# Ecuadorian Navy

The Ecuadorian Navy (Spanish: Armada del Ecuador) is an Ecuadorian entity responsible for the surveillance and protection of national maritime territory and has a personnel of 9,400 men to protect a coastline of 2,237 km which reaches far into the Pacific Ocean. The vessels are identified by a ship prefix of B.A.E.: Buque de la Armada del Ecuador (Ship of the Ecuadorian Navy) or L.A.E.: Lancha de la Armada del Ecuador (Boat of the Ecuadorian Navy).

## Mission

Organize, train, equip and maintain naval capabilities, as well as to assist and support all procedures involving national security and development. Contribute to the achievement of safeguarding national objectives in times of peace and war.

## Vision

Maintain highly trained naval forces to secure victory within the maritime zone in order to support developing communities. As a consequence operate highly qualified military personnel whom are able to fulfill this role based on elevated moral, values and principles.

## History

The roots of the Ecuadorian Navy or (Armada Ecuatoriana) date back to 1823 whilst forming a part of the Gran Colombian fleet. The government of President Eloy Alfaro (1906–1911) made one of the most notable naval acquisitions of the time, the torpedo ship Libertador Bolívar, with the aim of restoring the navy. In 1832, the Ecuadorian Congress officially established the Ecuadorian Maritime Department. On 25 July 1941 during the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War, the gunboat Abdón Calderón commanded by Rafael Morán Valverde encountered the Peruvian destroyer Almirante Villar in the Jambeli channel. The Ecuadorian gunboat opened fire on Villar, keeping its distance while doing shots for elevation, but the Peruvian destroyer returned fire for the duration of the chase, which was ended by the Peruvians when the Calderon took refuge in the channels. The Calderon was unharmed in the skirmish and according to Ecuador, the Peruvian Villar suffered damages, an allegation that has always been refuted by Perú. However, this event had no influence over the general outcome of the war as Puerto Bolivar was lost to Peruvian troops only two days later.

## Present day

Today, the Ecuadorian Navy is a compact, efficient and well-balanced force. However, limited funds hinder any major acquisitions and the chances of maintaining a strong force within the Pacific Ocean. Since introduction of a restructuring program within the Armed Forces (PATRIA I), the Navy's structure became simplified. It supervises the Pacific Coast and Galápagos Islands as one naval zone. Most seagoing assets are based at Guayaquil.

### Active ships

Currently the Navy consists of the following vessels:
| Vessel | Origin | Type | Class | In service | Notes |
| Training ship (1 in service) ||||||
| BAE Guayas (BE-21) | Spain | Sail training ship | steel-hulled barque | Yes | As an ambassador of its country, the Guayas is a participant in tall ship regattas. By the end of 2008 the Guayas had visited 60 harbours in 25 countries and covered about 340,000 nautical miles (630,000 km). |
| Submarines (2 in service) ||||||
| BAE Shyri (S101) | Germany | Diesel-electric submarine | Type 209/1300 | Yes | |
| BAE Huancavilca (S102) | Germany | Diesel-electric submarine | Type 209/1300 | Yes | On September 16, 2011, the submarine was sent to the ASMAR shipyard in Chile for modernization, which was completed in 2014. |
| Guided missile frigates (2 in service) ||||||
| BAE Presidente Eloy Alfaro (FM-01) | United Kingdom | guided missile frigate | Condell-class frigate | Yes | Acquired from Chile in March, 2008. |
| BAE Morán Valverde FM-02 | United Kingdom | guided missile frigate | Condell-class frigate | Yes | Extensively refitted between April 2004 and December 2005. Acquired from Chile in March, 2008. |
| Guided missile corvettes (6 in service) ||||||
| BAE Esmeraldas (CM-11) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Refitted in 2006 under the Esmeraldas program. |
| BAE Manabí (CM-12) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Modernised, returned to fleet 2018. |
| BAE Los Rios (CM-13) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Modernised, returned to fleet 2018. |
| BAE El Oro (CM-14) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Refitted in 2008 under the Esmeraldas program. |
| BAE Galápagos (CM-15) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Refitted in 2010 under the Esmeraldas program. |
| BAE Loja (CM-16) | Italy | guided missile corvette | Esmeraldas-class | Yes | Modernised, returned to fleet 2019. |
| Offshore Patrol Vessel (2 in service) ||||||
| LAE Isla San Cristobal (LG-30) | Netherlands | Offshore Patrol Vessel | Damen Stan patrol vessel 5009 class | Yes | |
| LAE Isla Isabela (LG-31) | Netherlands | Offshore Patrol Vessel | Damen Stan patrol vessel 5009 class | Yes | |
| Fast attack craft (3 in service) ||||||
| LAE Quito (LM-31) | Germany | Fast attack craft | TNC 45 Seawolf class | Yes | Modernised |
| LAE Guayaquil (LM-32) | Germany | Fast attack craft | TNC 45 Seawolf class | Yes | Modernised |
| LAE Cuenca (LM-33) | Germany | Fast attack craft | TNC 45 Seawolf class | Yes | Modernised |
| Auxiliaries (12 in service) ||||||
| BAE Huacolpo (TR-61) | People's Republic of China | Cargo ship | Cargo - Hazard B class | Yes | ex-Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 |
| BAE Calicuchima (TR-62) | United Kingdom | ammunition supply ship | Kintebury class | Yes | ex-RMAS Throsk (A379) |
| BAE Atahualpa (TR-63) | Italy | water harbour tanker | Brenta type | Yes | ex-A 5356 Basento |
| BAE Quisquis (TR-64) | United Kingdom | water harbour tanker | Waterfall class | Yes | ex-Waterside (Y-20) |
| BAE Taurus (TR-65) | Ecuador | coastal oil tanker | Taurus class | Yes | Civilian ship bought in 1987. Built by Astinave, Guayaquil. Currently status is unknown. |
| BAE Chimborazo (RA-70) | United States | Fleet Tug | Abnaki-class tug | Yes | Ex-USS Chowanoc (ATF-100) |
| BAE Sangay (RB-72) | | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | |
| BAE Cotopaxi (RB-73) | United States | Tugboat | | Yes | |
| BAE Wolf (RB-74) | Netherlands | Tugboat | | Yes | |
| BAE Iliniza (RB-75) | | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | |
| BAE Altar (RB-76) | | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | |
| BAE Quilotoa (RB-78) | | Tugboat | YTM class tug | Yes | |
| Scientific research vessels (2 in service) ||||||
| BAE Orion (BI-91) | Japan | Oceanographic research ship | Orion class | Yes | |
| LAE Sirius | Ecuador | Oceanographic research ship | Sirius class | Yes | |

