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]

Military flag of the Vietnam People's Navy

The Vietnam People's Navy is the branch of the Vietnam People's Army with the fastest modernization as the Vietnamese government put it as a main priority, with constant improvement to its weapons, munitions and combat capability.

Vietnam People's Navy honour guard during the 2010 ASEAN Defence Ministers meeting.

Vessels

ClassImageTypeShipsOriginQuantityNotes
Submarines (6)
Kilo

(Project 636.1)

Attack submarineHà Nội (182)
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (183)
Hải Phòng (184)
Khánh Hoà (185)
Đà Nẵng (186)
Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu (187)
 Russia6[2]Commissioned 2014–2017. Equipped with Kalibr / Club-S missiles.[2]
Guided-missile frigates (4)
Gepard 3.9

(Project 11661E)

Guided-missile frigateĐinh Tiên Hoàng (011)
Lý Thái Tổ (012)
Trần Hưng Đạo (015)
Quang Trung (016)
 Russia4[3]015 and 016 are equipped with anti-submarine capability while 011 and 012 are not.
Anti-submarine frigates / corvettes (7)
Petya-II/-III

(Project 159A/AE)

Anti-submarine frigate09
11
13
15
17
 Soviet Union5[4]Three ASW frigate while two converted to gunboats.
Pohang

(batch III)

Anti-submarine corvette18
20
 South Korea2[5][unreliable source?]ASW corvettes transferred from South Korea.[5]
Guided-missiles corvettes / missile boats / fast attack craft (22)
Khukri Guided-missile corvette[6]26  India1[7]Under the India's policies of 'Act East' &

'Security and growth for all in the region' India gifted his Fully operational Corvette to one friendly foreign country (Vietnam).[8]

Molniya

(Project 1241.8)

Fast-attack missile corvette[9]375
376
377
378
379
380
382
383
 Russia
 Vietnam
8[10]6 built locally.
Tarantul

(Project 1241.RE)

Guided-missile corvette371
372
373
374
 Russia4[11][12]
BPS-500 Missile boat/Fast attack craft381

 Vietnam

1Active duty.
Osa

(Project 205U)

Missile boat354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
 Soviet Union8Active duty.
Gunboats / patrol boats (12)
Svetlyak

(Project 10412)

Patrol boat261
263
264
265
266
267
 Russia6Active duty.
TT-400TP Patrol boat/Gunboat272
273
274
275
276
277
 Vietnam6Active duty.
Torpedo boats (5)
Turya

(Project 206M)

Torpedo boat331
332
333
334
335
 Soviet Union5Active duty.
Amphibious warfare ships (17)
LST-938 Tank Landing Ship501
503
 United States2Active duty. The former USS Maricopa County (LST-938) and USS Coconino County (LST-603) which was captured during the Vietnam War.
Polnocny-B

(Project 771)

Tank Landing Ship511
512
513
 Poland3Active duty.
Hùng VươngLogistic-support landing vessel521
522
 Vietnam2Active duty.
Damen Roro 5612 Roll-on/roll-off logistic-support landing ship526
527
528
529
 Vietnam4Active duty. 3 ships repurchased from Venezuela's order. 1 ship ordered and transferred Vietnam Navy.
LCM-8 Landing craft  United StatesCaptured during the Vietnam War.
LCU 1466 Landing craft551
552
553
554
555
556
 United States6Captured during the Vietnam War.
Mines counter-measure vessels (8)
Sonya

(Project 1265)

Minesweeper861
862
863
864
 Soviet Union4Active duty.
Yurka

(Project 266)

Minesweeper851
852
2Active duty.
Yevgenya

(Project 1258)

Minesweeper2Active duty.
Transport / logistics support ships (11)
HSV-6613Ocean surveillanceTrần Đại Nghĩa (888)  Netherlands
 Vietnam
1Active duty.
K-122/-123Transport/Logistics support shipTrường Sa (571)  Vietnam2Active duty.
Logistics support / hospital shipKhánh Hòa - 01 (561)
996Transport/Logistics support ship9961Active duty.
Trường SaTransport/Logistics support shipTrường Sa 01
Trường Sa 02
Trường Sa 03
Trường Sa 04
Trường Sa08
Trường Sa 14
Trường Sa 19
Trường Sa 20
Trường Sa 21
Trường Sa 22.
7Active duty
Search-and-rescue vessels (4)
Damen RGS 9316Submarine rescue shipYết Kiêu (927)[13]  Netherlands
 Vietnam
1Active duty.
FET 10-meter Submarine Rescue Vehicle[14]Deep-submergence rescue vehicle  United Kingdom1Active duty
Perry® XLX-C Remotely Operated Vehicle[15][16]Remotely operated underwater vehicle1Active duty[17]
FC-624Fast-react search-and-rescue and patrol vessel924  VietnamActive duty.[18]
Training vessel (1)
Training vesselLê Quý Đôn (286)  Poland1Active duty.

