Royal Cambodian Navy

Maritime warfare branch of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces

Royal Cambodian Navy
កងទ័ពជើងទឹក
Kâng Toăp Cheung Tœ̆k
Emblem of the Royal Cambodian Navy
Founded1 March 1954; 70 years ago (1954-03-01)
Country Cambodia
TypeNavy
RoleNaval warfare
Size2,800 personnel, including marines [1]
Part ofRoyal Cambodian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQPhnom Penh
Motto(s)"ការពារព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា" (Khmer)
("Defend the Kingdom of Cambodia")
Commanders
CommanderAdmiral Tea Vinh
Insignia
Naval jack
Military unit

The Royal Cambodian Navy (Khmer: កងទ័ពជើងទឹក, romanized: Kâng Toăp Cheung Tœ̆k; lit.'Naval Army') is the naval warfare service branch of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and one of the three uniformed services of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It has an estimated of 4,000 active personnel and operates 228 boats/ships in active service. It is commanded by Admiral Tea Vinh and sails under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defense.[2]

History

The Royal Khmer Navy (French: Marine royale khmère, MRK) was originally an extension of the Khmer Royal Army (French: Armée Royale Khmère – ARK) but officially became its own separate service in 1954. Its role initially was only relegated to coastal & riverine patrols as well as ground support for internal security operations. By 1967, it had a strength of about 1400 officers & men including 200 men of the Naval Infantry Force.[3]

Equipment

Cambodian Navy officers stand in ranks with US Navy members.
Cambodian Navy saluting the flag.

The navy possesses fifteen patrol craft and a further five patrol craft of the "fast attack" variety. There are also about 200 motorised and manual canoes.[4]

The country's seagoing capability was boosted in August 2005 when China handed over 5 patrol boats. In 2007 a further 10 were handed over worth $100,000,000. The craft were donated to Cambodia by China to help counter piracy, transnational crime, smuggling and to safeguard future oil installations.

In 2007, Cambodia reported that it was increasing the strength of its navy from 1,000 to 3,000 sailors, apart from creating a force of 2,000 Marine infantry.

USS Mustin (DDG-89) visits Cambodian Navy.

Many officers of the Royal Cambodian Navy received their training at the Vietnam Naval Academy.[5]

Royal Cambodian Navy also have many plans to strengthen their naval fleet with assistance from China, Germany, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan.

Bases

Naval bases of the Royal Cambodian Navy include the following:

Fleet

Vessels stationed at The Naval Headquarters

Class Ship Name Hull Number Notes
Small Patrol Craft
ASPB Unknown 2903
2904
2905
Inherited from the KPRN.[6]
Koh Kong-class Koh Kong
Koh Sdach
Koh Ampil
2101
2102
2103
Albatroz-class acquired by the RCN in 2015.[7]
Large Patrol Craft
Turya-class Unknown 1121
1122
Project 206M-class inherited from the KPRN. Decommissioned by 2015.[8][9]
Small Landing Craft
LCM-6 Unknown 2402
2406
Inherited from the KPRN.[10]

Vessels stationed at Ream Naval Base

Class Ship Name Hull Number Notes
Small Patrol Craft
Koh Yor-class Koh Yor
Koh Tunsay
1101
1102
Project 1400ME-class inherited from the KPRN.[11][12]
Koh Pothi-class Koh Pothi
Koh Seh
1103
1104
Swift-class Mk. III inherited from the KPRN.[13]
Koh Chhlam-class Koh Chhlam
Koh Rong
1105
1106
FPB 21-class acquired by the RCN in 1997.[14]
Koh Ruesay-class Koh Ruesay
Koh Py
Koh Krabey
1107
1108
1109
Aid from China.[15]
Large Patrol Craft
Shershen-class Unknown 1123
1124
Project 206-class aid from Vietnam, torpedo tubes removed. Decommissioned by 2015.[16][17]
Koh Polowai-class Koh Polowai
Koh Tang
Koh Pring
Koh Via
1131
1132
1133
1134
Project 02059-class inherited from the KPRN.[18][19]
Koh Svay-class Koh Svay
Koh Kras
Koh Krasar
Koh Tbal
1141
1142
1143
1144
Aid from China.[20]
Large Landing Craft
Yuch'in-class Unknown 1401 Type 069-class Aid from China.[21]
LCM-8 ???? Inherited from the KPRN.[22]

