Military unit
The
Navy of the Dominican Republic
(
Spanish
:
Armada de Republica Dominicana (ARD)
), is one of the three branches of the
Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic
, together with the
Army
and the
Air Force
.
History
[
edit
]
After the
Dominican Republic
gained its independence from
Haiti
on February 27, 1844, there was a need to create a naval fleet. Three
schooners
were
commissioned
for this,
Separacion Dominicana
(
flagship
),
Maria Chica
and
Leonor
. These were the original three Dominican vessels which were incorporated in the newly created
Dominican Navy
as authorized by the
Junta Central Gubernativa
with the Naval Act of 1844 on April 23, 1844, the same day the Navy was created. Even though, the three schooners had been in action since April 15 at the
Battle of Tortuguero
, where they were led by Admiral
Juan Bautista Cambiaso
and sank six Haitian ships.
During the
Dominican Civil War
, a part of the Navy opposed the "Return to the Legitime Government" which was victim of a
coup d'etat
in September 1963 and used the
frigate
Mella
to bombard the
National Palace
with the help of the Air Force.
On the other side of the conflict, The elite navy force "Hombres Ranas" (Frog Men) under Commander Ramon Montes Arache, fought to bring the 1962 democratically elected president back in office. The other navy commanders were afraid of the "Hombres Ranas" taking control over
Las Calderas Naval Base
.
See
United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1965?1966)
Naval bases
[
edit
]
The Navy maintains several naval stations and detachments, but has three main bases:
- Base Naval 27 de Febrero, located in the city of
Santo Domingo
, the Chief of Staff and the Naval Academy "Vice-Admiral Cesar de Windt Lavandier".
- Base Naval de Las Calderas, located in
Peravia Province
, is the largest naval base. The Bahia Las Calderas Naval Shipyard (ANABALCA) is located here. This shipyard is responsible for the maintenance of naval units of the fleet, as well as civilian vessels. Military and civilian vessels, such as tugs, boats, barges, pilot boats have also been built at this site.
- Base Naval Boca Chica, located in
Boca Chica
, 35 km east of Santo Domingo.
List of current vessels
[
edit
]
Class
|
Name
|
Origin
|
In service
|
Notes
|
Image
|
Patrol Division
|
USCG seagoing buoy tender
(Mesquite class)
[2]
|
PA-301
Almirante Didiez Burgos
|
United States
|
1
|
The flagship of the Dominican Navy, she was transferred by the
United States Coast Guard
(USCG) in 2001. She is used for coastal patrol, navigational aid maintenance,
midshipman
cruises, humanitarian assistance, naval training exercises, troop transport, and at sea refueling. She is armed with two
M-2 0.50 caliber machine guns
and two single
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
, but can also be armed with two extra 0.50 cal. machine guns, two M60 machine guns and one 3/50 (single) gun.
|
|
White-class coastal buoy tender
|
PM-203
Tortuguero
PM-204
Capotillo
|
United States
|
2
|
Tortuguero
and
Capotillo
were transferred to the Navy by the USCG in 1999 and in 2002, respectively. They are used for coastal patrol, navigational aids maintenance, midshipman cruises, humanitarian assistance, naval training exercises, and at sea refueling. They are armed with two M2 0.50 cal. machine guns.
|
|
Coast Guard Division
|
Point-class cutters
|
GC-101
Aries
GC-105
Antares
GC-110
Sirius
|
United States
|
2
|
They are used for coastal patrol, search and rescue operations, anti-narcotics operations. They are armed with two M2 0.50 cal. machine guns.
|
|
Seawart-class patrol boat
|
GC-103
Procion
GC-104
Aldebaran
GC-106
Bellatrix
GC-108
Capella
|
United States
|
4
|
They were acquired between 1968 and 1971. Between 2003 and 2005 they underwent a general renovation, receiving new engines, new generators, new radars, GPS navigation system, auto-pilot system, etc. They are used for coastal patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations. They are armed with three M-2 0.50 cal. machine guns.
|
|
Swiftships 110'-class patrol boat
|
GC-107
Canopus
GC-109
Orion
|
United States
|
2
|
Built in 1984 by the Swiftships shipbuilders. Between 2003 and 2005 they underwent a general renovation, receiving new engines, new generators, new radars, a GPS navigation system, and an auto-pilot system. They are used for coastal patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations. They are armed with two M2 0.50 cal. machine guns, one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon (single) and one M60 machine gun.
|
|
Swiftships 35-meter patrol boat
|
GC-112
Altair
|
United States
|
1
|
Built in 2003 by the Swiftships shipbuilders. It is used for coastal patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations. It is armed with two M2 0.50 cal. machine guns and one single-mounted Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.
|
|
Swiftships 36 meter
|
GC-111
Centaurus
|
United States
|
1
|
Built in 1976 by the Swiftships shipbuilders as research vessel for University of Delaware. The Dominican Navy acquired it in 2017. Is used for coastal patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations.
|
[1]
EX-Hispaniola in Santo Domingo before was acquired by the ARD.
|
Defiant-class patrol vessel
|
102
Betelgeuse
|
United States
|
1 (1 on order)
|
Built by the Metal sharks shipbuilders. Used for coastal patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-narcotics operations.
