Maritime warfare branch of Mexico's military
Military unit
The
Mexican Navy
is one of the two independent
armed forces of Mexico
. The actual naval forces are called the
Armada de Mexico
. The
Secretaria de Marina
(
SEMAR
) (English:
Naval Secretariat
) includes both the
Armada
itself and the attached ministerial and civil service. The commander of the Navy is the
Secretary of the Navy
, who is both a cabinet minister and a career naval officer.
The Mexican Navy's stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for external defense, and to help with internal order".
[2]
As of 2020, the Navy consisted of about 68,200 men and women plus reserves,
[3]
over 189 ships, and about 130 aircraft.
[4]
[5]
The Navy attempts to maintain a constant modernization program to upgrade its response capability.
Given Mexico's large area of water (3,149,920 km
2
(1,216,190 sq mi)) and extensive coastline (11,122 km (6,911 mi)), the Navy's duties are of great importance. Perhaps its most important on-going missions are the
war on drugs
and protecting
PEMEX
's
oil wells
in
Campeche
in the
Gulf of Mexico
. Another important task of the Mexican Navy is to help people in hurricane relief operations and other natural disasters.
The Mexican navy is the second largest navy in Latin America and North America, and the third largest in the Americas after the United States and Brazil.
History
[
edit
]
The Mexican Navy has its origins in the creation of the Ministry of War in 1821. From that year until 1939 it existed jointly with the
Mexican Army
in the organic ministry. Since its declaration of independence from Spain in September 1810, through the mid decades of the 19th century, Mexico found itself in a constant state of war, mostly against Spain which had not recognized its independence. Therefore, its priority was to purchase its first fleet from the U.S. to displace the last remaining Spanish forces from its coasts.
[6]
The Mexican Navy has participated in many naval battles to protect and defend Mexico's interests. Some of the most important battles were:
- Attempts by Spain to reconquer Mexico
The first French intervention in Mexico (The '
Pastry War
')
(November 1838 ? March 1839)
- An entire Armada was captured at Veracruz
- Texan Independence (1836?1845)
- Yucatan Independence (1841?1848)
- The
Mexican?American War
(1846?1848)
- The
Second French Intervention
(1862?1867)
- The
Mexican Revolution
(1910?1919)
Second invasion by the United States
(April 9, 1914 ? November 23, 1914)
Historical ships
[
edit
]
- Schooner
Anahuac
- Schooner
Iguala
- Cutter
Campechana
- Cutter
Chalco
- Cutter
Chapala
- Cutter
Orizaba
- Cutter
Texcoco
- Cutter
Zumpango
- Cutter
Papaloapan
- Cutter
Tampico
- Cutter
Tlaxcalteca
- Cutter
Tuxpan
- Ship
Congreso Mexicano
(previously called
Asia
and
San Jeronimo
)
- Brigantine
Constante
- Brigantine
Vicente Guerrero
- Steamer paddle frigate
Guadalupe
- Steamer paddle frigate
Montezuma
- Steamer gunboat
Libertad
|
- Steamer gunboat
Independencia
- Steamer
Guerra Democrata
- Steam yacht
Orizaba
- Gunboat
Democrata
- Gunboat
Mexico
- Corvette
Zaragoza
- School ship
Yucatan
- Pontoon
Chetumal
- Gunboat
Tampico
- Gunboat
Veracruz
- Gunboat
Nicolas Bravo
- Transport vessel
Progreso
- Transport
Vicente Guerrero
- Gunboat
Agua Prieta
- Coastal defence Battleship
Anahuac
- Auxiliary ship
Zaragoza II
- School ship
Velero Cuauhtemoc
|
Organization
[
edit
]
The
President of Mexico
is commander in chief of all military forces. Day-to-day control of the Navy lies with the Navy Secretary,
Jose Rafael Ojeda Duran
.
[7]
In Mexico there is no joint force command structure with the army, so the Secretary reports directly to the President. The Navy has a General Headquarters and three naval forces. There are furthermore eight regions (four on the Pacific coast, three on the Mexican Gulf coast and the Region Naval Central, grouping the naval forces, based in and around the capital
Mexico City
, such as the 7th Naval Infantry Brigade, the Central Special Operations Group and the Air Transport Squadron), thirteen zones, and fourteen naval sectors.
The Navy is divided into three main services designated as "forces":
Other notable services include:
Officers are trained at the Mexican Naval Academy, called the "
Heroica Escuela Naval Militar
" ("Heroic Military Naval School"), located in
Anton Lizardo
,
Veracruz
.