Navy ranks and insignia

Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Royal Cambodian Navy
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  • e
Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade Ensign
នាយឧត្តមនាវី
Néay Ŭtdâmnéavi
ឧត្តមនាវីឯក
Ŭtdâmnéavi Êk
ឧត្តមនាវីទោ
Ŭtdâmnéavi Toŭ
ឧត្តមនាវីត្រី
Ŭtdâmnéavi Trei
វរនាវីឯក
Vôrnéavi Êk
វរនាវីទោ
Vôrnéavi Toŭ
វរនាវីត្រី
Vôrnéavi Trei
អនុនាវីឯក
Ânŭnéavi Êk
អនុនាវីទោ
Ânŭnéavi Toŭ
អនុនាវីត្រី
Ânŭnéavi Trei
នាយចំណង់
Néay Châmnáng
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Royal Cambodian Navy
  • v
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នាយចក្របាលឯក
Néay châkrâbal êk
Warrant Officer
នាយចក្របាលទោ
Néay châkrâbal toŭ
Junior Warrant Officer
ចក្របាលឯក
Châkrâbal êk
Master Chief Petty Officer
ចក្របាលទោ
Châkrâbal toŭ
Chief Petty Officer
ចក្របាលត្រី
Châkrâbal trei
Petty Officer 1st Class
ចក្របាលរងឯក
Châkrâbal rông êk
Petty Officer 2nd Class
ចក្របាលរងទោ
Châkrâbal rông toŭ
Petty Officer 3rd Class
នាវិកឯក
Néavĭk êk
Seaman 1st Class
នាវិកទោ
Néavĭk toŭ
Seaman

National Committee for Maritime Security (NCMS)

The NCMS was established in December 2010 on the initiative of Prime Minister Hun Sen and with support from international security partners. Part of its role is focusing on fighting against terrorism, piracy, human trafficking, cross-border crimes, drug trafficking as well as on preserving natural resources and conducting emergency rescue works.[23] It is overseen by Admiral Tea Vinh and has bases in Sihanoukville, Ream and Phnom Penh, working with and for the Royal Cambodian Navy.

NCMS is also responsible for the security of visiting navy's ships and personnel from neighbouring countries and allies, including China, Russia, Japan [24] and the USA.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Cambodian Navy.
  1. ^ John Pike. "Royal Cambodian Navy". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  2. ^ Ministry of National Defense website, retrieved 16/11/08
  3. ^ Cambodia Navy - History
  4. ^ articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-Southeast-Asia/Navy-Cambodia.html
  5. ^ "Học Viện Hải Quân Nha Trang - Ngôi nhà của các chiến sĩ". Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. ^ "ASPB".
  7. ^ "Koh Kong-class".
  8. ^ "Turya-class".
  9. ^ "Project 206M-class".
  10. ^ "LCM-6".
  11. ^ "Koh Yor-class".
  12. ^ "Project 1400ME-class".
  13. ^ "Koh Pothi-class".
  14. ^ "Koh Chhlam-class".
  15. ^ "Koh Ruesay-class".
  16. ^ "Shershen-class".
  17. ^ "Project 206-class".
  18. ^ "Koh Polowai-class".
  19. ^ "Project 02059-class".
  20. ^ "Koh Svay-class".
  21. ^ "Type 069 Yuch'in-class".
  22. ^ "LCM-8".
  23. ^ http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=42161
  24. ^ "Japanese navy plans Sihanoukville stop".
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