List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Navy

The ensign of the Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam People's Navy.

People's Army of Vietnam

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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]

The Vietnam People's Navy is the branch of the Vietnam People's Army with the fastest modernisation 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[]

Class	Image	Type	Ships	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Submarines (6)
Kilo (Project 636.1)		Attack submarine	Hà Nội (HQ-182) Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (HQ-183) Hải Phòng (HQ-184) Khánh Hoà (HQ-185) Đà Nẵng (HQ-186) Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu (HQ-187)	Russia	6[2]	Comissioned 2014-2017. Equipped with Kalibr / Club-S missiles.[2]
Guided-missile frigates (4)
Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661E)		Guided-missile frigate	Đinh Tiên Hoàng (HQ-011) Lý Thái Tổ (HQ-012)	Russia	4[3]	HQ-015 and HQ-016 are equipped with anti-submarine capability while HQ-011 and HQ-012 are not.
Anti-submarine corvettes / frigates (7)
Petya-II/-III (Project 159A/AE)		Anti-submarine frigate	HQ-09 HQ-11 HQ-13 HQ-15 HQ-17	Soviet Union	5[4]	Three ASW frigate while two converted to gunboats.
Pohang (batch III)		Anti-submarine corvette	HQ-18 HQ-20	South Korea	2[5][unreliable source?]	ASW corvettes transferred from South Korea.[5]
Guided-missiles corvettes / fast attack craft / missile boats (21)
Molniya (Project 1241.8)		Fast-attack missile corvette[6]	HQ-375 HQ-376 HQ-377 HQ-378 HQ-379 HQ-380 HQ-382 HQ-383	Russia  Vietnam	8[7]	6 built locally.
Tarantul (Project 1241.RE)		Guided-missile corvette	HQ-371 HQ-372 HQ-373 HQ-374	Russia	4[8][9]
BPS-500		Missile boat/Fast attack craft	HQ-381	Vietnam	1	Active duty.
Osa (Project 205U)		Missile boat	HQ-354 HQ-355 HQ-356 HQ-357 HQ-358 HQ-359 HQ-360 HQ-361	Soviet Union	8	Active duty.
Gunboats / Patrol vessels (12)
Svetlyak (Project 10412)		Patrol boat	HQ-261 HQ-263 HQ-264 HQ-265 HQ-266 HQ-267	Russia	6	Active duty.
TT-400TP		Patrol boat/Gunboat	HQ-272 HQ-273 HQ-274 HQ-275 HQ-276 HQ-277	Vietnam	6	Active duty.
Torpedo boats (5)
Turya (Project 206M)		Torpedo boat	HQ-331 HQ-332 HQ-333 HQ-334 HQ-335	Soviet Union	5	Active duty.
Amphibious warfare ships (17)
LST-938		Tank Landing Ship	Trần Khánh Dư (HQ-501) HQ-503	United States	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	HQ-511 HQ-512 HQ-513	Poland	3	Active duty.
Hùng Vương		Logistic-support landing vessel	HQ-521 HQ-522	Vietnam	2	Active duty.
Damen Roro 5612		Roll-on/roll-off logistic-support landing ship	HQ-526 HQ-527 HQ-528 HQ-529	Vietnam	4	Active duty. 3 ships repurchased from Venezuela's order. 1 ship ordered and transferred Vietnam Navy.
LCM-8		Landing craft		United States		Captured during the Vietnam War.
LCU 1466		Landing craft	HQ-551 HQ-552 HQ-553 HQ-554 HQ-555 HQ-556	United States	6	Captured during the Vietnam War.
Mines counter-measure vessels (8)
Sonya (Project 1265)		Minesweeper	HQ-861 HQ-862 HQ-863 HQ-864	Soviet Union	4	Active duty.
Yurka (Project 266)		Minesweeper	HQ-851 HQ-852		2	Active duty.
Yevgenya (Project 1258)		Minesweeper			2	Active duty.
Transport/Logistics support ships (11)
HSV-6613		Ocean surveillance	Trần Đại Nghĩa (HQ-888)	Netherlands  Vietnam	1	Active duty.
K-122		Transport/Logistics support ship	Trường Sa (HQ-571)	Vietnam	2	Active duty.
		Logistics support/Hospital ship	Khánh Hòa (HQ-561)
HQ-996		Transport/Logistics support ship	HQ-996		1	Active duty.
Trường Sa		Transport/Logistics support ship	Trường Sa (04) Trường Sa (08) 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 (HQ-927)[10]	Netherlands  Vietnam	1	Active duty.
FET 10-meterSubmarine Rescue Vehicle[11]		Deep-submergence rescue vehicle		United Kingdom	1	Active duty
Perry® XLX-C Remotely Operated Vehicle[12][13]		Remotely operated underwater vehicle			1	Active duty.[14]
FC-624		Fast-react search-and-rescue vessel	HQ-/SAR-924	Russia  Vietnam		Active duty.[15]
Training vessel (1)
		Training vessel	Lê Quý Đôn	Poland	1	Active duty.

