Tongan Maritime Force

Tongan Maritime Force
The Tongan patrol boat VOEA Savea (P203) underway in Sydney Harbour in 2013.
Active	10 March 1973
Country	Tonga
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Insignia
Naval Ensign

The Tongan Maritime Force is the main arm of the Tonga Defence Services.

History

The TDS was founded on 10 March 1973 by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, who also commissioned the first craft on that date. The first craft was VOEA Ngahau Koula (P101), followed by VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P102) - the names mean Golden Arrow and Silver Arrow respectively. They were manned by volunteers, but are no longer in service.

Royal Yacht

• Titilupe , Touliki Base,

Patrol Boat Flotilla

The Pacific-class patrol craft were provided to Tonga by Australia as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. The TDS' main base is Touliki Base, in Nuku'alofa. As of September 2012, it has 3 Patrol vessels:

	Type	Class	Displacement	Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport
	Patrol Boat	Pacific-class patrol boat	162 tonnes	VOEA Neiafu (P201)	P201	1989	Nukuʻalofa
	Patrol Boat	Pacific-class patrol boat	162 tonnes	VOEA Pangai (P202)	P202	1990	Pangai
	Patrol Boat	Pacific-class patrol boat	162 tonnes	VOEA Savea (P203))	P203	1991	Vavaʻu

Logistic Support Flotilla

	Type	Class	Displacement	Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport
	Coastal Tanker			VOEA Lomipeau (A301)	A301		Nukuʻalofa
	Landing Craft Mechanized	LCM-8	113 tonnes	VOEA Late (C315)	C315		Nukuʻalofa

Marine Battalion

The Royal Tongan Marines is a single Battalion with a HQ and Support Company and 3 Light Infantry Companies, based at Fuaʻamotu.

Maritime Aviation

Maritime Aviation Wing based at Fuaʻamotu International Airport.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Beechcraft G.18S	USA	Search and rescue	SNB-1 Kansan	1
American Champion Citabria	USA	Maritime patrol	7KCAB	1