## Naval weapon systems

| Name | Origin | Type | Version | Used by |
| Naval artillery ||||||
| QF 4.5 inch naval gun | United Kingdom | Dual-purpose naval gun | Mark VI | Condell class frigate |
| Oto Melara 76/62 Compact Gun | Italy | Dual-purpose naval gun | 76/62 Compact | Esmeraldas-class |
| Oto Melara Twin 40 Compact Gun | Italy | Close-in weapon system (CIWS) | Twin 40L70 | Esmeraldas-class |
| Raytheon Phalanx 20mm Gatling Gun | United States | Close-in weapon system (CIWS) | Phalanx Block 0 | Condell-class |
| Oerlikon GDM-A de 35 | Italy Switzerland | Naval turret | Two 35mm autocannon | TNC 45 Seawolf class |
| Anti-ship missiles ||||||
| MBDA Exocet | France | anti-ship missile (AShM) | MM40 Block IIMM38 | Condell class frigate Esmeraldas-classTNC 45 Seawolf class FAC |
| IAI Gabriel | Israel | anti-ship missile (AShM) | Mk 2 | TNC 45 Seawolf class FAC |
| Surface-to-air missile ||||||
| MBDA Aspide | Italy | surface-to-air missile (SAM) | Albatros Aspide MK-1A | Esmeraldas-class |
| MBDA Simbad | France | surface-to-air missile (SAM) | Mistral | Condell-class |
| Anti-submarine torpedo ||||||
| Mark 46 torpedo | United States | anti-submarine lightweight torpedo | Mod 5A | Condell class frigate |
| Whitehead A244-S | Italy | anti-submarine lightweight torpedo | A244/S | Esmeraldas-class |
| Torpedoes ||||||
| WASS Black Shark | Italy | 533 mm heavyweight torpedo | | Type 209 submarine |
| Whitehead A-184 | Italy | 533 mm heavyweight torpedo | A184 Mod 3 | Type 209 submarine |
| Atlas Elektronik SST | Germany | 533 mm heavyweight torpedo | SST-4 Mod 0 | Type 209 submarine |
| Atlas SUT | Germany | 533 mm heavyweight torpedo | AEG SUT 264 | Type 209 submarine |
| STN Atlas Seehecht | Germany | 533 mm heavyweight torpedo | DM2A4 | Type 209 submarine |

### Naval aviation

The Ecuadorian Naval Aviation (Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana) was formed in 1967 with fixed-wing aircraft and received some helicopters in 1973. It remains the least effective section of the navy; capable of performing limited maritime patrol missions, it consists of a fixed wing and a rotary wing element. Aircraft are based at Base Aérea Simón Bolívar in Guayaquil and the Eloy Alfaro Air Base in Manta. The most recent acquisitions of the ANE are two Heron 1 and four Searcher Mk. III from Israel. These have increased the Navy's coastal surveillance capacity significantly.

