Republic of Vietnam Navy

The VNN was the naval forces of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1952 to 1975.

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thumb|250px|Vietnamese Navy officers and CPOs board their new ship (the cutter Bering Strait, which was transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy)The early fleet consist of boats from France and consisted of 'Dinassaut' (Division Navale d'Assaut or Naval Assault Division). After 1955 and transfer of republican forces to South Vietnam, the fleet was supplied from the United States. With assistance from the U.S., the VNN became one of the world's largest navies with 42,000 men and women and 672 amphibious ships and craft, 20 mine warfare vessels, 450 patrol craft, 56 service craft, and 242 junks.

In 1974, the Republic of Vietnam Navy was involved in the Battle of Hoang Sa with China.

Fleet

The fleet before 1973:

* 2 Destroyers (DER)
* 7 Frigates (WHEC) - former USCG High Endurance Cutters
* 9 Patrol Craft (PCE)
* 7 Mechanized Mine Sweepers (MSM)
* 6 River Mine Sweepers (MSR)
* 20 Motor Patrol Gunboats (PGM)
* 26 Coastal Patrol Boats (WPB)
* 2 Coastal Minesweepers (MSM)
* 6 Landing Ships (Tank) (LST)
* 5 Landing Ships (Medium) (LSM)
* 2 Hospital Ships (LSMH)
* 7 Landing Ships (Support, Large) (LSSL)
* 5 Landing Ships (Infantry, Large) (LSIL)
* 2 Landing Support Ships (AGP)
* 1 Landing Craft Repair Ship (ARL)
* 6 Yard Oilers (YOG)
* 5 Utility Boats (UB)
* 4 Combat Salvage Boats (CSB)
* 138 Swift Patrol Boats (PCF)
* 293 River Patrol Boats (PBR)
* 84 Assault Support Patrol Boats (ASPB)
* 22 Mechanized Landing Craft (LCM)
* 100 Armored Troop Carriers (ATC)
* 2 Auxiliary Personal Lighters (APL)
* 42 River Monitors
* 250 Motor Junks Prior to the fall of Saigon, Captain Kiem Do secretly planned and quietly carried out the evacuation of thirty-five ships and some thirty thousand at-risk South Vietnamese Navy sailors out of the country to Subic Bay, Philippines.

List of Republic of Vietnam Navy Ships

*RVNS "Tran Hung Dao" (HQ-01)
*RVNS "Tran Quang Khai" (HQ-02)
*RVNS "Tran Nhat Duat" (HQ-03)
*RVNS "Tran Khanh Du" (HQ-04)
*RVNS "Tran Binh Trong" (HQ-05)
*RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-06)
*RVNS "Dong Da II" (HQ-07)
*RVNS "Chi Lang II" (HQ-08)
*RVNS "Ky Hoa" (HQ-09)
*RVNS "Nhut Tao" (HQ-10)
*RVNS "Chi Linh" (HQ-11)
*RVNS "Ngoc Hoi" (HQ-12)
*RVNS "Ha Hoi" (HQ-13)
*RVNS "Van Kiep II" (HQ-14)
*RVNS Ly Thoung Kiet (HQ-16)
*RVNS Ngo Kuyen (HQ-17)
*RVNS Doan Ngoc Tang (HQ-228)
*RVNS Lulu Phu Tho (HQ-229)
*RVNS Niguyen Duc Bong (HQ-231)
*RVNS Thien Kich (HQ-329)
*RVNS Han Giang (HQ-401)
*RVNS Lam Giang (HQ-402)
*RVNS "Huong Giang" (HQ-404)
*HQ-470
*HQ-471
*HQ-474
*RVNS "Cam Ranh" (HQ-500)
*RVNS "Da Nang" (HQ-501)
*RVNS "Thi Nai" (HQ-502)
*RVNS "Nha Trang" (HQ-505)
*RVNS Phu Du (HQ-600)
*RVNS Keo Ngua (HQ-604)
*RVNS Hon Troc (HQ-618)
*RVNS "My Tho" (HQ-800)
*RVNS "Can Tho" (HQ-801)
*RVNS "Vinh Long" (HQ-802)

ee also

* Admiral Lam Nguon Tanh
* Captain Kiem Do
* Petty Officer Third Class Nguyen Van Kiet - He was awarded the Navy Cross for actions during the Vietnam War.
* Khuong Huu Ba
*Battle of Hoang Sa

References

* [http://www.ehistory.com/vietnam/books/end/0214.cfm The Bitter End]
* [http://www.vn-navy.net/Ships.html The Ships of the VN Navy]

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/vietnam/svietnavy.htm/The Navy of the Republic of Vietnam]