Myanmar Navy#Burmese independence

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File:Burmese man-of war, captured by the Hermes - ILN 1852-0626-0009.jpg, 19th century]]

The naval arm of the Royal Armed Forces consisted mainly of shallow draft river boats. Its primary missions were to control the Irrawaddy River, and to protect the ships carrying the army to the front. The major war boats carried up to 30 musketeers and were armed with 6- or 12-pounder cannon.Lieberman, pp. 164–167 By the mid-18th century, the navy had acquired a few seafaring ships, manned by European and foreign sailors, that were used to transport the troops in Siamese and Arakanese campaigns.

The Arakanese and the Mon, from maritime regions, maintained more seaworthy flotillas than the inland riverborne "navy" of the Royal Burmese Army.

On 1 April 1937, Burma became a separately administered colony of Britain, and thereafter became responsible for her own local naval defence. It was decided that a naval volunteer reserve force should be formed to implement this responsibility and so provide a local force for the naval administration and defence of the ports and coast of Burma in time of war.

On the recommendation of Vice Admiral Sir James Fownes Somerville, then Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Sidebottom Lyle from Royal Navy was sent to Burma and arrived in Rangoon in June 1939, commissioned to form the volunteer reserve force and to be appointed Naval Office-in-Charge, Rangoon, on the outbreak of war.

On 6 September 1940, Burma Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was officially formed under the Burma Act XV, 1940.{{cite web|url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93174858|title=Naval Forces of the Colonies 1461. BURMA ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE}} The Burma R.N.V.R was placed under the operational orders of Vice Admiral Sir Herbert Fitzherbert, commanding the Royal Indian Navy, but retains its own identity and its own administration under the Government of Burma.

Burma R.N.V.R, although very small, played an active part in Allied operations against the Japanese during the Second World War. By 1 December 1945, the Royal Navy has been withdrawn and the Burma R.N.V.R assumed all naval responsibilities on the coast and waters of Burma.{{cite web|url=https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/24787/Burma_the_military8.pdf|title=Burma the Military}}

File:HMS Fal 1943 IWM FL 10071.jpg]]

In December 1947, the Union of Burma Navy was formed with 700 men mostly from Burma R.N.V.R. The fleet initially consisted of a small but diverse collection of ships transferred from the Royal Navy under the arrangements made for Burma's independence in January 1948. It included the {{ship|UBS|Mayu}}, an ex-Royal Navy {{sclass2|River|frigate}}, and four Landing Craft Gun (Medium).p.28, Janes Fighting Ships 1963-64 British Defense Ministry sold with the original 25-pounder guns on naval mountings and Oerlikon 20mm cannons which were reinstalled later.

In 1950 and 1951, the United States provided 10 coast guard cutters (CGC) under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP). The Myanmar Navy played an important part in the government's fight against the ethnic and ideological insurgent groups which threatened the Union Government in its early days. The Myanmar Navy performed both defensive and offensive roles, protecting convoys, carrying supplies, ferrying troops and giving much-needed fire support. It was instrumental in relieving the port city of Moulmein, which was captured by Karen insurgents in 1948, and the Irrawaddy Delta town of Bassein. Although one armed patrol boat defected to the Karen insurgents, throughout the turbulent years of post independence in Myanmar, the navy was largely unopposed and maintained control over Myanmar's crucial inland waterways.Hugh Tinker, Union of Burma, p.325

In 1956 and 1957, the Burmese government acquired five {{convert|50|LT|t|adj=on}} Saunders-Roe {{sclass2|Dark|fast patrol boat|0}} convertible motor torpedo/motor gunboats,{{cite web|url=http://www.bmpt.org.uk/boat%20histories/Dark%20Class/index.htm|title=British Military Powerboat Trust|access-date=22 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923192654/http://www.bmpt.org.uk/boat%20histories/Dark%20Class/index.htm|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} followed by an {{convert|1040|LT|t|adj=on}} {{sclass|Algerine|minesweeper}} in 1958 from the United Kingdom.Jane's Fighting Ships 1963-1964 p.28 In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the United States sold the Burmese Navy six PGM type coastal patrol craft and seven CGC-type patrol boats.Jane's Fighting Ships 1982-83 p.60 In 1958, Myanmar's Navy took delivery of 10 Y-301-class river gunboats from Yugoslavia, followed by 25 smaller Michao-class patrol craft.