Aircraft

AircraftImageTypeVariantsOriginQuantityNotes
Patrol aircraft (6)
DHC-6 Twin Otter Patrol aircraftDHC-6-400 MPA  Canada6[19]Active duty. Three used as Maritime patrol aircraft and three used as transports.
Helicopters (12)
Kamov Ka-27 ASW helicopterKa-28  Soviet Union8[19]Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands.
Ka-322[19]
Eurocopter Super Puma Patrol helicopter  France2[19]Operating by Vietnam Helicopters
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Orbiter 2Reconnaissance  Israel
Insitu ScanEagle Reconnaissance  United States6[20][21]
IAI Heron Reconnaissance  Israel3[20]

Munitions

ModelImageTypeVariantsOriginQuantityNotes
Torpedo
VA-111 Shkval  RussiaunknownEquipped with Kilo-class submarine.
Type 53 torpedo  Russia
 Soviet Union
unknownEquipped with Kilo-class submarine.
Naval Mine
KMP  Soviet Union
 Vietnam
unknown
UĐM  Soviet Unionunknown
Radar
P-18 radar  Soviet Union
Coast Watcher 100  France
SCORE-3000  France
VRS-CSX  Vietnam
Anti-ship missile (AShM)
Kh-35 Uran Anti-ship missileKh-35UE, Kh-35EMV, and an domestic upgrade variant from Kh-35UE called “VCM-01” (still developing)[22]  Russia
 Vietnam
103[11]Active duty.
3M-14/54 Club-S Anti-ship missile3M-54E/E1,3M-14E, 91RE1/RE2 [1]  Russia(50)Equipped in Kilo submarines. 40 on order.[23]
P-15 Termit Anti-ship missileP-15,P-20  Soviet Union20[11]Active duty.
P-800 Oniks Anti-ship missileP-800 Yakhont  Russia(40)Used with the K-300P Bastion-P coastal missile systems.

Soldier's equipment

Gear

NameImageTypeOriginNotes
Helmets
Type A2 HelmetCombat Helmet  VietnamStandard Issue.
Modular Integrated Communications Helmet Combat Helmet  United StatesUsed by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force[24]
Vietnamese Pith Helmet Helmet  VietnamMostly used as training helmet. Sometimes used as a regular hat.
PASGT HelmetCombat Helmet  United States
 Vietnam
Limited use. Standard Issue for Naval Infantry Force. They are gradually replacing older helmets in the Army. The Marines uses helmets imported from Israel, as well as domestically produced ones.[25][26]
Armour body
Armour bodyArmour body  VietnamUsed by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force
Combat Integrated Releasable Armor SystemArmour body  United StatesUsed by Naval Infantry Force[24]
Camouflage patterns
K07 NavyCamouflage Pattern  VietnamFormer standard camo. A variant of the K07 Woodland used by the Ground Forces.[27][28]
K17 NavyCamouflage Pattern  VietnamFormer standard camo. A variant of the K17 used by the Ground Forces.
K20 NavyCamouflage Pattern  VietnamCurrently being the standard-issued camo. A variant of the K20 used by the Ground Forces.
Naval Duck Hunter Camouflage Pattern  VietnamStandard camo for the Naval Special Operation Force and the submarine crews.

Firearms

ModelImageTypeCalibreOriginNotes
Pistol
TT-33 Semi-automatic pistol7.62×25mm Tokarev  Soviet Union

 Vietnam

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.[29][30]
Makarov Semi-automatic pistol9×18mm Makarov  Soviet Union

 Vietnam

Limited use.
Stechkin APS Machine pistol9×18mm Makarov  Soviet UnionLimited use.
Assault rifles
Galil ACE Assault rifle7.62×39mm  IsraelManufactured locally. Standard issue assault rifle.
IWI Tavor TAR-21 Assault rifle5.56×45mm NATO  IsraelManufactured locally. Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force as standard-issue rifle[31][32][33]
AK-47 Assault rifle7.62×39mm  Soviet UnionUsed for training. Replaced as the standard-issue rifle by the Galil ACE.
AKM

AKMS

Assault rifle7.62×39mm  Soviet Union
Ak-74

AKS-74

Assault rifle5.45×39mm  Soviet Union
APS Underwater Assault rifle5.66×39mm MPS with 5.66×120mm steel darts and tracer MPST  Soviet UnionUsed by Naval Special Operation Force
Submachine gun
Uzi Submachine gun9×19mm Parabellum  IsraelUsed by Naval Special Operation Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.
Sniper rifles
Dragunov SVD Designated marksman rifle7.62×54mmR  Soviet UnionUsed by Naval Special Operation Force and Naval Infantry Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.[34]
PSL (rifle) Designated marksman rifle7.62×54mmR  RomaniaUsed by Naval Infantry Force.
Galil Sniper Designated marksman rifle7.62×54mmR  IsraelUsed by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force
Machine gun
RPD Light machine gun7.62×39mm  Soviet Union
RPK

