Future of the Colombian Navy

Between a small oceanic squadron and a large "Mosquito Fleet" for Rivers use...

Cartography
Of the entire Colombian land aera, 928,660 km2 were of water (Rivers/Lakes).
Coastlines: 3,208 km (Caribbean-Sea 1,760 km, North-Pacific Ocean 1,448 km), and a EEZ of 817,816 km2.

Personnal Strenght +/- 22 000
(15 000 and 7 000 conscript) + 4800 reserve

4 Frigates
4 Almirante Padilla
(Almirante Padilla, Caldas, Antioquia, Independiente). 1600 tons, 95 meters. Commissioned by 1983/1984. With probable +/- 30 year of service expected, to be retired during 2010’s and replaced by ???

2 Submarines
2 Type 209/1200
(Pijao, Tayrona). 1100+ tons, 56 meters, commissioned by 1975. With probable +/- 30 year of service expected, now ageing units, likely to be retired during 2010’s.

Few Midget Submarine
2 SX-506
(Intrepido, Indomable). 58+ tons, 23 meters, commissioned by 1974. Now ageing units, likely to be retired during 2010’s.

Few Manned Torpedo
(Triunfante, Atrevida, Emprendedora, Rayo, Defensora, Protectora, Poderosa). Uncertain data ?

InShore Patrol Vessels
11 US PBR Mk-II
(Rio Magdalena, Il Rio Cauca, Rio Atrato, Rio Sinu, Rio San Jorge, Rio Putumayo, Rio Caqueta, Rio Orinoco, Rio Orteguaza, Rio Vichada, Rio Guaviare). 9 tons, 9+ meters (late 1960’s US built), transferred by 1989/1993.

+/- 133 "22 foot" Piranha
1+ tons, 6+ meters. US/Colombian built. 1 transferred by 1990, 3 transferred by 1991, up to 51 transferred by 1993, and around +/- 78 others US built or Colombian ? built by 1997.

+/- 41 ? Anguila
22 foot small craft, nearly similar to the Piranha class. Built by 1993-present

For the Piranha/Anguila IPV, a firm number is difficult to establish due to combat & service losses, some hulls may have been rebuilt locally, as well as it's likely additional batches have been acquired, and/or added to via configuration of locally built hulls with foreign-bought higher-end components...

Others patrol Boats, uncertain data ?
2 Senen Alberto Araujo

(Senen Alberto Araujo, Guillermo Londono Vargas). Uncertain data ?

1 Mario Alonso Villegas
(Mario Alonso Villegas). Uncertain data ?

2 Tony Pastrana Contreras
(Tony Pastrana Contreras, Jorge Moreno Salazar). Built by 2004/2005 ?

3 Juan Ricardo Oyola Vera
(Juan Ricardo Oyalo Vera, Freddy Alexander Perez Rodriguez, Edic Cristian Reyes Holguin). Built by 2006/2009.

A newer serie of small patrol crafts (40 foot) was currently under study/underway ?

Medium/Small Amphibious Crafts
7 LCU-1466
(Morrosquillo, Bahia Honda, Bahia Potrete, Bahia Solanco, Bahia Cupica, Bahia Utria, Bahia Malaga). 180+ tons, 35 meters (US LCU 1950’s built). Transferred by 1990/1992.

2 Ocho de Octubre (LCP)
(Ocho de Octubre, Veintisiete de Octubre). 6 tons, 13+ meters. Commissioned by 1992.

2 Sea Truck (LCVP)
(Jamie Rook, Manuela Saenz). 9 tons, 12+ meters. Commissioned by 1989/1990.

4 (LCVP)
(Altair, Castor, Pollux, Vega). 13 tons, 11 meters (ex US LCVP). Transferred by 1993.

Various Auxiliaries Ships
2 Malpelo (Oceanographic Research Ship)
(Providencia, Malpelo). 1000+ tons, 50 meters. Commissioned by 1981.

