List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Navy explained

Since the Vietnam War, most of Vietnamese vessels were supplied by the Soviet Union and presently by Russia, while hundreds more were integrated into the navy after it was left over from South Vietnam although many have been decommissioned due to lack of parts. However, due to rising tensions in the South China Sea, many nearby nations such as Japan have shown support in developing Vietnam's Navy and Coast Guard.^[1]

The Vietnam People's Navy is the branch of the Vietnam People's Army with the fastest modernization as the Vietnamese government put it as a main priority, with constant improvement to its weapons, munitions and combat capability.

Vessels

Class	Image	Type	Ships	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Submarines (6)
Kilo (Project 636.1)		Attack submarine			6^[2]	Commissioned 2014–2017. Equipped with Kalibr / Club-S missiles.
Guided-missile frigates (4)
Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661E)			Đinh Tiên Hoàng (011) Lý Thái Tổ (012) Trần Hưng Đạo (015) Quang Trung (016)		4^[3]	015 and 016 are equipped with anti-submarine capability while 011 and 012 are not.
Anti-submarine frigates / corvettes (7)
Petya-II/-III(Project 159A/AE)		Anti-submarine frigate	09 11 13 15 17		5^[4]	Three ASW frigate while two converted to gunboats.
Pohang (batch III)		Anti-submarine corvette			2^[5]	ASW corvettes transferred from South Korea.
Guided-missiles corvettes / missile boats / fast attack craft (22)
Khukri		Guided-missile corvette^[6]			1^[7]	Under the India's policies of 'Act East' &'Security and growth for all in the region' India gifted his Fully operational Corvette to one friendly foreign country (Vietnam).^[8]
Molniya(Project 1241.8)		Fast-attack missile corvette^[9]	375 376 377 378 379 380 382 383		8^[10]	6 built locally.
Tarantul(Project 1241.RE)		Guided-missile corvette	371 372 373 374		4^[11] ^[12]
BPS-500			381		1	Active duty.
Osa (Project 205U)			354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361		8	Active duty.
Gunboats / patrol boats (12)
Svetlyak (Project 10412)			261 263 264 265 266 267		6	Active duty.
TT-400TP		Patrol boat/Gunboat	272 273 274 275 276 277		6	Active duty.
Torpedo boats (5)
Turya (Project 206M)			331 332 333 334 335		5	Active duty.
Amphibious warfare ships (17)
LST-938		Tank Landing Ship	501 503		2	Active duty. The former USS Maricopa County (LST-938) and USS Coconino County (LST-603) which was captured during the Vietnam War.
Polnocny-B(Project 771)		Tank Landing Ship	511 512 513		3	Active duty.
Hùng Vương		Logistic-support landing vessel	521 522		2	Active duty.
Damen Roro 5612		Roll-on/roll-off logistic-support landing ship	526 527 528 529		4	Active duty. 3 ships repurchased from Venezuela's order. 1 ship ordered and transferred Vietnam Navy.
LCM-8		Landing craft				Captured during the Vietnam War.
LCU 1466		Landing craft	551 552 553 554 555 556		6	Captured during the Vietnam War.
Mines counter-measure vessels (8)
Sonya (Project 1265)			861 862 863 864		4	Active duty.
Yurka (Project 266)		Minesweeper	851 852		2	Active duty.
Yevgenya (Project 1258)		Minesweeper			2	Active duty.
Transport / logistics support ships (11)
HSV-6613					1	Active duty.
K-122/-123		Transport/Logistics support ship	Trường Sa (571)		2	Active duty.
		Logistics support / hospital ship	Khánh Hòa - 01 (561)
996		Transport/Logistics support ship	996		1	Active duty.
Trường Sa		Transport/Logistics support ship	Trường Sa 01 Trường Sa 02 Trường Sa 03 Trường Sa 04 Trường Sa08 Trường Sa 14 Trường Sa 19 Trường Sa 20 Trường Sa 21 Trường Sa 22.		7	Active duty
Search-and-rescue vessels (4)
Damen RGS 9316			Yết Kiêu (927)^[13]		1	Active duty.
FET 10-meter Submarine Rescue Vehicle^[14]		Deep-submergence rescue vehicle			1	Active duty
Perry® XLX-C Remotely Operated Vehicle^[15] ^[16]		Remotely operated underwater vehicle			1	Active duty^[17]
FC-624		Fast-react search-and-rescue and patrol vessel	924			Active duty.^[18]
Training vessel (1)
			Lê Quý Đôn (286)		1	Active duty.

