List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Navy
Since the Vietnam War, most of Vietnamese vessels were supplied by the Soviet Union and presently by Russia, while hundreds more were integrated into the navy after it was left over from South Vietnam although many have been decommissioned due to lack of parts. However, due to rising tensions in the South China Sea, many nearby nations such as Japan have shown support in developing Vietnam's Navy and Coast Guard.[1]
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The Vietnam People's Navy is the branch of the Vietnam People's Army with the fastest modernisation as the Vietnamese government put it as a main priority, with constant improvement to its weapons, munitions and combat capability.
Vessels
Class | Image | Type | Ships | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Submarines (6) | ||||||
Kilo | Submarine | 182 Hà Nội 183 Hồ Chí Minh City 184 Hải Phòng 185 Khánh Hoà 186 Đà Nẵng 187 Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu | Russia | 6[2] | Equipped with Kalibr / Club missiles.[2] | |
Frigates (9) | ||||||
Gepard 3.9 | Frigate | 011 Đinh Tiên Hoàng 012 Lý Thái Tổ 015 Trần Hưng Đạo 016 Quang Trung | Russia | 4[3] | HQ-15 and HQ-16 equipped with anti-submarine capability while HQ-11 and HQ-12 are not. With two more ships planned. | |
Petya | Frigate | HQ-09 HQ-11 HQ-13 HQ-15 HQ-17 | Soviet Union | 5[4] | Three ASW frigate while two converted to gunboats. | |
Corvettes (14) | ||||||
Molniya | Corvette | HQ-375 HQ-376 HQ-377 HQ-378 HQ-379 HQ-380 HQ-382 HQ-383 | Russia Vietnam | 8[5] | 6 built locally. | |
Tarantul | Corvette | HQ-371 HQ-372 HQ-373 HQ-374 | Russia Vietnam |
4[6][7] | 4 built locally. | |
Pohang | Corvette | HQ-18 HQ-20 | South Korea | 2[8] | ASW corvette transferred from South Korea.[8] | |
Patrol vessels (26) | ||||||
BPS-500 | Missile boat | HQ-381 | 1 | Active duty. | ||
Osa | Missile boat | HQ-354 HQ-355 HQ-356 HQ-357 HQ-358 HQ-359 HQ-360 HQ-361 | Soviet Union | 8 | Active duty. | |
Svetlyak | Patrol boat | HQ-261 HQ-263 HQ-264 HQ-265 HQ-266 HQ-267 | Russia | 6 | Active duty. | |
TT-400TP | Patrol boat/Gunboat | HQ-272 HQ-273 HQ-274 HQ-275 HQ-276 HQ-277 | Vietnam | 6 | Active duty. | |
Turya | Patrol boat | HQ-331 HQ-332 HQ-333 HQ-334 HQ-335 | Soviet Union | 5 | Active duty. | |
Amphibious warfare ships (13) | ||||||
LST-542 | Amphibious warfare | HQ-501 Trần Khánh Dư HQ-503 | United States | 2 | Active duty. The former USS Maricopa County LST-938 and USS Coconino County (LST-603) which captured during the Vietnam War. | |
Polnocny | Amphibious warfare | HQ-511 HQ-512 HQ-513 | Poland | 3 | Active duty. | |
Hùng Vương | Amphibious warfare | HQ-521 HQ-522 | Vietnam | 2 | Active duty. | |
Damen Roro 5612 | Amphibious warfare | 526 527 528 YN541056 |
Vietnam | 3 (1) | Active duty. 3 ship repurchase from order Venezuela.
