The Peruvian Navy (, abbreviated MGP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the Peruvian littoral. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding internal security, conducting disaster relief operations and participating in international peacekeeping operations.
The Marina de Guerra del Perú celebrates on October 8 the anniversary of its creation (1821) and of the Battle of Angamos (1879).

History

The Marina de Guerra del Perú was established on October 8, 1821 by the government of general José de San Martín. Its first actions were undertaken during the War of Independence (1821-1824) using captured Spanish warships. Shortly afterwards it was engaged in the war against the Gran Colombia (1828-1829) during which it conducted a blockade against the seaport of Guayaquil and then helped with the occupation of this city by Peruvian forces. It saw further action during the wars of the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy (1836-1839) and during the Chincha Islands War with Spain (1866). The breakout of the War of the Pacific (1879-1883) caught the Peruvian Navy unprepared and with inferior forces in comparison with the Chilean Navy. Even so, hit-and-run tactics carried out by Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau, commander of the ironclad Huáscar, delayed the Chilean advance by six months until his death and defeat at the Battle of Angamos.

After the war, the Peruvian Navy had to be rebuilt from the ground up. This lengthy process started in 1907 with the acquisition in the United Kingdom of the protected cruisers Almirante Grau and Coronel Bolognesi, followed by the arrival of two submarines, Ferré and Palacios, from France in 1911. During the Presidency of Augusto B. Leguía (1919-1930) a Navy Ministry was established as well as a Navy Aviation Corps, both in 1920. Border conflicts with Colombia in 1911 and 1932 and a war with Ecuador in 1941 saw Peruvian warships involved in some skirmishes in support of the Army. The attack on Pearl Harbor brought World War II to the Pacific and even though Peru didn't declare war on the Axis until 1945, its Navy was involved in patrol missions against possible threats by the Imperial Japanese Navy from early 1942 up to mid-1945.
During the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s the Peruvian Navy carried out a major buildup programme which allowed it to take advantage over its traditional rival, the Chilean Navy. This proved to be temporary because the economic crisis of the second half of the 1980s forced the decommissioning of several warships and resulted in a general lack of funds for maintenance. The economic upturn of the 1990s and 2000s has permitted some improvement although at a reduced force level compared to the early 1980s.

Organization

The current Commander-in-Chief of the Peruvian Navy is Admiral Rolando Navarrete Salomon. Naval Forces are subordinated to the Ministry of Defense and ultimately to the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Peruvian Armed Forces. They are organized as follows:

• Comandancia General de la Marina (Navy General Command)

• * Estado Mayor General de la Marina (Navy General Staff)

• * Inspectoría General de la Marina (Navy General Inspectorate)

Operational units are divided between three commands:
Comandancia General de Operaciones del Pacífico
Pacific Operations General Command, it comprises the following units:

• Fuerza de Superficie (Surface Force)

• Fuerza de Submarinos (Submarine Force)

• Fuerza de Aviación Naval (Naval aviation Force)

• Fuerza de Infantería de Marina (Naval Infantry Force)

• Fuerza de Operaciones Especiales (Special Operations Force)

Comandancia General de Operaciones de la Amazonía
Amazon Operations General Command, tasked with river patrolling in the Peruvian portion of the Amazon Basin.
Dirección General de Capitanías y Guardacostas
Coast Guard, tasked with law enforcement on Peruvian territorial waters, rivers and lakes.

Bases

• Ancón - Naval Infantry headquarters and base

• Callao - Main naval base, dockyard and naval aviation base

• Chimbote - Minor base and dockyard

• Iquitos - On the Amazon river

• Paita - Minor base

• Pisco - Minor base

• Puno - On Lake Titicaca

• San Juan de Marcona - Naval aviation base

Although most of the fleet is based at Callao, this is not considered an ideal location because it is also the main outlet for Peruvian trade, causing space and security problems. During the 1980s the building of a new naval base at Chimbote was considered but high costs and a bad economic situation made the project unfeasible.