[3]
[4]
|
[2]
|
|
Salvage and Rescue Unit
|
Damen Stan Patrol 1500-class patrol boat
|
LR-151
Hamal
LR-152
Vega
LR-153
Deneb
LR-154
Acamar
|
Dominican Republic
|
3
|
These patrol boats were built in The Dominican Republic by Astilleros CIRAMAR in 2004. They are used for coastal patrols, search and rescue operations, anti-narcotics operations. These patrol boats are unarmed, but they carry M16 rifles and can be fitted with an M60 machine gun.
|
|
Interceptor Boat Division
|
32' - 37'
Justice Boston whaler-class boat
|
LI-155
Castor
LI-156
Pollux
LI-157
Atria
LI-158
Shaula
LI-159
Enif
LI-161
Elnath
LI-162
Polaris
LI-163
Nunki
LI-164
Dubhe
LI-165
Regulus
LI-166
Denebola
L-167
Acrux
LI-168
Rigel
LI-169
Algenib
LI-170
Becrux
|
United States
|
13
|
They are used for coastal and river patrols, search and rescue operations, anti-narcotics operations, and go-fast interdiction. Justice 32' can be armed with a M60 machine gun and Justice 37' with three M60 Machine guns and they carry small arms such as rifles and shotguns.
|
|
|
Auxiliary Vessels Division
|
Damen Stan 2608-class tug
|
RM-2
Guarionex
RM-3
Guaroa
|
Dominican Republic
|
2
|
Built in the Dominican Republic by CIRAMAR. They are currently being operated on a lease by the company
SVITZER Dominicana
.
|
|
LCU-1600-class
landing craft utility
|
LD-31
Neyba
|
United States
|
1
|
|
|
Floating docks
|
DF-1
|
United States
|
1
|
Operated by CIRAMAR.
|
|
Training
|
Three-masted
barquentine
|
BE-01
Juan Bautista Cambiaso
|
Bulgaria
|
1
|
Originally named Royal Helena, the ship was launched on 29 August 2009 in Varna, Bulgaria. She can accommodate up to 37 midshipmen for multiple-day journeys. In 2018 the ship was acquired by the Dominican Navy and renamed Juan Bautista Cambiaso. She is 54 metres (177 ft 2 in) long with a beam of 8 metres (26 ft 3 in).
|
[3]
|
Ranks
[
edit
]
Commissioned officer ranks
[
edit
]
The rank insignia of
commissioned officers
.
Other ranks
[
edit
]
The rank insignia of
non-commissioned officers
and
enlisted personnel
.
Rank group
|
Senior NCOs
|
Junior NCOs
|
Enlisted
|
Dominican Navy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sargentos mayores
|
Sargentos
|
Cabos
|
Marineros especialista
|
Dominican Naval Auxiliary Corps
[
edit
]
The Dominican Naval Auxiliary Corps is a civilian force that possesses its own resources to assist in search operations, rescue and environmental protection. This organization was created by the Executive by Decree 887-09 and it is composed of a group of business and professional volunteers.
The organization operates private boats, barges and aircraft made available to the Navy, in order to assist with non-military activities or public order and safety at sea. The Dominican Naval Auxiliary has a presence in the north, northeast, east, south and center of the country.
Naval Commandos
[
edit
]
The Naval Commandos are the Special Operations component of the Dominican Navy and are only employed in emergency situations. The Naval Commandos are capable of undertaking unconventional warfare, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, VBSS (Visit Board Search and Seizure) and are experts in handling explosives and amphibious operations. They are also trained in parachuting, hand-to-hand combat, CQC and other key skills. The team's armament includes the
M16 rifle
with the
M203 grenade launcher
,
the Colt M4A1
,
M14 rifle
,
Mossberg 500
shotgun, the
M60 machine gun
and small arms. The team operates inflated
zodiac boats
,
RHIBs
, and night vision goggles, among other equipment.
Some team members saw action during
Operation Iraqi Freedom
. Dominican troops, comprising a battalion of special components of the Dominican Armed forces, were under constant mortar attacks but suffered no casualties. While in
Iraq
, the troops were serving in the
Plus Ultra Brigade
, which was under Spanish command and operating in Southern Iraq.
Marine Infantry Command
[
edit
]
Raised in 2008 the MIC serves as the youngest arm of service in the Dominican Navy, which is tasked for amphibious and landing operations. One Marine Battalion is of active service as of the present. It is also the youngest Marine unit in all of Latin America.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]