1 ship in order | |
LCM-8 | Amphibious warfare | United States | Captured during the Vietnam War. | |||
LCU 1466 | Amphibious warfare | HQ-551 HQ-552 HQ-553 HQ-554 HQ-555 HQ-556 |
United States | 6 | Captured during the Vietnam War. | |
Auxiliary vessels (33) | ||||||
Sorum | Logistics tug | Project 745 | Soviet Union | 1 | ||
Voda | Logistics tug | MTV-6/Project 561 | 1 | |||
Nyrat-2 | Logistics tug | Project 376U | 5 | |||
Floating drydock | Vietnam | 5 | ||||
PO-2 | Project 376 | Soviet Union | 1 | |||
USN YOG-5 | Harbour tanker | United States | 5 | ex-USN YOG-5. Captured during the Vietnam War. | ||
Chaolocco | Tug | 5 | Captured during the Vietnam War. | |||
USN | Harbour tug | 10 | Captured during the Vietnam War. | |||
Mines counter-measure vessels (8) | ||||||
Sonya | Minesweeper | HQ-861 HQ-862 HQ-863 HQ-864 | Soviet Union | 4 | Active duty. | |
Yurka | Minesweeper | HQ-851 HQ-852 | 2 | Active duty. | ||
Yevgenya | Minesweeper | 2 | Active duty. | |||
Transport/Logistics support ships (11) | ||||||
HSV-6613 | Ocean surveillance | HQ-888 Trần Đại Nghĩa | Vietnam | 1 | Active duty. | |
K-122 | Transport/Logistics support ship | HQ-571 Trường Sa HQ-561 Khánh Hòa (hospital ship) | Vietnam | 2 | Active duty. | |
HQ-996 | Transport/Logistics support ship | HQ-996 | 1 | Active duty. | ||
Trường Sa | Transport/Logistics support ship | Trường Sa 04 Trường Sa 08 Trường Sa 14 Trường Sa 19 Trường Sa 20 Trường Sa 21 Trường Sa 22 | 7 | Active duty. | ||
Submarine rescue ship | Yết Kiêu (927)[9] | Vietnam | 1 | Active duty. | ||
Training vessel (1) | ||||||
Training vessel | HQ-Lê Quý Đôn | Poland | 1 | Active duty. |
Aircraft
Aircraft | Image | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patrol aircraft (6) | ||||||
DHC-6 Twin Otter | Patrol aircraft | Canada | 6[10] | Active duty. 3 uses as MPA and 3 uses as transport. | ||
Helicopters (10) | ||||||
Kamov Ka-28 | ASW helicopter | Ka-32 | Soviet Union | 8[10] | Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands. | |
Eurocopter Super Puma | Patrol helicopter | France | 2[10] | |||
Unmanned aerial vehicle | ||||||
Magic Eye 01 | UAV | Vietnam | unknown | Under development. | ||
Insitu ScanEagle | UAV | United States | 6[11] |
Munitions
Model | Image | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Torpedo | ||||||
VA-111 Shkval | Russia | unknown | Equipped with Kilo-class submarine. | |||
Type 53 torpedo | Russia Soviet Union |
unknown | Equipped with Kilo-class submarine. | |||
Naval Mine | ||||||
KMP | Soviet Union Vietnam |
unknown | ||||
UĐM | Soviet Union | unknown | ||||
Coastal Artillery | ||||||
M2 | 105mm Howitzer | United States | unknown | |||
M-114 | 115mm Towed Howitzer | United States | unknown | |||
SPG-9 | 73mm Recoilless gun | Soviet Union | unknown | |||
B-10 | 82mm Recoilless Rifle | Soviet Union | unknown | |||
B-11 | 107mm Recoilless Rifle | Soviet Union | unknown | |||
D-20 | 152mm Towed Howitzer | Soviet Union | unknown | |||
D-30 | 112mm Howitzer | Soviet Union | unknown | |||
D-44 | 85mm Field Artillery | Soviet Union | unknown | |||
M-46 | 130mm Field gun | Soviet Union | unknown | |||
SU-100 | 100mm tank destroyer | Soviet Union | Unknown | Used by coastal defence forces of PNVN.[12] | ||
Anti-ship missile (AShM) | ||||||
ACCULAR | 122–160 mm rocket artillery | Israel | unknown | Used for coastal defence.[13] | ||
EXTRA | 306mm rocket artillery | Israel | 20 | 150km range, used for coastal defence.[14] | ||
Onyx | Coastal defence | SS-N-26 Yakhont | Russia | 10 launcher 40 missiles |
Finished negotiation for technological transferring programme. Two K-300P Bastion-P systems in active. | |
P-5 Pyatyorka | Coastal defence | SS-N-3 Shaddock | Soviet Union | unknown | Active duty. Already self-produced by Vietnam. | |
P-15 Termit | Anti-ship missile Coastal defence |
SS-N-2 Styx | 20[6] | Active duty. Equipped in Tarantul class ships. Some have been replaced by Kh-35. | ||
Kh-35 Uran-E | Anti-ship missile | SS-N-25 Switchblade | Russia Vietnam |
103[6] | Active duty. Equipped in Molniya and Gepard class ships. Already self-produced by Vietnam. 300 more on order. | |