### Active aircraft

Currently the Navy consists of the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Version | In service | Notes |
| Maritime patrol aircraft ||||||
| Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | Maritime surveillance aircraft | CATPASS 250MP | 3 | Two units delivered in January and June 1997 respectively. CATPASS conversion includes a bottom-mounted surface-search radar, FLIR and ESM provisions. |
| CASA CN-235 Persuader | Spain | Maritime patrol aircraft | CN-235-100 MP PersuaderCN-235-300 MP Persuader | 11 | Maritime patrol/multipurpose transport aircraft equipped with the FITS system. |
| Helicopters ||||||
| Bell 206 JetRangerBell TH-57 SeaRanger | United States | Utility helicopter / Training helicopter | 206BTH-57A | 33 | |
| Bell 230 | United States | Radar surveillance helicopter | 230T | 1 | Two units delivered in total. One unit crashed at sea in 2009. |
| Bell 430 | United States | Utility helicopter | 430 | 3 | Two units delivered on August 1, 2010. The first 430 received a Garmin GNS400 GPS coupled to the autopilot. Both were equipped with a Honeywell Mark XXII EGPWS, right hand sliding door, hoist provisions and some maintenance items. Two units delivered on September 11, 2014. 1 crashed in 2024. |
| Trainer Aircraft ||||||
| Beechcraft T-34 Turbo Mentor | United States | Advanced trainer | T-34C-1 | 5 | |
| ENAER T-35 Pillán | Chile | Basic trainer | T-35B | 4 | |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ||||||
| IAI Heron | Israel | MALE UAV | Heron I | 2 | |
| IAI Searcher | Israel | Reconnaissance UAV | Searcher III | 4 | |
| Utility Aircraft ||||||
| Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | Light transport | B200B300B350 | 211 | |
| Beechcraft King Air | United States | Light transport | C90A | 2 | |
| Cessna 172 | United States | Liaison aircraft | SP | 2 | |

### Coast Guard

The Coast Guard (Cuerpo de Guardacostas de la Armada) became fully operational in 1980. Their mission is to control maritime activities on national territory, including all river zones. The objectives are internal security, protection of human life at sea, and environmental protection. It consists of around 250 men and 30 major as well as 40 smaller modern patrol vessels. In 2011 Ecuador ordered four 26.5 metres (87 ft) patrol vessels based on the Damen Stan 2600 design for the Coast Guard.

### Marines

The Naval Infantry Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina) was formed on 12 November 1962. It maintains a strength of around 1700 marines, with their HQ in Guayaquil. The units are individually spread across the naval coast of Ecuador and are equipped with infantry support weapons, including 60 mm and 81 mm mortars, 106 mm recoilless rifles (RCLs) and Humvees. However, it lacks amphibious assault and sealift capacity. The Ecuadorian Marines are to maintain a high level of alert in order to execute special operations in difficult territory as well as to provide a fast response to counter amphibious incursions. Structure:
* Escuela de la Infanteria Marina (Naval Infantry School)
* Compañia de Seguridad "Guayaquil" (Security Detachment)
* Batallon de Infanteria Marina "Jambeli"
* Battallon de Infanteria Marina "San Eduardo"
* Battallon de Infanteria Marina "San Lorenzo"
* Battallon de Infanteria Marina "Jaramijo"
* Battallon de Infanteria Marina "Esmeraldas"
| Name | Type | Caliber | Origin | In service | Notes |
| General-purpose machine gun ||||||
| Heckler & Koch HK21 | HK21E | 7.62×51mm NATO | Germany | | Standard general-purpose machine gun. |
| Assault rifle ||||||
| M16 rifle | A2/A4 | 5.56×45mm NATO | United States | | Standard assault rifle. |
| M4 carbine | A1 | 5.56×45mm NATO | United States | | Special Forces. |
| Submachine gun ||||||
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | | 9×19mm Parabellum | Germany | | Special Forces. |
| Colt 9mm SMG | | 9×19mm Parabellum | United States | | Special Forces. |
| Semi-automatic pistol ||||||
| M1911 pistol | | .45 ACP | United States | | Standard pistol. |
| Hand grenade ||||||
| M26 grenade | M26A1/M61 | | United States | | |
| Red dot sight ||||||
| Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight | Reflex sight | | United States | | Used by special forces. |
| Aimpoint CompM4 | Reflex sight | | United States | | Used by special forces. |
| Grenade launcher ||||||
| Milkor MGL | | 40 mm grenade | South Africa | | |
| M203 grenade launcher | | 40 mm grenade | United States | | Grenade launcher coupled in M4 carbines. |
| Anti-materiel rifle ||||||
| Barrett M82 | | .50 BMG | United States | | |
| Infantry mortar ||||||
| M1 mortar | | 81 mm | United States | | |
| M29 mortar | | 81 mm | United States | | |
| Hirtenberger M6C-210 | | 60 mm | Austria | | Light mortar, used by special operations units. |
| Recoilless rifle ||||||
| M40 recoilless rifle | | 105 mm | United States | | |
| M67 recoilless rifle | Shoulder-launched missile | 90 mm | United States | | |
| Rocket-propelled grenade ||||||
| RPG-7 | Shoulder-launched missile | 40 mm | Soviet Union | | |
| Man-portable air-defense system ||||||
| MBDA Mistral | MANPADS | | France | | Some mounted on Humvee and truck platform. |
| Howitzer ||||||
| M101 howitzer | Towed | 105mm Howitzer | United States | | |
| Light utility vehicle ||||||
| Humvee | 4×4 | | United States | 30 | Around 30 humvees are in use within the Naval Infantry Corps. |
| Military truck ||||||
| M939 Truck | 6×6 | | United States | | Donated by the US NAS program in 2003. |
| Mercedes-Benz Zetros | 6x6 | | Germany | | |