Personnel

Ranks

• Ranks of the officers of the Navy

• Ranks of the sub-officers of the Navy

• Ranks of the enlisted of the navy

Ships

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Vessel
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Class
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Guided missile cruiser (1 in service)
|-
|
|
|
| De Zeven Provinciën class
|
| ex-
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Submarines (6 in service)
|-
|
|
| Type 209/1200
| Angamos class
|
| ex-BAP Casma
|-
|
|
| Type 209/1200
| Angamos class
|
|
|-
|
|
| Type 209/1200
| Angamos class
|
|
|-
|
|
| Type 209/1200
| Angamos class
|
| ex-BAP Blume
|-
|
|
| Type 209/1100
| Islay class
|
|
|-
|
|
| Type 209/1100
| Islay class
|
|
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Guided missile frigates (8 in service)
|-
|
|
|
| Carvajal class
|
|
|-
|
|
|
| Carvajal class
|
|
|-
|
|
|
| Carvajal class
|
|
|-
|
|
|
| Carvajal class
|
|
|-
|
|
|
| Aguirre class
|
| ex-Orsa (F-567)
|-
|
|
|
| Aguirre class
|
| ex-Lupo (F-564)
|-
|
|
|
| Aguirre class
|
| ex-Perseo (F-566)
|-
|
|
|
| Aguirre class
|
| ex-Sagittario (F-565)
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Guided missile corvettes (6 in service)
|-
| BAP Velarde (CM-21)
|
|
| Velarde class
|
|
|-
| BAP Santillana (CM-22)
|
|
| Velarde class
|
|
|-
| BAP De los Heros (CM-23)
|
|
| Velarde class
|
|
|-
| BAP Herrera (CM-24)
|
|
| Velarde class
|
|
|-
| BAP Larrea (CM-25)
|
|
| Velarde class
|
|
|-
| BAP Sánchez Carrión (CM-26)
|
|
| Velarde class
|
|
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Amphibious (4 in service, 2 awaiting transfer)
|-
|
|
| Tank landing ship
| Terrebonne Parish class
|
| ex-
|-
|
|
| Tank landing ship
| Terrebonne Parish class
|
| ex-
|-
|
|
| Tank landing ship
| Terrebonne Parish class
|
| ex-
|-
|
|
| Tank landing ship
| Terrebonne Parish class
|
| ex-
|-
|
|
| Tank landing ship
| Newport class
|
| to be transferred from the US Navy Reserve
|-
|
|
| Tank landing ship
| Newport class
|
| to be transferred from the US Navy Reserve
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|River gunboats vessels (4 in service, 1 being fitted, 1 planned)
|-
| BAP Loreto (CF-11)
|
| River gunboat
| Loreto class
|
|
|-
| BAP Amazonas (CF-12)
|
| River gunboat
| Loreto class
|
|
|-
| BAP Marañón (CF-13)
|
| River gunboat
| Marañón class
|
|
|-
| BAP Ucayali (CF-14)
|
| River gunboat
| Marañón class
|
|
|-
|
|
| River gunboat
| Clavero class
|
| currently being fitted in the SIMA Iquitos shipyard
|-
| Unnamed
|
| River gunboat
| Clavero class
|
| planned
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Auxiliaries (11 in service)
|-
|
|
| Transport ship
| Mollendo class
|
| used as training ship
|-
| BAP Marte (ALY-313)
|
| Sailing yacht
| Marte class
|
| used as training ship
|-
| BAP Unanue (AMB-160)
|
| Diving support ship
| Sotoyomo class
|
| ex-
|-
| BAP San Lorenzo (ART-323)
|
| Torpedo recovery vessel
| San Lorenzo class
|
|
|-
| BAP Caloyeras (ACA-111)
|
| Water harbour tanker
| YW type
|
| ex-US YW-128
|-
| BAP Noguera (ACP-118)
|
| Oil harbour tanker
| YO type
|
| ex-US YO-221
|-
| BAP Gauden (ACP-119)
|
| Oil harbour tanker
| YO type
|
| ex-US YO-171
|-
| BAP Guardian Rios (ARB-123)
|
| Offshore tugboat
| Cherokee class
|
| ex-
|-
| BAP Dueñas (ARB-126)
|
| Harbour tugboat
| -
|
|
|-
| BAP Bayovar (ATP-154)
|
| Oil tanker
| Grigoriy Nesterenko type
|
| ex-Petr Schmidt
|-
| BAP Zorritos (ATP-155)
|
| Oil tanker
| Grigoriy Nesterenko type
|
| ex-Grigoriy Nesterenko
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Hospital vessels (5 in service)
|-
| BAP Morona (ABH-302)
|
| River hospital ship
| Morona class
|
|
|-
| BAP Corrientes (ABH-303)
|
| Small river hospital craft
| -
|
|
|-
| BAP Curaray (ABH-304)
|
| Small river hospital craft
| -
|
|
|-
| BAP Pastaza (ABH-305)
|
| Small river hospital craft
| -
|
|
|-
|
|
| Lake hospital ship
| Yavarí class
|
|
|-
!colspan=6 bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|Scientific research vessels (5 in service)
|-
| BIC Humboldt
|
| Oceanographic research ship
| Humboltd class
|
|
|-
| BAP Carrasco (AH-171)
|
| Hydrographic survey ship
| Dokkum class
|
| ex-HNLMS Abcoude minesweeper
|-
| BAP Stiglich (AH-172)
|
| Hydrographic survey ship
| Morona class
|
|
|-
| BAP Carrillo (AH-175)
|
| Hydrographic survey ship
| van Straelen class
|
| ex-HMNLS van Hamel minesweeper
|-
| BAP Melo (AH-176)
|
| Hydrographic survey ship
| van Straelen class
|
| ex-HMNLS van der Wel minesweeper
|-
|}