Aircraft[]

Aircraft	Image	Type	Variants	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Patrol aircraft (6)
DHC-6 Twin Otter		Patrol aircraft		Canada	6[16]	Active duty. 3 used as Maritime patrol aircraft and 3 used as transport.
Helicopters (10)
Kamov Ka-28		ASW helicopter	Ka-32	Soviet Union	8[16]	Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands.
Eurocopter Super Puma		Patrol helicopter		France	2[16]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Magic Eye 01		Reconnaissance		Vietnam	unknown	Under development.
Orbiter 2		Reconnaissance		Israel
Insitu ScanEagle		Reconnaissance		United States	6[17][18]
IAI Heron		Reconnaissance		Israel	3[17]

Munitions[]

Model	Image	Type	Variants	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Torpedo
VA-111 Shkval				Russia	unknown	Equipped with Kilo-class submarine.
Type 53 torpedo				Russia  Soviet Union	unknown	Equipped with Kilo-class submarine.
Naval Mine
KMP				Soviet Union  Vietnam	unknown
UĐM				Soviet Union	unknown
Radar
P-18 radar				Soviet Union
Coast Watcher 100				Soviet Union
SCORE-3000				France
VRS-CSX				Vietnam		Manufactured by Viettel based on SCORE-3000
Anti-ship missile (AShM)
Kh-35 Uran-E		Anti-ship missile	SS-N-25 Switchblade	Russia  Vietnam	103[8]	Active duty. Equipped in Molniya and Gepard class ships. Already self-produced by Vietnam. 300 more on order.
3M-14/54 Klub		Anti-ship missile	SS-N-27 Sizzler	Russia	(50)	Equipped in Kilo submarines. 40 on order.[19]
P-15 Termit		Anti-ship missile	SS-N-2 Styx	Soviet Union	20[8]	Active duty. Equipped in Tarantul class ships. Some have been replaced by Kh-35.
P-800 Yakhont		Anti-ship missile		Russia	(40)

Soldier's equipment[]

Gear[]

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Notes
Helmets
Type A2 Helmet		Combat Helmet	Vietnam	Standard Issue.
Modular Integrated Communications Helmet		Combat Helmet	United States	Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force[20]
Vietnamese Pith Helmet		Helmet	Vietnam	Mostly used as training helmet. Sometimes used as a regular hat.
PASGT Helmet		Combat 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.[21][22]
Armour body
Armour body		Armour body	Vietnam	Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force
Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System		Armour body	United States	Used by Naval Infantry Force[20]
Camouflage patterns
K07 Navy		Camouflage Pattern	Vietnam	Former standard camo. A variant of the K07 Woodland used by the Ground Forces.[23][24]
K17 Navy		Camouflage Pattern	Vietnam	Former standard camo. A variant of the K17 used by the Ground Forces.
K20 Navy		Camouflage Pattern	Vietnam	Currently being the standard-issued camo. A variant of the K20 used by the Ground Forces.
Naval Duck Hunter		Camouflage Pattern	Vietnam	Standard camo for the Naval Special Operation Force and the submarine crews.

Firearms[]