## Equipment gallery

* Ecuadorian navy FSG Corvette ESMERALDAS (CM 11), equipped with 2 x 3 MM40 Exocet SSM, 1 x 4 Aspide SAM, 1 x 76mm gun, 6 x 324mm ASTI, helicopter on deck (Bell 206).
* An Ecuadorian Marine with a HK-33 rifle, during an amphibious assault exercise (UNITAS), in the background a US Amphibious Assault Vehicle.
* Ecuadorian submarine BAE Shyri in 2003. Ecuador owns two of these submarines.
* An Ecuadorian Coast Guard combat ship (LG-40) during an exercise.
* The Ecuadorian corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14) during an exercise.
* The Ecuadorian Navy corvette BAE Manabi (CM 12) during an exercise.
* The school ship Guayas on a visit in Argentina.
* The Guayas in Sweden (2008).
* Ecuadorian sailors assigned to the Ecuadorian Corvette BAE El Oro (CM 14).
* Ecuadorian Navy ship Guayas, visiting Pearl Harbor.
* In 1991, acquired from the Royal Navy along with the former Danae (F47), the Eloy Alfaro was decommissioned on 19 March 2008, after 17 years of service in the Ecuadorian Navy.
* Acquired in 1991 from the Royal Navy, the Morán Valverde was decommissioned in October 2008.
* Along with her sister ship Almirante Lynch, the former Almirante Condell, renamed BAE Eloy Alfaro (FM 01). Both ships were handed over by the Chilean Navy to the Navy of Ecuador on 18 April 2008.
* In March 2008, the Almirante Lynch and sister ship Almirante Condell (PFG-06) were sold to Ecuador. The former Almirante Lynch is in active service under the name BAE Morán Valverde.
* An Ecuadorian maritime interdiction team, armed with MP5s, assigned to conduct a visit, board, search, and seizure exercise.

## Ranks
### Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Ecuadorian Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ecuadorian Navy vte | | | Almirante | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Vicealmirante | Contralmirante | Contralmirante | | | Capitán de navío | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Teniente de navío | Teniente de fragata | Teniente de fragata | Teniente de fragata | Alferez de fragata | Alferez de fragata | Alferez de fragata |

### Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Ecuadorian Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ecuadorian Navy vte | Sub-oficial mayor | Sub-oficial mayor | Sub-oficial mayor | Sub-oficial primero | Sub-oficial primero | Sub-oficial primero | Sub-oficial segundo | Sub-oficial segundo | Sargento primero | Sargento primero | | | | | | | Sargento segundo | Sargento segundo | Sargento segundo | Sargento segundo | Sargento segundo | Sargento segundo | Cabo primero | Cabo primero | Cabo primero | Cabo primero | Cabo segundo | Cabo segundo | Marinero | Marinero | Marinero | Marinero | Marinero | Marinero | Grumete 2do año | Grumete 1er año |