Recently Decommissioned Ships

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Vessel
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Class
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Decommisioned
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-
|
|
|
| Daring class
| July 13, 2007
| ex-
|-
| BAP Talara (ATP-152)
|
| Replenishment tanker
| Talara class
| August 12, 2008
| capable of underway replenishment at sea from the stern
|-
| BAP Lobitos (ATP-153)
|
| Oil tanker
| Sealift Pacific class
| July 20, 2008
| ex-USNS Sealift Caribbean (T-AOT-174)
|-
|}

Naval Aviation

Naval infantry

Naval Infantry Brigade

• 1st Naval Infantry Battalion - Ancón

• 2nd Naval Infantry Battalion - Ancón

• Amphibious Support Group

• Fire support Group

• Commando Grouping

• Engineers Unit

Other units

• 3rd Naval Infantry Battalion - Tumbes

• 4th Naval Infantry Battalion - Puno

• 1st Jungle Naval Infantry Battalion - Iquitos

• 2nd Jungle Naval Infantry Battalion - Pucallpa

• Naval Infantry Detachment Litoral Sur - Mollendo

Equipment

thumb|Mk.44 torpedo on display

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Name
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Version
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Used by
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|

---

-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Naval artillery
|

---

-
| Bofors 152 mm gun || || dual-purpose naval gun || 152/53 model 1942 || De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser ||
|

---

-
| Oto Melara 127/54 Compact Gun || || dual-purpose naval gun || 127/54 Compact || Lupo class frigate ||
|

---

-
| Oto Melara 76/62 Compact Gun || || dual-purpose naval gun || 76/62 Compact || PR-72P class corvette ||
|

---

-
| Oto Melara Twin 40 Compact Gun || || Close-in weapon system (CIWS) || Twin 40L70 || De Zeven Provinciën class cruiserLupo class frigatePR-72P class corvette ||
|

---

-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Anti-ship missiles
|

---

-
| MBDA Otomat || || anti-ship missile (AShM) || Otomat Mk.2 Block II || De Zeven Provinciën class cruiserLupo class frigate || on December 8, 2008 an Otomat missile successfully launched from the BAP Aguirre, hit a target at a range in excess of 150 kilometers.
|

---

-
| MBDA Exocet || || anti-ship missile (AShM) || MM38 || PR-72P class corvette ||
|

---

-
| MBDA Exocet || || anti-ship missile (AShM) || AM39 Block 1 || ASH-3D Sea King || currently not embarked in any surface unit of the Peruvian Navy
|

---

-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Surface-to-air missile
|

---

-
| MBDA Aspide || || surface-to-air missile (SAM) || Aspide 1A || Lupo class frigate ||
|

---

-
| 9K38 Igla || || MANPADS || 9K310 Igla-1 || PR-72P class corvettePeruvian Naval Infantry || used in MGP-86 mount for close air defence
to be replaced with the FN-6 missile system
|

---

-
| FN-6 || || MANPADS || FN-6 || Peruvian Naval Infantry || an small batch acquired in July, 2009 for US$ 1.1 million
|

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-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Torpedoes
|

---

-
| Atlas Elektronik SUT || || 533 mm heavyweight torpedo || SUT 264 || Type 209 submarine ||
|

---

-
| Atlas Elektronik SST || || 533 mm heavyweight torpedo || SST-4 mod 0 || Type 209 submarine ||
|

---

-
| Mark 37 torpedo || || 533 mm heavyweight torpedo || NT-37C || Type 209 submarine ||
|

---

-
| Mark 14 torpedo || || 533 mm heavyweight torpedo || Mk 14 || Type 209 submarine ||
|

---

-
| Mark 44 torpedo || || 324 mm lightweight torpedo || Mk 44 mod 1 || Lupo class frigate || also equipped in the AB.212ASW and ASH-3D helicopters
|

---

-
| Alenia-Whitehead A244/S || || 324 mm lightweight torpedo || A244/S || Lupo class frigate || also equipped in the AB.212ASW and ASH-3D helicopters
|}

Peacekeeping operations

The Peruvian Navy has been actively involved in several United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. As of June 2006 Naval Infantry and Special Operations troops have been deployed to United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (embedded in the Argentine forces ) and United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Peruvian naval officers have also been deployed to United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) as United Nations Militar Observers (UNMOs).

Future plans

According to current plans, the fleet flagship Almirante Grau will soon be decommissioned in 2010. By 2010 the fleet is expected to be composed of 8 frigates, 6 corvettes, 6 submarines and two replenishment oilers. They will be supported by 3 maritime patrol aircraft and 8 antisubmarine warfare helicopters.

The Almirante Grau is currently the only operating gun cruiser in any navy, and Peru is one of only four nations to operate any cruisers at all, along with the United States, Russia, and France.