Naval Infantry
[
edit
]
The
Mexican Naval Infantry
Corps was reorganized in 2007?2009 into 30 Naval Infantry Battalions (Batallones de Infanteria de Marina ? BIM), a paratroop battalion, a battalion attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade, two Fast Reaction Forces with six battalions each, and three
Special Forces
groups.
[8]
The Naval Infantry are responsible for port security, protection of the ten-kilometer coastal fringe, and patrolling major waterways.
The Naval Infantry also is responsible for 23 National Service Training Units under the responsibility of the Navy Secretary, enforcing the National Service obligation for Mexicans of teenage and young adult age.
Naval Aviation
[
edit
]
Search and rescue units
[
edit
]
In 2008, the Mexican Navy created its new search and rescue system, allocated in strategic ports at Pacific and Gulf of Mexico ports,
to provide assistance to any ships which are in jeopardy or at risk due to mechanical failure, weather conditions or life risk to the crew. To provide such support, the Navy has ordered Coast Guard Defender class ships (two per station, and one
47-Foot Motor Lifeboat
coast guard vessel). Other stations will be provided only with
Defender-class boats
.
[9]
Maritime role
[
edit
]
On April 1, 2014, SEMAR officially announced the creation of Port Protection Naval Units (
Unidades Navales de Proteccion Portuaria: UNAPROP
) which will include a marine section.
[10]
[11]
The main task of UNAPROPs is to ensure maritime surveillance and inspection.
[12]
Training and education
[
edit
]
The Navy offers several options for graduate studies in their educational institutions:
- Heroica Escuela Naval Militar
It is the school where future officers are trained for the General Corps of the Navy. Candidates can enter upon completing high school. Upon completion of studies, graduates obtain the degree of Sub-Lieutenant and the title of Naval Science Engineer.
- Naval Medical School
This school Located in Mexico City, offers a career in medicine. Officers are trained with skills for the prevention and health care of naval personnel. By adopting a professional examination, graduates are commissioned Sub-Lieutenants.
- Naval Engineering School
In the Naval Engineering School, officers are responsible for the preventive and corrective maintenance of systems and electronic equipment installed on ships and installations of the Mexican Navy. This school offers career of Electronic Engineering and Naval Communications. It is located between the town of Mata Grape and Anton Lizardo, 32 km (20 mi) from the port of Veracruz.
- Naval Nursing School
Here the time to achieve a nursing degree lasts eight semesters. Officers are trained with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable them to assist medical personnel in caring for patients in hospitals, sanatoriums, clinics, health sections on land, aboard ships and at The Naval Medical Center.
- Naval Aviation School
The Naval Aviation School trains pilots for the
Mexican Naval Aviation
as well as staff from the Federal Preventive Police and Naval personnel from various countries of Central America. This school is located on
La Paz, Baja California Sur
.
[13]
- Search, Rescue and Diving School
Located in
Acapulco
, members of The Navy are trained for marine search, rescue and diving. It also trains state police officers and firefighters.
Rank insignia
[
edit
]
Modernization and budget
[
edit
]
The annual Navy's budget is in a one to three proportion of the national budget relative to the Mexican Army and
Mexican Air Force
. The Navy has a reputation for being well-run and well-organized. This reputation allows for a close relationship with the
United States Navy
(USN), as evidenced by the procurement of numerous former USN ships.
Ships
[
edit
]
The Secretary of the Navy, Admiral
Mariano Francisco Saynez Mendoza
, announced on October 1, 2007, detailed plans to upgrade and modernize the country's naval capabilities. On the following day,
La Jornada
newspaper from Mexico City, disclosed the Mexican Navy plans, which are among others, to build six
offshore patrol vessels
(OPVs) with a length of 86 metres (282 ft), 1,680 tons and each housing a
Eurocopter Panther
helicopter as well as small high-speed interception boats. The budget for this project is above US$200 million.
Another project is to build 12
CB 90 HMN
high speed (50
knots
(93 km/h; 58 mph)) interception boats under license from a Swedish boat company
Dockstavarvet
to the Mexican Navy. Also, a number of fully equipped planes for surveillance and maritime patrol are being considered. Combinations of options and development are being defined.