2 Type 701A (Patrol Boat Tenders)
(Cartagena De Indias, Buenaventura). 1800+ tons, 104 meters (ex German 1960’s auxiliary ships). Transferred by 1997/1998.

1 Gorgona (Hydrographic Survey Ship)
(Gorgona). 560 tons, 41+ meters (former mid 1950’s lighthouse tender).

1 Quindio (Hydrographic Survey Ship)
(Quindio). 380 tons, 40+ meters (ex US 1940’s hydrographic ship). Transferred by 1964.

1 Floatting Dry Dock/Submarine Tender
(Mayor Jaime Arias). 700 tons, 42 meters. Mainly used as a tender/Base for the 2 colombian midgets subs.

1 admiral Yacht
(Contralmirante Bell Salter). Unreliable data ?

1 Cienaga (buoy tender)
(Cienaga). 160 tons, 21 meters. Commissioned by 1997.

1 LCPL Mk-II (Various role ?)
9+ tons, 10+ meters. (Ex 1960’s US LCPL transferred by 1993).

1 Teniente Ricardo Sorzano
(Teniente Ricardo Sorzano). 70 tons, 20+ meters (ex 1940’s US harbor tug). Transferred by 1963.

1 Gloria (Sailing Training Ship)
(Gloria). 1100 tons, 76 meters. Built by 1968.

RIVERINE FLOTILLA'S
+/- 3 Mid-Shore Rivers Patrol Vessels (sometime aka "Rivers Gunboats")
1 Sargento 2 Julio Correa Hernadez (riverine patrol)
(1 Sargento 2 Julio Correa Hernadez), 120 tons, 32 meters (former riverine tug).

2 Rio-Hacha (river)
(Rio Hacha, Arauca). 170 tons, 47+ meters, commissioned by 1956.

+/- 30 In-Shore Rivers Patrol Vessels
11 ? "32 Foot" river patrol boats ?
(Magdalena, Cauca, Atrato, Sinu, San Jorge, Putumayo, Caqueta, Orinoco, Orteguaza, Vichada, Guaviare). Transferred by 1993.

9 "40 foot" river patrol boats (river)
(Tenerife, Tarapaca, Mompox, Orocue, Calamar, Magangué, Monclart, Caucaya, Mitu). 21 tons, 12+ meters, commissioned by 1993

10 Diligente river patrols
(Diligente, Juan Lucio, Alfonso Vargas, Fritz Hagale, Vengadora, Humberto Cortes, Calibio, Carlos Galindo, Valerosa, Luchadora). 33 tons, 23 meters, built by 1952/1953.

+/- 10 ? Riverine Transports/Tenders/Tugs
2 Igaraparana (Tug-Rivers/Transport)
(Igaraârana, Mana Casias). 100+ tons, 31 meters, built by 1985/1986.

5 Capitan Castro (Riverine Tugs)
(Capitan Castro, Capitan Alvaro Ruis, Capitan Rigoberto Giraldo, Teniente Vladimir Valeck, Teniente Luis Bernal). 50 tons, 19+ meters. Built by ?

? 4 ? Nodriza (Riverine Support Lighters)
(Clo Wilson Londono, Senen Alberto Araujo, + others). 260 tons, 38+ meters. Commissioned by 2000+
Or some doubts/confusion with a lot of crafts ? (Filigonio Hichamon, Manual Antonio Moyar, Igaraparana, Julio Correa Hernandez, Manacacias, Cotuhe, Ariari) ???

+/- 3 Riverine Hospital Crafts
2 Socorro (riverine hospital)
(Socorro, Teniente Hernando Gutierrez). 70 tons, 25 meters, commissioned by 1956.

1 rio Hacha (riverine hospital)
(Leticia). 170 tons, 47+ meters, built by 1956.
A newer serie of light riverine patrol craft (Patrullera Fluvial Ligera) was currently under study/underway.

Others various miscellaneous service crafts probable (mainly used to combat drug traffic, some crafts were captured former drug runners).