Model	Image	Type	Calibre	Origin	Notes
Pistol
TT-33		Semi-automatic pistol	7.62×25mm 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.[25][26]
Makarov		Semi-automatic pistol	9×18mm Makarov	Soviet Union  Vietnam	Limited use.
Stechkin APS		Semi-automatic pistol	9×18mm Makarov	Soviet Union	Limited use.
Assault rifles
Galil ACE		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	Israel	Manufactured locally. Standard issue assault rifle.
IWI Tavor TAR-21		Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Israel	Manufactured locally. Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force as standard issue rifle [27][28][29]
AK-47		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union	Used for training. Replaced as the standard issue rifle by the Galil ACE.
AKM AKMS		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union
Ak-74 AKS-74		Assault rifle	5.45×39mm	Soviet Union
APS		Underwater Assault rifle	with steel darts and tracer MPST	Soviet Union	Used by Naval Special Operation Force
Submachine gun
Uzi		Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum	Israel	Used by Naval Special Operation Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.
Sniper rifles
Dragunov SVD		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR	Soviet Union	Used by Naval Special Operation Force and Naval Infantry Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.[30]
PSL (rifle)		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR	Romania	Used by Naval Infantry Force.
Galil Sniper		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR	Israel	Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force
Machine gun
RPD		Light machine gun	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union
RPK RPK-74		Light machine gun	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union
IMI Negev		Light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO	Israel	Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.
DShK		Heavy machine gun	12.7×108mm	Soviet Union  Vietnam
Grenade launcher
M79 grenade launcher		Grenade launcher	40×46mm grenade	United States  Vietnam	Manufactured locally at the
		Grenade launcher	40×46mm SR	Israel  Vietnam	Manufactured locally.Used by Naval Infantry Force
M203 grenade launcher		Grenade launcher	40×46mm SR	United States  Vietnam	Manufactured locally
AGS-17		Automatic Grenade Launcher	30×29mm grenade	Soviet Union  Vietnam	Manufactured locally at the
RPG-7 (B-41 in Vietnam)		Rocket-propelled grenade	40mm HEAT	Soviet Union  Vietnam
DP-64		Grenade launcher		Russia
MATADOR		Anti-armour	90mm anti-armour	Israel	Used by Naval Infantry Force.

Vehicles[]

Vehicle	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Tanks
Type 63 (tank)		Amphibious light tank	China
PT-76		Light tank	Soviet Union
T-34		Medium tank	Soviet Union		Coastal and islands defences.
SU-100		100mm tank destroyer	Soviet Union	Unknown	Used by coastal defence forces of PNVN.[31]
Armoured personnel carriers
BTR-60		Wheeled armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union
Transport
PTS-M		Tracked amphibious transport	Soviet Union

Artillery[]

Model	Image	Type	Variants	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Rocket / Missile Artillery
ACCULAR		122–160 mm rocket artillery		Israel	unknown	Used for coastal defence.[32]
EXTRA		306mm rocket artillery		Israel	20	150 km range, used for coastal defence.[33]
Onyx		Coastal defence	SS-N-26 Yakhont	Russia	10 launcher 40 missiles	Finished negotiation for technological transferring programme. Two K-300P Bastion-P systems in active.
P-5 Pyatyorka		Coastal defence	SS-N-3 Shaddock	Soviet Union	unknown	Active duty. Already self-produced by Vietnam.
P-15 Termit		Coastal defence	SS-N-2 Styx		20[8]	Active duty. Equipped in Tarantul class ships. Some have been replaced by Kh-35.
Coastal Artillery
M101 howitzer		105mm Howitzer		United States	unknown
M114 155 mm howitzer		115mm Towed Howitzer		United States	unknown
SPG-9		73mm Recoilless gun		Soviet Union	unknown
B-10		82mm Recoilless Rifle		Soviet Union	unknown
B-11		107mm Recoilless Rifle		Soviet Union	unknown
D-20		152mm Towed Howitzer		Soviet Union	unknown
D-30		112mm Howitzer		Soviet Union	unknown
D-44		85mm Field Artillery		Soviet Union	unknown
M-46		130mm Field gun		Soviet Union	unknown
SU-100		100mm tank destroyer		Soviet Union	Unknown	Used by coastal defence force.[31]

Former[]

Class	Image	Type	Ships	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Komar		Missile boat		Soviet Union		Discontinued in the 1980s
Shantou		Gunboat		China		Used in Gulf of Tonkin incident
P-6 class torpedo boat		Gunboat	T-333, T-336, T-339	China	3	Used in Vietnam War
Barnegat		Patrol boat	HQ-01 (ex-Absecon)	United States	1	Received one in 1975.[34] The ship was decommissioned in the 2000s, and the entire system was dismantled.[35]
Edsall class		Destroyer Escort	USS Forster (DE-334) USS Camp (DE-251)	United States	2	Capturd during Vietnam War CCB.[36][37]
Point		Patrol boat		United States	1	Captured in 1975.[38] Scrapped in Ho Chi Minh City, 1987.
Yugo		Midget submarine		North Korea		Purchased in 1997.[39] These were used for swimmer delivery operations aside from conventional submarine operations.[39] The purchase was done by bartering.[40] Discontinued in 2012.

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.^[41]

— Vietnamese Minister of Defence, Phùng Quang Thanh.

• Frigates and corvettes: Two Gepard-class frigates were laid down in 2011 by the Zelenodolsk shipyard in Russia, named HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang and HQ-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.^[42] 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.^[43]
• 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.^[44]
• 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.^[45]
• 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.^[46] 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.^[47]
• 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.^[48] 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.^[49] 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.

See also[]

• Vietnam People's Navy

References[]