Shipbuilding
[
edit
]
The Mexican Navy depends upon their naval shipyards for construction and repairs of their ships. There are five shipyards located in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean:
- Gulf of Mexico
- Pacific Ocean
Missiles
[
edit
]
The Mexican Navy initiated studies to develop and construct its first
missile
, according to a May 2005 interview with the undersecretary of the Navy, Armando Sanchez, the missile was to have an average range of 12 to 15 kilometres (7.5 to 9.3 mi) and be able to target enemy ships and aircraft. The undersecretary added that they already had the solid
propellant
, and the basic design of the missile. All aspects relative to their fuselage were solved as well as the launch platforms. The Mexican Navy was developing the software to direct the missile to its target. In July 2008, the project was reported to be 80% complete. Despite this effort, the missile development was canceled in 2009 due to "problems with the propulsion system".
[14]
Radar modernization
[
edit
]
In 2009, the Mexican Navy began operating a batch of new
MPQ-64 Sentinel
radars in the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico. The radar network was installed in 2007 for a trial phase while military personnel were trained to get familiar with the system. The new installations will work together with combat surface vessels that patrol the area.
[15]
[16]
Present fleet
[
edit
]
The Mexican Navy includes 60 smaller patrol boats and 32 auxiliary ships. It acquired 40 fast military assault crafts, designated
CB 90 HMN
, between 1999 and 2001 and obtained a production license in 2002, enabling further units to be manufactured in Mexico.
Modern equipment
[
edit
]
Individual weapons and equipment
[
edit
]
Artillery
[
edit
]
Aircraft inventory
[
edit
]
Future
[
edit
]
| This section needs to be
updated
.
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
(
June 2018
)
|
For the year 2008 budget, the Mexican Congress approved a US$15 million fund to build only 17 out of the 60 combat boats requested. These ships, designated
CB 90 HMN
, are to increase the Mexican Navy's fast boat fleet. Additional budgets will be awarded each passing year.
[42]
In total, the Mexican Navy has over 189 operational ships.
[4]
In January 2013, the 112th Session of US Congress authorized the transfer of the
Oliver Hazard Perry
-class
frigates
USS
Curts
and
USS
McClusky
to the Mexican Navy,
[43]
but due to the cost of overhauling the vessels and the removal of all the weapons systems and most of the electronics and radar gear by the USN prior to transfer, this is still undecided by Mexico. The offer expired on January 1, 2016.
[43]
2014
[
edit
]
On March 25, 2014
Beechcraft
Corporation received an order of 2 T-6C+ military trainers from the Mexican Navy.
[44]
On June 24, 2014, the Mexican Government requested the purchase of 5 UH-60Ms in USG configuration from the U.S.; its estimated cost is $225 million.
[45]
Also on June 24,
BAE Systems
announced it was awarded a contract by the Mexican Government to supply the navy with 4
Mk 3 57mm naval guns
, for the ships of the Reformador class.
[46]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Dia de la Marina"
. sct.gob.mx.
Archived
from the original on May 31, 2015
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
"Mission and objectives"
Archived
July 7, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine
(in Spanish)
- ^
"Secretaria de Marina ? Armada de Mexico"
.
Archived
from the original on September 24, 2015
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
a
b
[1]
Archived
September 11, 2008, at the
Wayback Machine
Rendicion de cuentas SEMAR 2006 pagina 40
- ^
"Material Aereo"
Archived
February 5, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine
(outdated page)
(in Spanish)
- ^
"History of the Mexican Navy ships"
. Archived from
the original
on January 10, 2010
. Retrieved
April 1,
2017
.
- ^
"Secretaria de Marina | Gobierno | gob.mx"
.
Archived
from the original on June 6, 2016
. Retrieved
June 23,
2016
.
- ^
Informe 2009 Secretaria de Marina ? Armada de Mexico
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
"Textron Systems Brand Change"
.
Archived
from the original on June 13, 2009
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
"Mexican Navy increasing coast guard capabilities"
.
Jane's
.
Archived
from the original on December 24, 2014
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
Noticieros Televisa (March 31, 2014).
"Crea Marina Unidades Navales de Proteccion Portuaria"
. televisa.com.
Archived
from the original on December 24, 2014
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
"Unidades de Marina vigilaran 19 puertos del pais a partir del martes"
.
Excelsior
. March 31, 2014.
Archived
from the original on December 24, 2014
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
SIAL Sistema Informativo Aeronautico Latinoamericano
Archived
July 6, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
Mexican Naval missile
Archived
July 2, 2013, at the
Wayback Machine
(in Spanish)
- ^
"En marzo iniciaran operaciones radares de la Armada"
(in Spanish). NOTIMEX. December 27, 2008.
Archived
from the original on December 29, 2008
. Retrieved
December 27,
2008
.
- ^
"ThalesRaytheonSystems receives contract to support Mexican homeland security, protect Gulf oil infrastructure"
. Thales Raytheon Systems. May 11, 2006. Archived from
the original
on October 13, 2008
. Retrieved
December 27,
2008
.