COLOMBIAN COAST GUARDS
+/- 2 Off-Shore Patrol Vessels
1 Valle de Cauca
(Valle del Cauca). 870+ tons, 64+ meters (ex 1960’s USCG Reliance PB’s). Transferred by 2003.

1 San Andrés
(San Andrés). 700/900 tons, 55 meters (ex US 180-A classbuoy tender ). Transferred by 2007.

+/- 11 Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels
1 Cormoran
(Espartana). 300+ tons, 55+ meters (ex Spanish 1980’s Cormoran patrol boat). Transferred by 1995.

2 Lazaga
(Capitan Pablo José de Porto, Jorge Enrique Marquez Duran). 275 tons, 57+ meters (ex 1970’s Spanish Lazaga PB’s). Transferred by 1997/1998.

2 Asheville
(Albuquerque, Quitasueso). 225 tons, 50 meters (ex 1960’s US Asheville PB’s). Transferred by 1983.

2 Juan Nepomuceno Eslava
(José Maria Garcia de Toledo, Juan Nepomuceno Eslava). 130+ tons, 35+ meters. Commissioned by 1994.

2 110 foot (Swiftships 110)
(José Maria Palas, Medardo Monzon). 100 tons, 33+ meters. Built by 1989/1990.

2 105 foot (Swiftships 105)
(C.N Rafael del Castillo y rada, Jaime Cardenas Gomez). 100+ tons, 31+ meters. Built by 1983.

+/- 28 In-Shore Patrol Vessels
21 261-B
(Antares, Acuario, Aldebaran, Aries, Alphéraz, Bellatrix, Canopus, Capella, Capricornio, Denes, Denebola, Escorpion, Geminis, Leo, Libra, Piscis, Procyon, Rigel, Spica, Tauro, Tulcan). 5 tons, 7+ meters. Built by 1992/1993.

2 Sen Spectre Mk III
(Jaime Gomez Castro, Juan Nepomuceno Pena). 28+ tons, 19+ meters (US 1970’s PB’s). Transferred by 1990.

4 82 Foot
(Cabo Corrientes, Cabo Manglares, Cabo Tiburon, Cabo de la Vela). 64+ tons, 25+ meters (ex US 1960’s Point PB’s). Transferred by 2000/2001

1 LCM 8
(Sapzurio). 34+ tons, 22+ meters (ex US LCM8). Transferred by 1993.

+ likely at least few dozens of additional very small crafts (Go-Fast, RHIB & so) for Drug Interdiction & special force use…

COLOMBIAN MARINES +/- 23 000
Armored Transport Vehicles: 20 BTR-80.

NAVAL AVIATION +/- 100 (up to 200 ?)
Aircrafts
- 5 Aero Commander (Utility Transport).
- 1 CASA-212 (Transport)
- Up to 3 Casa 235-200N (Maritime Patrol).
- 2 or 3 Cessna 206 (utility).
- 2 Gavilan 358 (Utility).
- 3 Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee (Utility).
- 2 PA-31 Navajo or ? 4 Piper PA-34 (Utility).
- 2 Rockwell Commander 206 (Uncertain status ?).

Helicopers
- 1 Bell 212 transport (Uncertain status ?).
- 4 or 5 Bell 412 (Transport).
- 2 Bo 105 (ASW or Uutility ?).
- 2 AS 555SN Fennec (ASW or Utility ?).

Colombian Navy is facing various threats:
- "Sporadic tensions" with Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.
- And continuous internal threats (very large drugs traffic, revolutionary-groups, high-corruption, high-poverty). Expecially the corruption is dangerous because it is highly probable that sometimes some military equipment (vehicles, aircrafts, helico, naval crafts) contribute to drug smuggling........As for the Peruvian Navy, many ships are old (1970's/1980's). Their replacement will become urgent by the end of this decade (only some small crafts and Colombian Coast Guards Crafts were still +/- "young" (1990's/early 2000's)).

Next fleet review/editorial: Future of the Pakistani 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 !