Future of the Venezuelan Navy

Between protection of oil reserves & obsession with the "Yankee threat"...

Cartography:
Coastlines: 2800 km; EEZ aera of 470,666 km2.

Personnal Strenght +/- 18 000
+/- 14 000 sailors and 4000 conscript.

6 Frigates
6 Lupo/Mariscal Sucre
(Mariscal Sucre, Almirante Brion, General Urdaneta, General Soublette, General Salom, Almirante Garcia). 2200+ tons, 112+ meters. Commissioned by 1980/1982, with probable +/- 30 year of service expected, to be retired by late 2010’s/early 2020’s and replaced by ??? (likely Italian or Spanish or Russian FFG design).

Up to 4 Ocean Patrol Vessels
4 POVZEE
(Caribe, Warao, Yecuana, Karina). 2400 tons, 99 meters (Spanish OPV design “patrullero oceanic de vigilancia”). Commissioned by 2010/2012, likely to remain in service until early 2040's.

+/- 6 Mid Shore Patrol Vessels (to be soon replaced)
6 Constitucion
(Constitution, Federacion, Independancia, Libertad, Patria, Victoria). 170 tons, 36+ meters. Maybe only 2 or 3 unirs really serviceable ?. Commissioned by 1973/1974, likely to be retired during 2010's and replaced by some newer/larger patrol vessels (Spanish built's).

Up to 9 ? Submarines (toward the "capital-ship" of the Venezuela navy...usefull....face to the US Navy…)
6 to 9 newer submarine ?
Likely expected to be of russian design (Improved Kilo). Wait & See

2 Caribe ?
(Caribe, Sabalo). 1300 tons, 59 meters (German Type 209/1300 SSK design), commissioned by 1976/1977. Now ageing units, likely to be replaced during 2010’s by more newer SSK’s.

+/- 4 Large/Medium Amphibious
4 Capana (LST)
(Capana, Esequibo, Goajira, Los Llanos). 1800/4000 tons, 104+ meters (Korean LST design). Commissioned by 1983/1984.

Uncertain/Unreliable data about small landing crafts (LCVP/LCM) ?

+/- 5 Auxiliary ships
1 Ciudad Bolívar (supply ship)
(Ciudad Bolívar), 9700 tons, 137 meters (Korean built), commissioned by 2001.

2 General Miranda (fleet tugs)
(General Francisco de Miranda, Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual). 700 tons, 60 meters, commissioned by 2005/2006.

1 Punta Brava (hydrographic survey ship)
(Punta Brava). 1100 tons, 61+ meters, commissioned by 1991.

Bricbarc type/Simón Bolívar (training)
(Simón Bolívar), Spanish built, commissioned by 1980.

Inshore Patrol Boats (uncertain data ?)
7 UFPB-1/1000
(Polaris, Sirius, Rigel, Aldebaran, Antares, Canopus, Altair). 5 tons, 10 meters, built by 1987.

Many 24-foot RIB crafts.

Few 7,3 meters RIB.

5+ 22-foot Guardian crafts
1+ tons, 6+ meters, built since 1997.

2 Guaicaipuro
(Guaicaipuro, Tamanaco). Built by 1973.

4 Terepaima
(El Amparo, Terrepaima, Yaracuy, Sorocaima). 5 tons, 10+ meters, built by 1987.

Likely others small Crafts, uncertain data ?

Venezuela Riverine Squadron (mainly Inshore/Riverine Patrol-Vessels/Riverine-Gunboats)
5+ Caribe/Frontera
(5 meters).

8+ Manapiare
Built since 1996.

9 22-foot Piranha
(LCF-101 to 109). 1+ tons, 6+ meters, built by 1994/1997.

5+ Caroni
5 meters, built since 1991.

2 Manaure
(Manaure, Mara). 15 tons, 16+ meters, built by 1973.

Venezuela Coast Guards +/- 1000
4 BVL (Off-Shore Patrol Vessels)
(Guaicamacuto, Yavire, Naiguata, Tamanaco). 76+ meters, 1500 tons (Spanish OPV design “buque de vigilancia litoral”). Commissioned by 2009/2011.

10 54-foot SAR crafts
(Rio serie’s) 30 tons,16+ meters, commissioned by 1998-2000.

5 22-foot Guardian
(V series) 1+ tons, 6+ meters, commissioned by 1998.

8 35-foot
(V-983501 to V-983508). 10+ meters, commissioned by 1998/2000.

25 30-foot
(V-983001 to V-983025). 9+ meters, commissioned by 1998/2000.

25 26-foot
(V-982601 to V-982625). 8 meters, built by 1998/2000.

20 Precursor
4+ meters built by 1996+

12 Protector
(Rio serie’s). 15 tons, 13 meters, built by 1984.

10 21-foot Cobia
1 tons, 6 meters.

Venezuela Marines 7000+ troops
Armored Vehicles: up to 38 EE-11 Urutu.
Amphibious armored vehicles: 11 AAVT-7 (acquired by 1973).
Artillery Guns (towed): 18 to 50 105mm M-56.
Mortars: 35 120mm MO-120 Brandt.
SAM: some Bofors RBS-70 manpad.
Various vehicles: Land-Rover Defender, Ford M151 MUTT, Chevrolet M-705, EE-25…
Some small Crafts: Guardian 22” and Guardian 25” (US built), few others crafts.

Venezuela Coastal Battery
Uncertain data ?...

Naval Aviation +/- 900
Aircrafts:
- 3 Casa 212-200 (Maritime-Patrol).
- 1 Beech 200; 5 Casa 212; 2 Cessna 310Q; 2 Cessna402; 1 Rockwell 980C (Transport).
- 1 Cessna 210 Centurion (Utility).

Helico:
- 8 Bell 212; 4 Bell 412EP (Utility).
- 1 Bell 206b (Training).
- Likely few "russian builts" helico incoming ?

Since the rise of Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan navy radically changed vision. The purchase of 8 patrol-vessels (Spanish built's) demonstrates the willingness of Venezuela to protect their oil reserves (the threat of drug-cartels or Colombia Navy is not "fundamentally deep"). The future purchase of 6 to 9 ? future SSK's (and maybe additional coastal missile battery) showed that Chavez wants to try to counter the threat of the American fleet. Time will tell how the situation evolves between the two countries...WAIT & SEE...

Next fleet review/editorial: Future of the Peruvian Navy

As usual, It may be that in my opinion, I forgot programs ? (or made few mistakes ?, especially for the auxiliary and smaller ships), then SAID IT ! Feel free to comment and give your opinion !