delivered two K-300P Bastion-P coastal defense system to Vietnam. The Bastion system uses the P-800 Oniks/Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missile, primarily used to attack targets on land and sea, attack range is 300 km, can be used to protect a coastline of over 600 km. Joint venture company Russia-India BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited will sold Vietnam 15 BrahMos stealth supersonic cruise missile, and become the first military in the world imports Brahmos defense missile, if compared with other types of missiles being used in the world, BrahMos missile has the advantages of speed faster 3 times, range longer 2.5 times, respond shorter time 3-4 times. The Vietnamese are now starting to locally produce the anti ship missile Kh-35 Uran-E after received 33 missiles in 2010.

Fleet

Ships of the Vietnamese Navy are typically preceded with HQ (an abbreviation of the Vietnamese words: Hải Quân, meaning Navy).

Submarines
Photo	Class	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Ships
	Improved Kilo class	Russia Admiralty Shipyard	Submarine		6 on order .scheduled for first delivery in August 2013, the second before the end of 2013	HQ-182 Ha Noi HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh city HQ-184 Hai Phong HQ-185 Da Nang HQ-186 Khanh Hoa HQ-187 Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Frigates (7 in Service)
Photo	Class	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Ships
	Gepard 3.9 class	Russia Yantar/Zelenodolsk Design Bureau	Frigate	2	2 in active duty (2 more under construction)	HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang HQ-012 Ly Thai To
	Petya class	Soviet Union Yantar	Frigate	5	active duty	HQ-09 HQ-11 HQ-13 HQ-15 HQ-17
Corvettes and Missile boats (41 in Service)
Photo	Class	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Ships
	Molniya class	Russia Almaz Shipbuilding Company Vietnam Ba Son Company	Corvette	4	active duty 10 built under license in Vietnam. 4 are under construction first one finished on 13/3/2013.	HQ-375, HQ-376
	Tarantul-I class	Russia Almaz Shipbuilding Company	Corvette	6	active duty	HQ-371, HQ-372, HQ-373, HQ-374,HQ-377, HQ-378
	BPS-500	Russia Almaz Shipbuilding Company Vietnam Ba Son Company	Corvette	1	active duty	HQ-381
	Sigma class corvette	Netherlands Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding	Corvette	4 order.	Contract still under discussion
	Svetlyak class	Russia Almaz Shipbuilding Company	Patrol	6	active duty	HQ-261,HQ-263, HQ-264,HQ-265, HQ-266, HQ-267
	TT-400TP class	Vietnam Hong ha company	Patrol	2	active duty	HQ-272, HQ-273
	Osa class	Soviet Union	Patrol	8	active duty	coast guard vessel
	Turya class	Soviet Union	Patrol	10	active duty	coast guard vessel
	Shershen class	Soviet Union	Patrol	4	active duty	coast guard vessel
Minesweeper ships
Photo	Class	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Ships
	Sonya class	Soviet Union	minesweeper	4	active duty
	Yurka class	Soviet Union	minesweeper	2	active duty
150px	Yevgenya class	Soviet Union	minesweeper	2	active duty
	Type 037 class	China	minesweeper	4	active duty
Transport/Logistics support ship
Photo	Class	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Ships
150px	Giao su Vien si Tran Dai Nghia	Netherlands Damen Group Vietnam Song Thu company	Ocean surveillance	1	active duty
150px	K-122 class	Vietnam 189 Shipbuilding company	Transport/ Logistics support ship	1	active duty	HQ-571 Trường Sa
File:Nhatky1.jpg	K-122 class	Vietnam 189 Shipbuilding company	Transport/ Logistics support ship	1	active duty	HQ-561 Khanh Hoa 01( hospital ship )
150px	Trường Sa class	Vietnam 189 Shipbuilding company	Transport/ Logistics support ship	4	active duty	Trường Sa 08, Trường Sa 19, Trường Sa 20, Trường Sa 22
Amphibious warfare (3 in Service)
Photo	Class	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Notes
	USS Maricopa County (LST-938)	United States	Amphibious warfare	1	active duty
	USS Coconino County (LST-603)	United States	Amphibious warfare	1	active duty
	Polnochny class	Soviet Union/Poland	Amphibious warfare	3	active duty
Aircraft (9 in Service)
Photo	Aircraft	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Notes
	Lockheed P-3 Orion	United States	Anti-submarine Maritime patrol aircraft	6	on ordered
	DHC-6 Twin Otter	Canada Viking Air	Patrol	6	1 , 1 more is being tested	scheduled for delivery in 2012 - 2014.
	Kamov Ka-27	Soviet Union Kamov	ASW Helicopter	7	active duty	to serve in frigates and patrol around Spratly islands
	Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma	France Eurocopter Group	Patrol	2	active duty
150px	Magic Eye 01	Vietnam Vietnam Aerospace Associassion Sweden Unmanned System Group	UAV		under development
Anti-ship missile/Coastal Defense Missile
Photo	Missile	Origin	Type	Quantity	In service	Notes
	P-800 Oniks (SS-N-26 Yakhont)	Russia NPO Mashinostroyeniya	Coastal defense	10 launcher/ 40 missiles	2 K-300P Bastion-P systems in active	to negotiate that Vietnam will self-produced
	P-5 Pyatyorka (SS-N-3 Shaddock)	Soviet Union Chelomey design bureau	Coastal defense		active duty	Vietnam has already self-produced
	P-15 Termit (SS-N-2 Styx)	Soviet Union MKB Raduga	Anti-ship missile/ Coastal defense	20	active duty/equipped in Tarantul class ships	Vietnam has already self-produced
	Kh-35 Uran-E (SS-N-25 Switchblade)	Russia Zvezda	Anti-ship missile	103 missiles	active duty/equipped in Molniya and Gepard class ships	Vietnam has already self-produced
	3M-54 Klub (SS-N-27 Sizzler)	Russia Novator Design Bureau	Anti-ship missile		equipped in Kilo submarines