Aircraft

Aircraft	Image	Type	Variants	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Patrol aircraft (6)
DHC-6 Twin Otter		Patrol aircraft	DHC-6-400 MPA		45^[19]	Active duty. Three used as Maritime patrol aircraft and three used as transports.
Helicopters (12)
Kamov Ka-27		ASW helicopter	Ka-28		67	Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands.
			Ka-32		80
Eurocopter Super Puma		Patrol helicopter			17	Operating by Vietnam Helicopters
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Orbiter 2		Reconnaissance
Insitu ScanEagle		Reconnaissance			56^[20]
IAI Heron		Reconnaissance			457

Munitions

Model	Image	Type	Variants	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Torpedo
VA-111 Shkval					unknown	Equipped with Kilo-class submarine.
Type 53 torpedo					unknown	Equipped with Kilo-class submarine.
Naval Mine
KMP					unknown
UĐM					unknown
Radar
P-18 radar
Coast Watcher 100
SCORE-3000
VRS-CSX
Anti-ship missile (AShM)
Kh-35 Uran		Anti-ship missile	Kh-35UE, Kh-35EMV, and an domestic upgrade variant from Kh-35UE called “VCM-01” (still developing)^[21]		103	Active duty.
3M-14/54 Club-S		Anti-ship missile	3M-54E/E1,3M-14E, 91RE1/RE2 https://s.vnecdn.net/vnexpress/responsive/j/v8/event/kilo_en/images/img/8_2.jpg		(50)	Equipped in Kilo submarines. 40 on order.^[22]
P-15 Termit		Anti-ship missile	P-15,P-20		20	Active duty.
P-800 Oniks		Anti-ship missile			(40)	Used with the K-300P Bastion-P coastal missile systems.

Soldier's equipment

Gear

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Notes
Helmets
Type A2 Helmet		Combat Helmet		Standard Issue.
Modular Integrated Communications Helmet		Combat Helmet		Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force^[23]
Vietnamese Pith Helmet		Helmet		Mostly used as training helmet. Sometimes used as a regular hat.
PASGT Helmet		Combat Helmet		Limited use. Standard Issue for Naval Infantry Force. They are gradually replacing older helmets in the Army. The Marines uses helmets imported from Israel, as well as domestically produced ones.^[24] ^[25]
Armour body
Armour body		Armour body		Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force
Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System		Armour body		Used by Naval Infantry Force
Camouflage patterns
K07 Navy		Camouflage Pattern		Former standard camo. A variant of the K07 Woodland used by the Ground Forces.^[26] ^[27]
K17 Navy		Camouflage Pattern		Former standard camo. A variant of the K17 used by the Ground Forces.
K20 Navy		Camouflage Pattern		Currently being the standard-issued camo. A variant of the K20 used by the Ground Forces.
Naval Duck Hunter		Camouflage Pattern		Standard camo for the Naval Special Operation Force and the submarine crews.

