Colombian National Armada

The Colombian National Armada ("Armada Nacional Colombiana" or "de Colombia") is the naval armed force of Colombia. It is also known simply as the National Armada ("Armada Nacional"), or as the Armada of the Republic of Colombia ("Armada de la República de Colombia").

The armada is one of the three major forces in the Colombian Military along with the Colombian National Army and the Colombian Air Force.

ARC, for "Armada de la República de Colombia" is the acronym used in front of the name of all the Colombian navy's ships (as with USS or HMS).

History

The Colombian Armada was born with Colombian independence from Spain. The president of the Supreme Board of Cartagena, José María García Toledo, created the Naval Command Office by means of a decree dated September 17, 1810. The navy was placed under the command of Captain Juan Nepomuceno Eslava, junior son of the (former) Spanish Viceroy Sebastián Eslava.

On June 28, 1822, general Francisco de Paula Santander created the Naval School, which was later on decomissioned until 1907, when general Rafael Reyes Prieto created the Naval Academy, through decree 783 of July 6, which was censured(?) by general Ramón González Valencia in December 28, 1909.

The conflict with Peru in 1932 made the Colombian navy reappear. New ships were acquired and the "Escuela de Grumetes" (School for Navy Sailors) was founded in 1934. The "Escuela de Cadetes" (School for Navy Officers) was founded in 1935. Nowadays both schools continue their work of instructing the Colombian men and women of the sea.

Ships

A majority of the Colombian Navy ships are gunboats used for patrolling the country's rivers and coastlines.

Frigates (FFG)

"Almirante Padilla" class
* ARC "Almirante Padilla" (FM-51)
* ARC "Caldas" (FM-52)
* ARC "Antioquia" (FM-53)
* ARC "Independiente" (FM-54)

Submarines (SSK)

"Type SX-506"
* ARC "Intrépido" (S-21)
* ARC "Indomable" (S-22)

"Type 209-A/1200"
* ARC "Pijao" (S-28)
* ARC "Tayrona" (S-29)

Landing ships
*ARC "Morrosquillo"

Supply ships (AOR)

"Lüneburg" class
* ARC "Cartagena de Indias" (BM-161)
* ARC "Buenaventura" (BM-162)

Patrol Vessels
* ARC "Espartana" (PO-41)
* ARC "Capitán Pablo José de Porto" (PO-42)
* ARC "CTCIM Jorge E. Marquez Durán" (PO-43)
* ARC "Valle del Cauca" (PO-44)
* ARC "San Andrés" (PO-45)

Auxiliary Ships
* ARC "Isla Palma" (BB-33)
* ARC "Ciénaga de Mayorquin" (BB-35)
* ARC "Quindío" (BH-153)
* ARC "Abadía Mendez" (BO-154)
* ARC "Providencia" (BO-155)
* ARC "Malpelo" (BO-156)
* ARC "Gorgona" (BO-157)

School Ship
* ARC "Gloria"

Task Force Ships
* ARC "TF Juan Ricardo Oyola Vera" (TF-613)

Aircraft inventory

The Colombian Navy operates 30 aircraft, including 10 helicopters, primarily for logistical support of naval facilities and operations.

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service"World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, "Aviation Week & Space Technology", January 15 2007.] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Aero Commander || || transport helicopter || || 5 ||
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CASA C-212 Aviocar || || utility || || 3 ||
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MBB Bo 105 || || utility transport || || 2 ||
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Piper PA-28 Cherokee || || utility || || ||

ee also

* [Colombian Naval Infantry]

References

External links

* [http://www.armada.mil.co/ Colombian Navy] Official site.
* [http://www.fuerzasmilitares.org/ Colombia: Seguridad & Defensa] Extense information about colombian military forces.