File:Burmese Navy visit to Indonesia, Jalesveva Jayamahe, p198.jpg in 1960]]

Efforts were made to produce locally made naval vessels with assistance from Yugoslavia. In 1960, the Myanmar Navy commissioned two {{convert|400|LT|t|adj=on}} Nawarat-class corvettes. Their armaments include 25-pounder field gun and 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun.Janes Fighting Ships 1997-98 p.79 Myanmar shipyards also built a number of smaller patrol craft and a number of landing craft. Landing craft and auxiliary ships are usually armed with Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns and heavy machine guns.Janes Fighting Ships 1997-98 p.82 In the mid-1960s, the Myanmar Navy took delivery of ex-US Navy {{convert|640|LT|t|adj=on}} PCE-827 class{{Cite web |url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/120282701.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501012731/http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/120282701.jpg |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} corvette and a {{convert|650|LT|t|adj=on}} {{sclass|Admirable|minesweeper|1}}, both of which were commissioned in the mid-1940s.

Although it expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s, the navy was unable to keep pace with loss or deterioration of older vessels in the 1970s. In 1978, the United States provided the Myanmar Navy with six small river patrol craft.Jane's Fighting Ships 1997-1998 p.79 A naval replacement program was initiated by BSPP Government in 1979.

In 1980, the navy acquired six Carpentaria-class inshore patrol boats from Australia followed by three 128-ton Swift-type coastal patrol boats from Singapore and three 385-ton Ospery-class offshore patrol vessels built in Denmark. The Osprey and Swift-class boats have a range of {{convert|4500|and|1800|mi}}, respectively, and were armed with Oerlikon 20 mm cannons and 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns. In the early 1980s, Burmese naval shipyards built three 128-ton PGM type patrol boats based upon US PGM-class patrol boats. Each boat was armed with two 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns and two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns.

The Myanmar Navy purchased six missile escort boats and ten submarine chasers from China. Since 1998, the navy has built two {{convert|77|m|ftin|abbr=on}} Anawrahta-class corvettes (771 and 772) and four fast attack craft (551-554).

In 2008 a naval encounter took place between the Bangladesh Navy and the Myanmar Navy. The confrontation was a direct result of the Myanmar Navy allowing companies to drill for natural gas and oil in a disputed area of the Bay of Bengal.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

As many as 25 Burmese naval ships may have been sunk in the storm caused by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, while an unknown number of naval personnel and their family members were killed or are listed as missing.{{cite web |url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=11980 |title=Burmese Navy Decimated in Cyclone |access-date=2008-05-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513034727/http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=11980 |archive-date=13 May 2008 |df=dmy-all }} The Network for Democracy and Development in Thailand reported that 30 officers and 250 Burmese naval personnel were declared missing, while 25 vessels were destroyed by the cyclone in three naval regional command centres: Panmawaddy Regional Command on Hainggyi Island; Irrawaddy Regional Command; and Danyawaddy Regional Command in Sittwe in Arakan State.