Firearms

Model	Image	Type	Calibre	Origin	Notes
Pistol
TT-33		Semi-automatic pistol	7.62×25mm Tokarev		Standard issue service pistol. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory as the K14-VN. The locally produced version is improved with a longer barrel, and a double-stack magazine that holds an increased capacity of 13 rounds.^[28] ^[29]
Makarov		Semi-automatic pistol	9×18mm Makarov		Limited use.
Stechkin APS		Machine pistol	9×18mm Makarov		Limited use.
Assault rifles
Galil ACE		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm		Manufactured locally. Standard issue assault rifle.
IWI Tavor TAR-21		Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO		Manufactured locally. Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force as standard-issue rifle^[30] ^[31] ^[32]
AK-47		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm		Used for training. Replaced as the standard-issue rifle by the Galil ACE.
AKMAKMS		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm
Ak-74AKS-74		Assault rifle	5.45×39mm
APS		Underwater Assault rifle	5.66×39mm MPS with 5.66×120mm steel darts and tracer MPST		Used by Naval Special Operation Force
Submachine gun
Uzi		Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum		Used by Naval Special Operation Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.
Sniper rifles
Dragunov SVD		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR		Used by Naval Special Operation Force and Naval Infantry Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.^[33]
PSL (rifle)		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR		Used by Naval Infantry Force.
Galil Sniper		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR		Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force
Machine gun
RPD		Light machine gun	7.62×39mm
RPK RPK-74		Light machine gun	7.62×39mm
			5.56×45mm NATO		Used by Naval Infantry Force and Naval Special Operation Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.
DShK		Heavy machine gun	12.7×108mm
Grenade launcher
M79 grenade launcher		Grenade launcher	40×46mm grenade		Manufactured locally at the Z125 Factory
IWI GL 40		Grenade launcher	40×46mm SR		Manufactured locally.Used by Naval Infantry Force
M203 grenade launcher		Grenade launcher	40×46mm SR		Manufactured locally
AGS-17		Automatic grenade launcher	30×29mm grenade		Manufactured locally at the Z125 Factory
RPG-7(B-41 in Vietnam)		Rocket-propelled grenade	40mm HEAT
			45mm
MATADOR		Anti-armour	90mm anti-armour		Used by Naval Infantry Force.

Vehicles

Vehicle	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Tanks
Type 63 (tank)		Amphibious light tank
PT-76		Amphibious Light tank
T-34		Medium tank			Coastal and islands defences.
SU-100		100mm tank destroyer		Unknown	Used by coastal defence forces of PNVN.^[34]
Armoured personnel carriers
BTR-60		Wheeled armoured personnel carrier
Transport
PTS-M		Tracked amphibious transport

Artillery

Model	Image	Type	Variants	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Rocket / Missile Artillery
ACCULAR		122–160 mm rocket artillery			unknown	Used for coastal defence.^[35]
EXTRA		306mm rocket artillery			20	150 km range, used for coastal defence.^[36]
Onyx		Anti-ship missile	SS-N-26 Yakhont		10 launcher 40 missiles	Finished negotiation for technological transferring programme. Two K-300P Bastion-P systems in active.
P-5 Pyatyorka		Cruise missile	SS-N-3 Shaddock		unknown	Active duty. Already self-produced by Vietnam.
P-15 Termit		Anti-ship missile	SS-N-2 Styx		20	Active duty. Equipped in Tarantul class ships. Some have been replaced by Kh-35.
Coastal Artillery
SPG-9		73mm Recoilless gun			unknown
B-10		82mm Recoilless Rifle			unknown
B-11		107mm Recoilless Rifle			unknown
D-20		152mm Towed Howitzer			unknown
D-30		112mm Howitzer			unknown
D-44		85mm Field gun			unknown
M-46		130mm Field gun			unknown
SU-100		100mm tank destroyer			Unknown	Used by coastal defence force.

Former

!Class!Image!Type!Ships!Origin!Quantity!Notes

Komar		Missile boat				Discontinued in the 1980s
Shantou		Gunboat				Used in Gulf of Tonkin incident
P-6 class torpedo boat		Torpedo boat	T-333, T-336, T-339	China	3	Used in Vietnam War
Barnegat		Patrol boat	01 (ex-Absecon)		1	Captured in 1975.The ship was decommissioned in the 2000s, and the entire system was dismantled.^[37]
Edsall class		Destroyer Escort	03 ex-Forster		1	Captured during Vietnam War CCB.
Yugo		Midget submarine		North Korea	2	Decommissioned in 2012
Point		Patrol boat			1	Captured in 1975.Scrapped in Ho Chi Minh City, 1987.
Shershen		Torpedo boat		Soviet Union	16	5 decommissioned in 2000s7 transferred to Vietnam Coast Guard