RPK-74

Light machine gun7.62×39mm  Soviet Union
IMI Negev Light machine gun5.56×45mm NATO  IsraelUsed by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.
DShK Heavy machine gun12.7×108mm  Soviet Union

 Vietnam

Grenade launcher
M79 grenade launcher Grenade launcher40×46mm grenade  United States

 Vietnam

Manufactured locally at the Z125 Factory
IWI GL 40Grenade launcher40×46mm SR  Israel

 Vietnam

Manufactured locally.Used by Naval Infantry Force
M203 grenade launcher Grenade launcher40×46mm SR  United States

 Vietnam

Manufactured locally
AGS-17 Automatic grenade launcher30×29mm grenade  Soviet Union

 Vietnam

Manufactured locally at the Z125 Factory
RPG-7

(B-41 in Vietnam)

Rocket-propelled grenade40mm HEAT  Soviet Union

 Vietnam

DP-64 Grenade launcher45mm  Russia
MATADOR Anti-armour90mm anti-armour  IsraelUsed by Naval Infantry Force.

Vehicles

VehicleImageTypeOriginQuantityNotes
Tanks
Type 63 (tank)Amphibious light tank  China
PT-76 Amphibious Light tank  Soviet Union
T-34 Medium tank  Soviet UnionCoastal and islands defences.
SU-100 100mm tank destroyer  Soviet UnionUnknownUsed by coastal defence forces of PNVN.[35]
Armoured personnel carriers
BTR-60 Wheeled armoured personnel carrier  Soviet Union
Transport
PTS-M Tracked amphibious transport  Soviet Union

Artillery

ModelImageTypeVariantsOriginQuantityNotes
Rocket / Missile Artillery
ACCULAR 122–160 mm rocket artillery  IsraelunknownUsed for coastal defence.[36]
EXTRA 306mm rocket artillery  Israel20150 km range, used for coastal defence.[37]
Onyx Anti-ship missileSS-N-26 Yakhont  Russia10 launcher
40 missiles
Finished negotiation for technological transferring programme. Two K-300P Bastion-P systems in active.
P-5 Pyatyorka Cruise missileSS-N-3 Shaddock  Soviet UnionunknownActive duty. Already self-produced by Vietnam.
P-15 Termit Anti-ship missileSS-N-2 Styx20[11]Active duty. Equipped in Tarantul class ships. Some have been replaced by Kh-35.
Coastal Artillery
SPG-9 73mm Recoilless gun  Soviet Unionunknown
B-10 82mm Recoilless Rifle  Soviet Unionunknown
B-11 107mm Recoilless Rifle  Soviet Unionunknown
D-20 152mm Towed Howitzer  Soviet Unionunknown
D-30 112mm Howitzer  Soviet Unionunknown
D-44 85mm Field gun  Soviet Unionunknown
M-46 130mm Field gun  Soviet Unionunknown
SU-100 100mm tank destroyer  Soviet UnionUnknownUsed by coastal defence force.[35]

Former

ClassImageTypeShipsOriginQuantityNotes
Komar
Missile boat  Soviet UnionDiscontinued in the 1980s
Shantou Gunboat  ChinaUsed in Gulf of Tonkin incident
P-6 class torpedo boat Torpedo boatT-333, T-336, T-339  China3Used in Vietnam War
Barnegat
Patrol boat01 (ex-Absecon)  United States1Captured in 1975.

The ship was decommissioned in the 2000s, and the entire system was dismantled.[38]

Edsall class Destroyer Escort03 ex-Forster  United States1Captured during Vietnam War CCB.
YugoMidget submarine North Korea2Decommissioned in 2012
Point
Patrol boat  United States1Captured in 1975.

Scrapped in Ho Chi Minh City, 1987.

Shershen Torpedo boat Soviet Union165 decommissioned in 2000s

7 transferred to Vietnam Coast Guard

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.[39]

  • Frigates and corvettes: Two Gepard-class frigates were laid down in 2011 by the Zelenodolsk shipyard in Russia, named 011 Dinh Tien Hoang and 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.[40] 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.[41] Vietnam also purchased two Pohang-class corvettes were purchased from South Korea, one in 2017 and one in 2018. Additionally, India donated one Khukri-class corvette in 2023.[42]
  • 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.[43]
  • 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.[44]
  • 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.[45] 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.[46]
  • 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.[47] 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.[48] The Vietnamese are now starting to locally produce the anti-ship missile Kh-35 Uran-E after receiving 33 missiles in 2010.

See also

References