- ^
"En la presente Administracion se impulsa el desarrollo de la Flota Naval con el Diseno, Construccion y Reparacion de Buques de la SEMAR"
.
Archived
from the original on October 8, 2018
. Retrieved
October 7,
2018
.
- ^
"Launch date scheduled for Mexico's long-range patrol vessel"
.
Archived
from the original on October 8, 2018
. Retrieved
October 7,
2018
.
- ^
a
b
"3er Informe De Labores"
(PDF)
.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on October 4, 2015
. Retrieved
October 3,
2015
.
- ^
"La Secretaria de Marina pone a flote la Patrulla Oceanica ARM "HIDALGO" para la Armada de Mexico"
.
Archived
from the original on September 20, 2016
. Retrieved
September 5,
2016
.
- ^
"Fourth Damen Stan Patrol 4207 patrol vessel for Mexican Navy"
. August 23, 2013.
Archived
from the original on September 15, 2013
. Retrieved
August 23,
2013
.
- ^
"Mexican Navy contracts Damen for fifth Tenochtitlan-class Patrol Vessel (Stan Patrol 4207)"
. December 12, 2013.
Archived
from the original on December 18, 2013
. Retrieved
December 18,
2013
.
- ^
"Mexican Navy orders sixth Tenochtitlan-class Patrol Vessel (Stan Patrol 4207) from DAMEN"
. April 1, 2014.
Archived
from the original on April 7, 2014
. Retrieved
April 4,
2014
.
- ^
"MEXICAN NAVY AND DAMEN SIGN CONTRACT FOR TWO VESSELS"
.
Archived
from the original on November 29, 2014
. Retrieved
April 3,
2015
.
- ^
a
b
"LA SECRETARIA DE MARINA-ARMADA DE MEXICO REALIZA BOTADURA DEL BUQUE DE APOYO LOGISTICO ARM "LIBERTADOR" (BAL-02), EN SALINA CRUZ, OAXACA"
.
Archived
from the original on July 13, 2016
. Retrieved
July 14,
2016
.
- ^
"4° Informe de Gobierno"
(PDF)
. Presidencia de la Republica. September 1, 2016.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on September 16, 2016
. Retrieved
September 2,
2016
.
- ^
"La Secretaria de Marina- Armada de Mexico realiza la botadura de la patrulla costera Arm "Monte Alban" (PC-338)"
. Archived from
the original
on September 14, 2012
. Retrieved
September 12,
2012
.
- ^
"Mexican military parades variety of new equipment ? IHS Jane's 360"
. September 21, 2016. Archived from
the original
on September 21, 2016.
- ^
"AM General Exhibe el Humvee HMMWV M1151B1 en DITDEF 2013"
. Infodefensa.com. May 19, 2013
. Retrieved
January 18,
2020
.
- ^
"Mexico incorporo mas de 6.000 vehiculos en seis anos"
. Infodefensa.com. June 9, 2018
. Retrieved
January 18,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"Secretaria de Marina ? Armada de Mexico"
.
Archived
from the original on September 24, 2015
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
"Secretaria de Marina ? Armada de Mexico"
.
Archived
from the original on September 24, 2015
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
"Recibe Semar vehiculos para incrementar capacidad operativa"
.
EL INFORMADOR
.
Archived
from the original on December 29, 2016
. Retrieved
December 24,
2014
.
- ^
"LA SECRETARIA DE MARINA CONTINUA INCREMENTANDO SU CAPACIDAD OPERATIVA CON UNIDADES TODO TERRENO"
. Archived from
the original
on July 16, 2011
. Retrieved
July 26,
2009
.
- ^
"Another Batch of Russian Trucks to be Shipped to Latin America"
.
Archived
from the original on January 3, 2017
. Retrieved
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2017
.
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.
Archived
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. Retrieved
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2014
.
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.
Archived
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. Retrieved
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2009
.
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.
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. Retrieved
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2014
.
- ^
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. Archived from
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on July 28, 2009
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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.
Archived
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. Retrieved
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2018
.
- ^
"Mexico buying Evolved Seasparrow missiles for new Sigma corvette"
.
Archived
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
It was published within the Chapter 13 of the SEMAR 2008 final budget, by the SHCP, the Mexican finance ministry for this period.
- ^
a
b
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.
USA 112th CONGRESS, 2nd. session, H. R. 6649
. govtrack.us. January 1, 2013.
Archived
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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.
Archived
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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.
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.
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2014
.
External links
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