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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Vietnam_People%27s_Navy_flag.svg/220px-Vietnam_People%27s_Navy_flag.svg.png)
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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Vietnam_People%27s_Navy_honor_guard_at_ASEAN_defense_ministers_meeting_2010-10-12_1.jpg/220px-Vietnam_People%27s_Navy_honor_guard_at_ASEAN_defense_ministers_meeting_2010-10-12_1.jpg)
Vessels
Class | Image | Type | Ships | Origin | Quantity | Notes | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Submarines (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Kilo (Project 636.1) | ![]() | Attack submarine | Hà Nội (182) Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (183) Hải Phòng (184) Khánh Hoà (185) Đà Nẵng (186) Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu (187) | ![]() | 6[2] | Commissioned 2014–2017. Equipped with Kalibr / Club-S missiles.[2] | |||||||||||||||
Guided-missile frigates (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661E) | ![]() | Guided-missile frigate | Đinh Tiên Hoàng (011) Lý Thái Tổ (012) Trần Hưng Đạo (015) Quang Trung (016) | ![]() | 4[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 frigate | 09 11 13 15 17 | ![]() | 5[4] | Three ASW frigate while two converted to gunboats. | |||||||||||||||
Pohang (batch III) | ![]() | Anti-submarine corvette | 18 20 | ![]() | 2[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 | ![]() | 1[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 | ![]() ![]() | 8[10] | 6 built locally. | |||||||||||||||
Tarantul (Project 1241.RE) | ![]() | Guided-missile corvette | 371 372 373 374 | ![]() | 4[11][12] | ||||||||||||||||
BPS-500 | ![]() | Missile boat/Fast attack craft | 381 | 1 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
Osa (Project 205U) | ![]() | Missile boat | 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 | ![]() | 8 | Active duty. | |||||||||||||||
Gunboats / patrol boats (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Svetlyak | ![]() | Patrol boat | 261 263 264 265 266 267 | ![]() | 6 | Active duty. | |||||||||||||||
TT-400TP | Patrol boat/Gunboat | 272 273 274 275 276 277 | ![]() | 6 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
Torpedo boats (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Turya (Project 206M) | ![]() | Torpedo boat | 331 332 333 334 335 | ![]() | 5 | Active duty. | |||||||||||||||
Amphibious warfare ships (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||
LST-938 | ![]() | Tank Landing Ship | 501 503 | ![]() | 2 | Active 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 Ship | 511 512 513 | ![]() | 3 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
Hùng Vương | Logistic-support landing vessel | 521 522 | ![]() | 2 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
Damen Roro 5612 | ![]() | Roll-on/roll-off logistic-support landing ship | 526 527 528 529 | ![]() | 4 | Active duty. 3 ships repurchased from Venezuela's order. 1 ship ordered and transferred Vietnam Navy. | |||||||||||||||
LCM-8 | ![]() | Landing craft | ![]() | Captured during the Vietnam War. | |||||||||||||||||
LCU 1466 | ![]() | Landing craft | 551 552 553 554 555 556 | ![]() | 6 | Captured during the Vietnam War. | |||||||||||||||
Mines counter-measure vessels (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sonya (Project 1265) | Minesweeper | 861 862 863 864 | ![]() | 4 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
Yurka (Project 266) | Minesweeper | 851 852 | 2 | Active duty. | |||||||||||||||||
Yevgenya (Project 1258) | ![]() | Minesweeper | 2 | Active duty. | |||||||||||||||||
Transport / logistics support ships (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||
HSV-6613 | Ocean surveillance | Trần Đại Nghĩa (888) | ![]() ![]() | 1 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
K-122/-123 | Transport/Logistics support ship | Trường Sa (571) | ![]() | 2 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
Logistics support / hospital ship | Khánh Hòa - 01 (561) | ||||||||||||||||||||
996 | Transport/Logistics support ship | 996 | 1 | Active duty. | |||||||||||||||||
Trường Sa | Transport/Logistics support ship | Trường 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. | 7 | Active duty | |||||||||||||||||
Search-and-rescue vessels (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Damen RGS 9316 | Submarine rescue ship | Yết Kiêu (927)[13] | ![]() ![]() | 1 | Active duty. | ||||||||||||||||
FET 10-meter Submarine Rescue Vehicle[14] | Deep-submergence rescue vehicle | ![]() | 1 | Active duty | |||||||||||||||||
Perry® XLX-C Remotely Operated Vehicle[15][16] | Remotely operated underwater vehicle | 1 | Active duty[17] | ||||||||||||||||||
FC-624 | Fast-react search-and-rescue and patrol vessel | 924 | ![]() | Active duty.[18] | |||||||||||||||||
Training vessel (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Training vessel | Lê Quý Đôn (286) | ![]() | 1 | Active duty. |
Aircraft
Aircraft | Image | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patrol aircraft (6) | ||||||
DHC-6 Twin Otter | ![]() | Patrol aircraft | DHC-6-400 MPA | ![]() | 6[19] | Active duty. Three used as Maritime patrol aircraft and three used as transports. |
Helicopters (12) | ||||||
Kamov Ka-27 | ASW helicopter | Ka-28 | ![]() | 8[19] | Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands. | |
