Colombian National Armada

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Coat of Arms of the Colombian Navy.

The Colombian National Armada (Armada Nacional Colombiana or de Colombia) is the naval armed force of Colombia. It is also known simply as the National Armada (Armada Nacional), or as the Armada of the Republic of Colombia (Armada de la República de Colombia).

The armada is one of the three major forces in the Colombian Military along with the Colombian National Army and the Colombian Air Force.

ARC, for Armada de la República de Colombia is the acronym used in front of the name of all the Colombian navy's ships (as with USS or HMS).

[edit] History

The Colombian Armada was born with Colombian independence from Spain. The president of the Supreme Board of Cartagena, José María García Toledo, created the Naval Command Office by means of a decree dated September 17, 1810. The navy was placed under the command of Captain Juan Nepomuceno Eslava, junior son of the (former) Spanish Viceroy Sebastián Eslava.

On June 28, 1822, general Francisco de Paula Santander created the Naval School, which was later on decomissioned until 1907, when general Rafael Reyes Prieto created the Naval Academy, through decree 783 of July 6, which was censured(?) by general Ramón González Valencia in December 28, 1909.

The conflict with Peru in 1932 made the Colombian navy reappear. New ships were acquired and the "Escuela de Grumetes" (School for Navy Sailors) was founded in 1934. The "Escuela de Cadetes" (School for Navy Officers) was founded in 1935. Nowadays both schools continue their work of instructing the Colombian men and women of the sea.

[edit] Organization

The Colombian National Armada is formed by the following organizations:

[edit] Ships

ARC Almirante Padilla (FM-51)

ARC Pijao (S-28)

ARC Intrepido (S-21)

ARC Gloria

ARC TF Juan Ricardo Oyola Vera.

A majority of the Colombian Navy ships are gunboats used for patrolling the country's rivers and coastlines.

Frigates (FFG)

Almirante Padilla class

ARC Almirante Padilla (FM-51)
ARC Caldas (FM-52)
ARC Antioquia (FM-53)
ARC Independiente (FM-54)

Submarines (SSK)

Type SX-506

ARC Intrépido (S-21)
ARC Indomable (S-22)

Type 209-A/1200

ARC Pijao (S-28)
ARC Tayrona (S-29)

Landing ships

ARC Morrosquillo

Supply ships (AOR)

Lüneburg class

ARC Cartagena de Indias (BM-161)
ARC Buenaventura (BM-162)

Patrol Vessels

ARC Espartana (PO-41)
ARC Capitán Pablo José de Porto (PO-42)
ARC CTCIM Jorge E. Marquez Durán (PO-43)
ARC Valle del Cauca (PO-44)
ARC San Andrés (PO-45)

Auxiliary Ships

ARC Isla Palma (BB-33)
ARC Ciénaga de Mayorquin (BB-35)
ARC Quindío (BH-153)
ARC Abadía Mendez (BO-154)
ARC Providencia (BO-155)
ARC Malpelo (BO-156)
ARC Gorgona (BO-157)

School Ship

ARC Gloria

Task Force Ships

ARC TF Juan Ricardo Oyola Vera (TF-613)

[edit] Aircraft inventory

Colombian Naval Aviation roundel.

The Colombian Navy operates 30 aircraft, including 10 helicopters, primarily for logistical support of naval facilities and operations.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service^[1]
Aero Commander	United States	utility transport	Model 690	5
Bell 212 Twin Huey	United States	transport helicopter		1
Bell 412	United States	transport helicopter		5
CASA C-212 Aviocar	Spain	transport	C-212-100	1
CASA CN-235	Spain	transport/ Maritime patrol		2
Cessna 206 Stationair	United States	utility		3
MBB Bo 105	Germany	ASW/utility helicopter	Bo 105CB	2
Eurocopter AS 555 Fennec	France	utility helicopter	AS 555	2
Gavilan 358	Colombia	utility transport		2
Piper PA-28 Cherokee	United States	utility		3
Piper PA-34 Seneca	United States	utility		4
Cessna 208	United States	utility