Oct 28, 2011

Future of the Ecuadorian Navy

A small navy, to protect some beautiful islands

Cartography:
Of the entire Ecuadorian Navy, 5% (6,720 km2 (2,595 sq mi)) were of water (Rivers/Lakes). Coastlines: 2337 km, a EEZ of 236,597 km2 claimed.

Personnal Strenght: 7200+ (Naval Aviation, Marines & Coast Guard included)

2 Frigates
2 Condell
(Altaro, Valverde). 2600+ tons, 113+ meters (ex 1970's Chilean Leander FFG). Transferred by 2008.

2 Submarines
2 Shyri
(Shyri, Huancavilca). 1100+ tons, 59+ meters (German Type 1300 SSK). Commissioned by 1977/1978.

6 Corvettes
6 Esmeraldas
(Esmeralda, Manabi, Los Rios, El Oro, Galapagos, Loja). 600/650 tons, 62+ meters. Commissioned by 1982/1984. May be up to 2 Crafts on reserve ?

3 Fast Attack Missile Crafts
3 Quitos
(Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca). 250+ tons, 47 meters. Commissioned by 1976/1977. Maybe one (Quito ?) in reserve.

Auxiliaries Ships
1 Huacolopo
(Huacolpo). 1600/4000 tons, 100+ meters (ex 1940's US LST). Transferred by 1977. Maybe no longer ops ?

1 Kintebury (supply ship)
(Calicuchima). 2000+ tons, 70+ meters (ex 1970's British Kinterburry supply ship). Transferred by 1992.

1 YW (water tanker)
(Atahualpa). 400/1300 tons, 53+ meters (ex 1940 US water lighter). Transferred by 1963.

1 Waterfall (water tanker)
(Quisquis). 340 tons, 40 meters (ex 1960's british water lighter). Transferred by 1991.

1 Taurus (coastal transport tanker)
(Taurus). 1800 tons 53 meters. Commissioned by 1987.

1 Abnaki
(Chimborazo). 1200 tons, 62+ meters (ex 1940's US Fleet Tug). Transferred by 1977.

1 Orion (oceanographic)
(Orion). 1500 tons, 70+ meters. Commissioned by 1981

1 Sirius
(Sirius). Commissioned by 2011.

1 Guayas (Sail Training Ship)
(Guayas). 900+ tons, 76+ meters. Commissioned by 1977.

ECUADORIAN COAST GUARD (500)
7 to 11 Mid Shore Patrol Vessels
2 Manta
(9 de Octubre, 27 de Octubre). 120 tons, 36+ meters (German Lurssen design). Commissioned by 1971.

3 Vigilante (protector)
300 tons, 45 meters. Commissioned by 2006/2007

2 Espada
(5 de Agosto, 27 de Febrero). 120 tons, 34+ meters. Commissioned by 1991

4 10 de Agosto ?
Uncertain data ?

1 PGM-71
(25 de Julio). 130 tons, 30+ meters (US PGM 71 PB). Commissioned by 1965.

1 Point
(24 de Mayo). 64 tons, 25 meters (ex 1960's US Point). Transferred by 1967.

In Shore Patrol Vessels
6 Rio Puyango
(Rio Puyango, Rio Mateje, Rio Zarumilla, Rio Chone, Rio Daule, Rio Babhoyo). 17 tons, 13+ meters. Commissioned by 1986/1988.

2 Rio Esmeralda
(Rio Esmeralda, Rio Santiago). 17 tons, 13+ meters (US 45 foot PB). Commissioned by 1992.

Up to 4 Pirana ?
Uncertain data ?

Up to 8 Interceptor ?
Uncertain data ?

Up to 8 Albatrosuaya ?
Uncertain data ?

Up to 10 Riverine Crafts, manned by the Ecuadorian Army ?

ECUADORIAN MARINES (2000+)
Mortars: 32+ (60/81/120mm)
Manpads: 64+ (Mistral/SA-18 Igla)

ECUADORIAN NAVAL AVIATION (375)
Aircrafts
- 1 CN-235-100 (Maritime Patrol)
- 1 CN-235-300M (Maritime Patrol)
- 1 Beech 300 (Maritime Patrol)
- 1 Beech 200 Super King Air (Transport)
- 1 Beech 300 Super King Air (Transport)
- 4 T-35B Pillan (Training)
- 2 T-34C Turbo Mentor (Training)

Helicopters
- 2 Bell 230 (Utility)
- 3 Bell 206B (Utility)
- 3 Bell 206A (Utility)

UAV
- 4 IAI Searcher Mk2
- 2 IAI Heron

As usual, It may be that in my "fleet review", 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

2 comments:

  1. Hi Mike!

    It's correct that a pair of Br Leander class frigates were transferred to Ecuador in 1991, but the original pair were both decommissioned in 2008 and replaced by another pair of Leander class frigates acquired from Chile the same year. The present frigates were both ordered by Chile and originally commissioned in the Chilean navy in 1973-74. Thus, the present Leander class frigates were not built in the 60's (as the original pair) but in the early 70's. They have taken over both the names and the pennant numbers of the previous two frigates (took me awhile to figure this out ;-)!)

    According to Combat Fleets of the World 2002-03 two of the Esmeraldas class corvettes and the FAC LM-21 Quito of the FPB 45 class were in reserve by then.

    The frigates have the pennant numbers: FM-01 (Alfaro) and FM-02 (Valverde), the corvettes: CM-11 (Esmeraldas), CM-12 (Manabi), CM-13 (Los Rios), CM-14 (El Oro), CM-15 (Galapagos) and CM-16 (Loja), the FPB 45 FAC: LM-21 (Quito), LM-22 (Guayaquil) and LM-23 (Cuenca), transport: TR-61 (Huacolpo), supply ship: TR-62 (Calicuchima), water lighter [YW]: TR-63, Br Water class water lighter: TR-64 (Quisquis), coastal transport tanker: TR-65 (Taurus), fleet tug: RA-70 (Chimborazo), oceanographic research ship: BI-91 (Orion), and sail training ship: BE-51 (Guayas).

    Auxiliary Huacolpo now used as transport and listed as active in 2007, but may not be operational.

    TR-65 Taurus is not a coastal transport, but a coastal transport tanker [AOT]. Transferred to naval service in 1987.

    Sirius is a small modern Ecuadorian built oceanographic research ship commissioned in 2011 (sorry no more info found).

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  2. In 2009, we acquired the former tanker water Basento (A 5356) of the italian navy.
    It' was renamed Atahualpa (TR 63).

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