Ka-32 | 2[19] | |||||
Eurocopter Super Puma | ![]() | Patrol helicopter | ![]() | 2[19] | Operating by Vietnam Helicopters | |
Unmanned aerial vehicle | ||||||
Orbiter 2 | Reconnaissance | ![]() | ||||
Insitu ScanEagle | ![]() | Reconnaissance | ![]() | 6[20][21] | ||
IAI Heron | ![]() | Reconnaissance | ![]() | 3[20] |
Munitions
Model | Image | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Torpedo | ||||||
VA-111 Shkval | ![]() | ![]() | unknown | Equipped with Kilo-class submarine. | ||
Type 53 torpedo | ![]() ![]() | unknown | Equipped with Kilo-class submarine. | |||
Naval Mine | ||||||
KMP | ![]() ![]() | unknown | ||||
UĐM | ![]() | unknown | ||||
Radar | ||||||
P-18 radar | ![]() | |||||
Coast Watcher 100 | ![]() | |||||
SCORE-3000 | ![]() | |||||
VRS-CSX | ![]() | |||||
Anti-ship missile (AShM) | ||||||
Kh-35 Uran | ![]() | Anti-ship missile | Kh-35UE, Kh-35EMV, and an domestic upgrade variant from Kh-35UE called “VCM-01” (still developing)[22] | ![]() ![]() | 103[11] | Active duty. |
3M-14/54 Club-S | ![]() | Anti-ship missile | 3M-54E/E1,3M-14E, 91RE1/RE2 [1] | ![]() | (50) | Equipped in Kilo submarines. 40 on order.[23] |
P-15 Termit | ![]() | Anti-ship missile | P-15,P-20 | ![]() | 20[11] | Active duty. |
P-800 Oniks | ![]() | Anti-ship missile | P-800 Yakhont | ![]() | (40) | Used with the K-300P Bastion-P coastal missile systems. |
Soldier's equipment
Gear
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Helmets | ||||
Type A2 Helmet | Combat Helmet | ![]() | Standard Issue. | |
Modular Integrated Communications Helmet | ![]() | Combat Helmet | ![]() | Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force[24] |
Vietnamese Pith Helmet | Helmet | ![]() | Mostly used as training helmet. Sometimes used as a regular hat. | |
PASGT Helmet | Combat Helmet | ![]() ![]() | 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 body | Armour body | ![]() | Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force | |
Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System | Armour body | ![]() | Used by Naval Infantry Force[24] | |
Camouflage patterns | ||||
K07 Navy | Camouflage Pattern | ![]() | Former standard camo. A variant of the K07 Woodland used by the Ground Forces.[27][28] | |
K17 Navy | Camouflage Pattern | ![]() | Former standard camo. A variant of the K17 used by the Ground Forces. | |
K20 Navy | Camouflage Pattern | ![]() | Currently being the standard-issued camo. A variant of the K20 used by the Ground Forces. | |
Naval Duck Hunter | ![]() | Camouflage Pattern | ![]() | Standard camo for the Naval Special Operation Force and the submarine crews. |
Firearms
Vehicles
Vehicle | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tanks | |||||
Type 63 (tank) | Amphibious light tank | ![]() | |||
PT-76 | ![]() | Amphibious Light tank | ![]() | ||
T-34 | ![]() | Medium tank | ![]() | Coastal and islands defences. | |
SU-100 | ![]() | 100mm tank destroyer | ![]() | Unknown | Used by coastal defence forces of PNVN.[35] |
Armoured personnel carriers | |||||
BTR-60 | Wheeled armoured personnel carrier | ![]() | |||
Transport | |||||
PTS-M | Tracked amphibious transport | ![]() |
Artillery
Model | Image | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rocket / Missile Artillery | ||||||
ACCULAR | ![]() | 122–160 mm rocket artillery | ![]() | unknown | Used for coastal defence.[36] | |
EXTRA | 306mm rocket artillery | ![]() | 20 | 150 km range, used for coastal defence.[37] | ||
Onyx | ![]() | Anti-ship missile | SS-N-26 Yakhont | ![]() | 10 launcher 40 missiles | Finished negotiation for technological transferring programme. Two K-300P Bastion-P systems in active. |
P-5 Pyatyorka | Cruise missile | SS-N-3 Shaddock | ![]() | unknown | Active duty. Already self-produced by Vietnam. | |
P-15 Termit | ![]() | Anti-ship missile | SS-N-2 Styx | 20[11] | Active duty. Equipped in Tarantul class ships. Some have been replaced by Kh-35. | |
Coastal Artillery | ||||||
SPG-9 | ![]() | 73mm Recoilless gun | ![]() | unknown | ||
B-10 | ![]() | 82mm Recoilless Rifle | ![]() | unknown | ||
B-11 | ![]() | 107mm Recoilless Rifle | ![]() | unknown | ||
D-20 | ![]() | 152mm Towed Howitzer | ![]() | unknown | ||
D-30 | ![]() | 112mm Howitzer | ![]() | unknown | ||
D-44 | ![]() | 85mm Field gun | ![]() | unknown | ||
M-46 | ![]() | 130mm Field gun | ![]() | unknown | ||
SU-100 | ![]() | 100mm tank destroyer | ![]() | Unknown | Used by coastal defence force.[35] |
Former
Class | Image | Type | Ships | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Komar | Missile boat | ![]() | Discontinued in the 1980s | |||
Shantou | ![]() | Gunboat | ![]() | Used in Gulf of Tonkin incident | ||
P-6 class torpedo boat | ![]() | Torpedo boat | T-333, T-336, T-339 | ![]() | 3 | Used in Vietnam War |
Barnegat | ![]() | Patrol boat | 01 (ex-Absecon) | ![]() | 1 | Captured in 1975. The ship was decommissioned in the 2000s, and the entire system was dismantled.[38] |
Edsall class | ![]() | Destroyer Escort | 03 ex-Forster | ![]() | 1 | Captured during Vietnam War CCB. |
Yugo | Midget submarine | ![]() | 2 | Decommissioned in 2012 | ||
Point | ![]() | Patrol boat | ![]() | 1 | Captured in 1975. Scrapped in Ho Chi Minh City, 1987. | |
Shershen | Torpedo boat | ![]() | 16 | 5 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.
- 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.