3M-14/54 Klub | Anti-ship missile | SS-N-27 Sizzler | Russia | (50) | Equipped in Kilo submarines. 40 on order.[15] |
Soldier Equipment
Gear
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Helmets | ||||
Type A2 Helmet | Combat Helmet | Vietnam | Standard Issue. | |
Vietnamese Pith Helmet | Helmet | Vietnam | Mostly used as training helmet. Sometimes used as a regular hat. | |
PASGT Helmet | Combat Helmet | United States Vietnam |
Limited use. Standard Issue for Marines. They are gradually replacing older helmets in the Army. The Marines uses helmets imported from Israel, as well as domestically-produced ones.[16][17] | |
Camouflage patterns | ||||
K-07 Navy | Camouflage Pattern | Vietnam | Standard camo. A variant of the K-07 Woodland used by the Ground Forces. The Army is aiming to replace this with a more modern camouflage pattern in the future.[18][19] |
Firearms
Model | Image | Type | Calibre | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pistol | |||||
TT-33 | Semi-automatic pistol | 7.62×25mm Tokarev | Soviet Union | Standard issue service pistol. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory as the K14-VN. The locally produced version is improved with a longer barrel, and a double-stack magazine that holds an increased capacity of 13 rounds.[20][21] | |
Makarov | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×18mm Makarov | Soviet Union | Limited use. | |
Stechkin APS | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×18mm Makarov | Soviet Union | Limited use. | |
Assault rifles | |||||
Galil ACE | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Israel | Standard issue assault rifle. | |
IWI Tavor TAR-21 | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Israel | Manufactured locally. Used by Marines as standard issue rifle [22][23][24] | |
AK-47 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | Used for training. Replaced as the standard issue rifle by the Galil ACE. | |
AKM
AKMS |
Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | ||
Ak-74
AKS-74 |
Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | ||
APS | Underwater Assault rifle | 5.66×39mm MPS with 5.66×120mm steel darts and tracer MPST | Soviet Union | ||
Submachine gun | |||||
Uzi | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum | Israel | Used by Naval Special Forces. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory. | |
Sniper rifles | |||||
Dragunov SVD | Designated marksman rifle | 7.62×54mmR | Soviet Union | Used by Marine Infantry. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.[25] | |
PSL (rifle) | Designated marksman rifle | 7.62×54mmR | Romania | Used by Marine Infantry | |
Machine gun | |||||
RPD | Light machine gun | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | ||
RPK
RPK-74 |
Light machine gun | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | ||
IMI Negev | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm NATO | Israel | Used by Marines and Naval Special Forces. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory. | |
DShK | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×108mm | Soviet Union | ||
Grenade launcher | |||||
M79 grenade launcher | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm grenade | Manufactured locally at the Z125 Factory | ||
M203 grenade launcher | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm SR | |||
AGS-17 | Automatic Grenade Launcher | 30×29mm grenade | Soviet Union | Manufactured locally at the Z125 Factory | |
RPG-7
(B-41 in Vietnam) |
Rocket-propelled grenade | 40mm HEAT | Soviet Union | ||
DP-64 | Grenade launcher | 45mm | Russia | ||
MATADOR | Anti-armour | 90mm anti-armour | Israel | Used by Marines. |
Vehicles
Vehicle | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tanks | |||||
Type 63 (tank) | Amphibious light tank | China | |||
PT-76 | Light tank | Soviet Union | |||
T-34 | Medium tank | Soviet Union | Coastal and islands defences. | ||
Armoured personnel carriers | |||||
BTR-60 | Wheeled armoured personnel carrier | Soviet Union |
Procurement