Inshore Patrol:

• Vietnam 10 (+25) HQ-56 class (Stolkraft; 22.5 meter) PB with 1x20mm
• Vietnam 5 HQ-37 class (built by Vinashin)
• Soviet Union 15 Zhuk class patrol boats (Project 1400M)

Mine Warfare:

• Soviet Union 2 Yurka class fleet minesweepers (Project 266) class MSF
• Soviet Union 4 Sonya base minesweepers (Project 1265E) class MSC
• Soviet Union 2 Yevgenya (Project 1258) class MSI
• Soviet Union 2 SO-1 class MSI

Amphibious Landing Ships:

• United States 5 amphibious LST-1/542 class LST
• United States several LCU-1466 class
• Soviet Union 10-15 T-4 (Project 1785) class LCM

Auxiliaries:

• Soviet Union 1 Sorum class logistics tug (Project 745) ATA
• Soviet Union 1 Voda (MTV-6/Project 561) AWT
• Soviet Union 5 Nyrat-2 (Project 376U) diving tenders (YDT)
• Vietnam 5 floating drydocks (YFDL)
• Soviet Union 5 PO-2 (Project 376) YFL
• United States 5 ex-US 55-meter harbor tankers (YO) - lilely ex-USN YOG-5 Class Gasoline Oiler
• United States 5 Chaolocco tugs (YTM)
• 10 (estimated) harbour tubs (YTL)

Small Arms

• Soviet Union AK-74 Standard Issue Assault rifle.
• Soviet Union AKM-47 Standard Issue Assault Rifle being supplemented by AK-74.
• Soviet Union PKM machinegun
• Soviet Union Makarov PM Standard issue pistol for all Vietnamese Military services.
• Israel IMI Tavor TAR-21 Marines and Special Forces Only.
• Israel Uzi Submachinegun Marines and Special Forces Only.
• Israel IMI Negev Light Machine Gun Marines and Special Forces Only.

Manpower

The current total manpower of the navy is around 50,000 officers and enlisted personnel including naval infantry [i.e. marines] and other specialised units.

See also

• Vietnam Marine Police
• Republic of Vietnam Navy
• Tonkin Gulf Incident
• Vung Ro Bay Incident
• 1988 Spratly Islands naval battle

External links

• Vietnam Military blog
• Gulf of Tonkin Incident: Reappraisal 40 Years Later
• Task Force 115
• Analysis of the Battle of Dong Hoi
• World Navies Vietnam