File:Myanmar officer tour USS Bonhomme Richard. (8202185315).jpgFile:6th Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol concludes at Coco Islands (3).jpgAs part of international engagement of the US with the Myanmar's armed forces, the {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6}} visited Myanmar in early 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/national-news/6684-the-evolving-role-of-myanmar-s-navy.html|title=The evolving role of the Navy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226035219/https://www.mmtimes.com/national-news/6684-the-evolving-role-of-myanmar-s-navy.html|archive-date=26 December 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

In 2014, the Myanmar Navy began its annual 'Sea Shield' combined fleet exercise in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The annual manoeuvres usually involved live-fire exercises by several of the Myanmar Navy's strategic vessels.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aseanmildef.com/2016/03/myanmar-navy-holds-exercise-in.html|title=Myanmar Navy holds exercise in strategic waters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225225049/http://www.aseanmildef.com/2016/03/myanmar-navy-holds-exercise-in.html|archive-date=25 December 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

The navy participated in the Indian and Myanmar Navy Exercise 2018, held in the Bay of Bengal. On the Burmese side, vessels included the Kyan Sittha-class frigate UMS Sin Phyu Shin (F-14) and offshore patrol vessel UMS Inle and on the Indian side, vessels included anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kamorta, Shivalik (Project 17)-class frigate INS Sahyadri, and a Type 877EKM Kilo-class submarine, along with one helicopter and two advanced aircraft.{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/whats-behind-the-new-india-myanmar-naval-exercise/|title=What's Behind the New India-Myanmar Naval Exercise?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226084201/https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/whats-behind-the-new-india-myanmar-naval-exercise/|archive-date=26 December 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} In September 2019, Myanmar Navy's UMS Kyan Sittha participated in the first US-Asean Maritime Exercise (AUMX) to improve disaster management and maritime cooperation in the region.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1741184/first-us-asean-naval-exercise-begins|title=First US-Asean naval exercise begins |newspaper=Bangkok Post|date=2 September 2019 |access-date=17 September 2019 |last1=Nanuam |first1=Wassana }}

The navy has maintained relationships with regional navies. It has hosted navies from the region such as the Royal Australian Navy, the PLA Navy and the Indian Navy.{{Cite web|url=http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jan2014/Fleet/810/Patrol-Boat-crew-reflects-on-a-memorable-visit-to-Myanmar.htm|title=Patrol Boat crew reflects on a memorable visit to Myanmar|last=Navy|first=Royal Australian|website=Navy Daily|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://en.qdnd.vn/military/intl-relations-and-cooperation/vietnamese-vessel-visits-myanmar-504421|title=Vietnamese vessel visits Myanmar}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/indian-naval-ship-sumitra-visited-yangon-myanmar|title=Indian Naval Ship Sumitra visited Yangon, Myanmar {{!}} Indian Navy|website=www.indiannavy.nic.in|access-date=2019-10-02}} Likewise, the navy's ships have visited countries in the region including Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore.{{Cite web|url=https://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=23201|title=Burmese Navy in Historic Visit to Vietnam|website=www2.irrawaddy.com|access-date=2019-10-02}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/336841/myanmar-ships-back-to-thailand-in-18-years|title=Myanmar navy ships return to Thailand|date=2013|website=Bangkok Post}}

• Naval headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Naypyidaw)
• Naval Shipyard (Yangon)
• Strategic Naval Command (headquarters in Naypyidaw)
• Central Naval Command (Seikkyi)
• Naval Training Command (Seikkyi)
• Central Naval Hydrographic Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Diving and Salvage Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Engineering Depot (Botataung, Yangon)
• Central Naval Logistic Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Communications Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Armaments Deport (Seikkyi)

• Irrawaddy Regional Command (headquarters in Yangon)
• Thanhklyet Soon Naval Base
• Thanlyin Naval Base
• Thilawa Naval Base
• Coco Island Base (including Naval Radar Unit)
• Danyawaddy Regional Command (headquarters in Sittwe)
• Kyaukpyu Naval Base
• Thandwe (Sandoway) Naval Base
• No.(71) Submarine Base (Ownchein Island) which was established in 2007. It is near Kyaukphyu SEZ.
• Panmawaddy Regional Command (headquarters on Haigyi Island)
• Mawyawaddy Regional Command (headquarters in Mawlamyine)
• Tanintharyi Regional Command (headquarters in Myeik)
• Zadetkyi Island Naval Base
• Mali (Tavoy) Naval Base
• Palai Island Naval Base
• Kadan Naval Base
• Sakanthit Naval Base
• Lambi Naval Base
• Pearl Island Naval Base
• Zadetkale Naval Base (Radar Unit)