As the Vietnam People's Navy is responsible for protecting the nation's sovereignty and economic activities at sea, as well to repulse unauthorised foreign vessels intruding into Vietnamese waters, Vietnam's policy has considered the modernisation of the Navy a priority task in the overall military modernisation plan. As stated on 5 August 2011 by Minister of Defence Phùng Quang Thanh:
The direction of building up the armed forces is one to follow the revolutionary spirit, regularisation and effectiveness and gradual modernisation. Within this context, the Navy, the Air Force, the Signal Corps and Electronic Warfare will proceed directly into modernisation to protect the country.[26]
- Frigates and corvettes: Two Gepard-class frigates were laid down in 2011 by the Zelenodolsk shipyard in Russia, named HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang and HQ-012 Lý Thái Tổ, and two more were ordered. A contract was made in 2011 with Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands to build two Sigma-class corvettes in the Netherlands and two more in Vietnam.[27] The Vietnam People's Navy has itself built six Tarantul-class corvettes (Molniya class) with Russian supervision and has designed and built the first warships of the TT-400TP gunboat class.[28]
- Submarines: Vietnam deployed its first submarine flotilla, Flotilla 182, on 1 June 1982. This flotilla was trained in Cam Ranh Bay under the guidance of Soviet submarine officers and used North Korea's Yugo-class submarine. In April 2011, Vietnam ordered six Kilo-class submarines worth about 1.8 billion dollars, said to be the entire defence 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 in Southeast Asia.[29]
- Offshore patrol vessel: When Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng visited India in October 2014 it was announced that India will supply 4 naval vessels to Vietnam, and quickly operationalise a $100 million line of credit which will allow Vietnam to purchase new vessels from India.[30]
- Naval air force: The Vietnam People's Navy prepared to build the Naval Air Force to increase the capacity of coastal defence. On 27 February 2010, the Vietnamese People's Army General Staff decided to build and make the 954th Naval Air Force Regiment a regular member of the Vietnamese Navy. Vietnam has purchased three CASA C-212 Aviocar Series 400 aircraft. The aircraft are equipped with MSS 6000 radar and the Naval Air Force will use them for general patrol purposes. Vietnamese Navy received two Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma to offshore patrol and search and rescue missions.[31] Viking Air Company of Canada contracted to sell to Vietnam six Seaplane DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft from 2012 to 2014. While eight Kamov Ka-28 helicopters also transferred to the naval air force.[32]
- Coastal defence missile force: Vietnam People's Navy is building a coastal defence missile force (the 679th Coastal Missile Regiment) to become a core force in its maritime security strategy, with Russian and Indian missile systems. The Vietnamese Navy has already produced for itself the P-5 Pyatyorka/Shaddock anti-ship missile, with a range of 550 km. Vietnam was the only customer to which the Soviet Union exported this missile system. The then Russia delivered two K-300P Bastion-P coastal defence systems to Vietnam. The Bastion system uses the P-800 Oniks/Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missile, primarily used to attack targets on land and sea, has an attack range of 300 km, and can be used to protect a coastline of over 600 km.[33] During a 2014 visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng to India, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed willingness to sell their BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles developed by the Russia-India joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to Vietnam.[34] The Vietnamese are now starting to locally produce the anti-ship missile Kh-35 Uran-E after receiving 33 missiles in 2010.
- US Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honourable Ray Mabus talking with Vietnam People's Navy Commander Admiral Nguyễn Văn Hiến on 26 November 2010.
- US Navy Lt. Robert Gillenwater explains to Vietnamese Naval Officers the purpose of the diver's decompression chamber, 2006.