The Myanmar Navy formed a naval infantry battalion of 800 men in 1964, and a second battalion in 1967.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} They battalions traditionally are deployed mainly in the Arakan, Tenasserim, and Irrawaddy delta coastal regions primarily to assist in the army's counter-insurgency operations (COIN).{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The Myanmar Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) Teams, commonly known as Myanmar Navy SEALs ({{lang|my|တပ်မတော် (ရေ) အထူးစစ်ဆင်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့}}) were probably formed in the early 2010s. The Myanmar Navy SEALs are particularly trained for special operation missions such as Hostage rescue, Counter-terrorism and Counter narcotic operations. The selection process and training curriculum is claimed to be similar to United States Navy SEAL selection and training.{{Cite web|url=https://www.moi.gov.mm/npe/?q=news/4/02/2018/id-71121|title=တပ်မတော် (ကြည်း၊ ရေ၊ လေ) ပူးပေါင်းစစ်ဆင်ရေးလေ့ကျင့်ခန်း (ဆင်ဖြူရှင်) ဒုတိယပိုင်း လေ့ကျင့်ဆောင်ရွက် |trans-title=Army (Army, Navy, Air) Joint Exercise Exercise (White Elephant) Second Exercise|language=my}}{{Citation|title=Myanmar Navy Documentary| date=6 July 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp-0y6TUl7w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/Mp-0y6TUl7w |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2019-10-12}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-03/19/c_137906627.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330192141/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-03/19/c_137906627.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 March 2019|title=Myanmar navy conducts military exercise in Bay of Bengal - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|website=www.xinhuanet.com|access-date=2019-10-12}}

Previously, Myanmar Naval air defence forces used Bofors 40mm & ZPU-2 AAA for naval bases.

{{main|Military ranks of Myanmar}}

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

{{main|List of equipment in the Myanmar Navy}}

The Myanmar Navy has undertaken a modernisation program since the early 2000s. It has added larger and more advanced ships, mostly by constructing them locally with foreign supplied equipment.{{Cite web|url=http://natoassociation.ca/modernization-of-the-myanmar-navy/|title=Modernization of the Myanmar Navy|date=17 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031327/http://natoassociation.ca/modernization-of-the-myanmar-navy/|archive-date=29 December 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

File:Kh-35E maq maks2009.jpg

The Myanmar Navy started its modernization program in 2001 in an attempt to replace older ships and equipment. In 2012, the navy took delivery of two Type 053H1-class frigates from China. These two ships were upgraded extensively. Upgrades included the replacing of HY 2 anti-ship missiles by C-802 missiles and installing new sensors. The first indigenous frigate, the Aung Zeya entered service in 2011 and took part in a joint exercise with Indian Navy ships off Visakhapatnam in early 2013. A second ship, Kyan Sittha entered service in 2012 and is the navy's first stealth frigate. The navy plans to build six indigenous frigates; combining Russian, Indian, Chinese, and Western weapons systems. These ships are equipped with Kh-35E anti-ship missiles, OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Cannons, AK-630 6-barrel 30mm close-in weapon system (CIWS) and Chinese ASW rockets and torpedoes. Radars and electronic systems are mainly from Bharat Electronics of India. Myanmar acquired surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles from China for its newly built frigates and OPVs. Myanmar Navy Shipyard built with Chinese assistance in the late 1990s is one of the most modern shipyards in the region. Many Burmese naval engineers underwent shipbuilding training in China and Russia.

In 2020, the navy acquired its first submarine, a Soviet era Sindhughosh/Kilo-class submarine, from India. The former INS Sindhuvir (S58) was refitted by Hindustan Shipyard Limited before the handover. Now renamed UMS Minye Theinkhathu, the submarine is to be used for training.{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/taking-it-to-next-level-india-readies-submarine-for-myanmar/articleshow/70442448.cms|title=Taking it to next level, India readies submarine for Myanmar|last=Pubby|first=Manu|date=2019-07-30|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-10-06}}{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/09/kilo-impact-in-the-bay-of-bengal/|title=Kilo Impact in the Bay of Bengal|website=thediplomat.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-02}} It was first seen publicly on 15 October 2020 as part of a naval fleet exercise (‘Bandoola 2020’).{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/myanmar-navy-showcases-newly-acquired-submarine-in-fleet-exercise-bandoola|title=Myanmar Navy showcases newly acquired submarine in Fleet Exercise Bandoola|website=janes.com|date=19 October 2020 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-10-19}} The Indian Navy is going to assist in training Myanmar to operate the submarine effectively.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/myanmar-navy-to-acquire-its-first-submarine-ins-retrofitted-sindhuvir-1732421-2020-10-17|title=Myanmar Navy to acquire its first submarine, INS' retrofitted Sindhuvir|author=Gaurav Sawant |date=October 17, 2020|website=India Today}}

On 24 December 2021, Myanmar Navy has commissioned its second submarine the UMS Minye Kyaw Htin, a type 35B Ming-class submarine from China.{{cite news |title=Myanmar commissions the UMS Minye Kyaw Htin Chinese-made Type 035 submarine |url=https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/december/11171-myanmar-commissions-the-ums-minye-kyaw-htin-chinese-made-type-035-submarine.html |access-date=16 September 2023 |work=Navy Naval News Navy Recognition |date=27 December 2021 |language=en-gb}}{{cite news |last1=Global |first1=IndraStra |title=Myanmar inducts UMS Minye Kyaw Htin, A Type 35B Ming-class Submarine from China |url=https://www.indrastra.com/2021/12/UMS-Minye-Kyaw-Htin.html |access-date=16 September 2023 |work=IndraStra Global |language=en}}

Between 2015 and 2017, the Myanmar Navy procured two Super Dvora Mk III patrol boats from Israel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/report-myanmar-acquired-super-dvora-mk-3-boats-iai|title=Report: Myanmar Acquired Super Dvora Mk 3 Boats from IAI {{!}} Israel Defense|website=www.israeldefense.co.il|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}} Next, under a US$37.9 million deal signed in March 2017, the Myanmar Navy received the advanced anti-submarine torpedo Shyena units from India.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-five-domains-update-69/|title=The five-domains update|date=2019-07-23|website=The Strategist|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-10-11}} Moreover, the Myanmar Navy acquired a new landing platform dock (LPD) from South Korea in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/90852/south-korean-shipyard-launches-landing-platform-dock-for-myanmar-navy|title=South Korean shipyard launches landing platform dock for Myanmar Navy {{!}} Jane's 360|website=www.janes.com|access-date=2019-10-02}}

File:Myanmar UMS King Sin Phyu Shin (F14) during Milan 2018 exercise.jpg|UMS King Sin Phyu Shin

File:FAC(M) 492 of Myanmar Navy.jpg|FAC(M) 492 of Myanmar Navy

File:Milan 2018 - MILES - Milan Exercise Sea - 13.jpg|UMS Inlay

{{Portal|Myanmar|Current events}}

• Myanmar Army
• Myanmar Air Force
• Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs
• Myanmar Police Force

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite news|first=Saurav|last=Jha|date=30 December 2016|title=The Bay of Bengal Naval Arms Race|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/12/the-bay-of-bengal-naval-arms-race/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=The Diplomat|language=en-US}})

• The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships By Eric Wertheim
• [http://networkbase.info/pageMyanmar_Navy.html pageMyanmar Navy.html - complaints, reviews & rating]

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{{Asia topic|Navy of|title=Navies of Asia}}

Category:Military of Myanmar

Category:Navies by country

Category:Defence agencies of Myanmar

Category:Military history of the Indian Ocean