See also
References
- "Japan gives Vietnam six navy ships". 1 August 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- Alexander Korablinov (9 February 2016). "5th Russian-built Kilo-class submarine arrives in Vietnam". Russia Beyond the Headlines. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- https://medium.com/indo-pacific-geomill/vietnamese-navy-gepard-frigates-4424deb08172
- https://www.tienphong.vn/hanh-trang-nguoi-linh/tau-chien-san-ngam-viet-nam-50-nam-van-chay-tot-621776.tpo
- "Việt Nam đóng thêm 4 tàu tên lửa Molniya với vũ khí mới" (in Vietnamese). VTC News. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- "SIPRI arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- https://kienthuc.net.vn (24 July 2020). "Điểm lại những vũ khí Nga giúp nâng tầm quân đội Việt Nam gần đây". Kienthuc.net.vn. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- https://m.facebook.com/Maxdefense/posts/555465367957458
- "Vietnam launches new submarine rescue vessel". www.asiapacificdefensejournal.com. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2020/135665.article
- Yeo, Mike (6 June 2019). "These US partners in the Asia-Pacific are to receive ScanEagle drones". Defense News. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- "Báo Tây quan tâm "sát thủ diệt tăng" SU-100 của VN". kienthuc.net.vn. 28 September 2015.
- "VietDefense". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- Israel has delivered 20 EXTRA surface-to-surface guided rockets to Vietnam for coastal defence - Armyrecognition.com, 26 February 2016
- "Thống kê hợp đồng mua sắm đạn dược của Việt Nam" (in Vietnamese). Soha News. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- "Mũ chống đạn của Quân đội Việt Nam chịu được đạn 9mm". netnews.vn. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- VCCorp.vn. "Tìm hiểu các loại mũ sắt, mũ chống đạn của QĐNDVN". soha.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- tintucvietnam.vn (4 March 2018). "Tìm hiểu về quân phục ngụy trang của quân đội Việt Nam (phần 2)". Tin tức Việt Nam - Cập nhật tin tức trong nước hôm nay (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- baomoi.com https://baomoi.com/quan-phuc-nguy-trang-ky-thuat-so-cua-viet-nam-co-nhung-uu-diem-nao/c/26794749.epi. Retrieved 17 April 2019. Missing or empty
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(help) - "Sức mạnh dàn súng Việt Nam tự sản xuất". baodatviet.vn. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- "K14-VN Pistol". Modern Firearms. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- Yuval Azulai (18 July 2012). "Israel's defense industry targets Vietnam". Globes. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- Jon Grevatt (3 February 2014). "Israel Weapon Industries to begin assault rifle production in Vietnam". IHS Jane’s 360. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- Steve Johnson (5 June 2013). "IWI To Produce Weapons In Vietnam". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- "Vietnam Begins Manufacture of 12.7mm KSVK, Expands Capabilities -". The Firearm Blog. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- Đỗ Hùng (5 August 2011). "Hiện đại hóa Hải quân" (in Vietnamese). Thanh Niên. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- Tamir Eshel (23 October 2011). "Vietnam Negotiate Buying four Sigma Corvettes from the Netherlands". Defense Update. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- "TT400TP - Tàu chiến "made in Việt Nam"" (in Vietnamese). An ninh Thủ đô. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- "Hanoi to Purchase Six Kilo Class Russian Submarines". Naval Today. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- Sanjeev Miglani; Sui-Lee Wee; Nick Macfie (28 October 2014). "India to supply Vietnam with naval vessels amid China disputes". Reuters. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- "Vietnam Navy receives transport choppers" (in Vietnamese). Tuổi Trẻ. 25 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- "VN sẽ có không lực thuộc hải quân". BBC News (in Vietnamese). 15 September 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- "Vietnam; Navy incepts Yakhont coastal missile". Defence Marketing Intelligence. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- Indrani Bagchi (29 October 2014). "India ignores China's frown, offers defence boost to Vietnam". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 April 2016.