Procurement

As the Vietnam People's Navy is responsible for protecting the nation's sovereignty and economic activities at sea, as well to repulse unauthorised foreign vessels intruding into Vietnamese waters, Vietnam's policy has considered the modernisation of the Navy a priority task in the overall military modernisation plan. As stated on 5 August 2011 by Minister of Defence Phùng Quang Thanh:

• Frigates and corvettes: Two s were laid down in 2011 by the Zelenodolsk shipyard in Russia, named 011 Dinh Tien Hoang and 012 Lý Thái Tổ, and two more were ordered. A contract was made in 2011 with Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands to build two s in the Netherlands and two more in Vietnam.^[38] The Vietnam People's Navy has itself built six s (Molniya class) with Russian supervision and has designed and built the first warships of the TT-400TP gunboat class.^[39] Vietnam also purchased two Pohang-class corvettes were purchased from South Korea, one in 2017 and one in 2018. Additionally, India donated one Khukri-class corvette in 2023.^[40]
• Submarines: Vietnam deployed its first submarine flotilla, Flotilla 182, on 1 June 1982. This flotilla was trained in Cam Ranh Bay under the guidance of Soviet submarine officers and used North Korea's . In April 2011, Vietnam ordered six s worth about 1.8 billion dollars, said to be the entire defence budget of Vietnam in 2009. With six submarines, the first to be delivered in 2012 and the last one to be delivered by 2016, Vietnam will own the largest and most modern submarines in Southeast Asia.^[41]
• Offshore patrol vessel: When Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng visited India in October 2014 it was announced that India will supply 4 naval vessels to Vietnam, and quickly operationalise a $100 million line of credit which will allow Vietnam to purchase new vessels from India.^[42]
• Naval air force: The Vietnam People's Navy prepared to build the Naval Air Force to increase the capacity of coastal defence. On 27 February 2010, the Vietnamese People's Army General Staff decided to build and make the 954th Naval Air Force Regiment a regular member of the Vietnamese Navy. Vietnam has purchased three CASA C-212 Aviocar Series 400 aircraft. The aircraft are equipped with MSS 6000 radar and the Naval Air Force will use them for general patrol purposes. Vietnamese Navy received two Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma to offshore patrol and search and rescue missions.^[43] Viking Air Company of Canada contracted to sell to Vietnam six Seaplane DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft from 2012 to 2014. While eight Kamov Ka-28 helicopters also transferred to the naval air force.^[44]
• Coastal defence missile force: Vietnam People's Navy is building a coastal defence missile force (the 679th Coastal Missile Regiment) to become a core force in its maritime security strategy, with Russian and Indian missile systems. The Vietnamese Navy has already produced for itself the P-5 Pyatyorka/Shaddock anti-ship missile, with a range of 550 km. Vietnam was the only customer to which the Soviet Union exported this missile system. The then Russia delivered two K-300P Bastion-P coastal defence systems to Vietnam. The Bastion system uses the P-800 Oniks/Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missile, primarily used to attack targets on land and sea, has an attack range of 300 km, and can be used to protect a coastline of over 600 km.^[45] During a 2014 visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng to India, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed willingness to sell their BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles developed by the Russia-India joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to Vietnam.^[46] The Vietnamese are now starting to locally produce the anti-ship missile Kh-35 Uran-E after receiving 33 missiles in 2010.

See also

• Vietnam People's Navy

Notes and References

1. News: Japan gives Vietnam six navy ships. 2014-08-01. 2019-05-04. en-GB.
2. Web site: 5th Russian-built Kilo-class submarine arrives in Vietnam. Alexander Korablinov. Russia Beyond the Headlines. 9 February 2016. 30 April 2016.
3. Web site: Vietnamese Navy Gepard frigates. The 4 Gepard frigates are the most… by China_SCS_Info Indo-Pacific Geomill Medium. 15 March 2022.
4. Web site: Trí Đường . Tàu chiến săn ngầm Việt Nam: 50 năm vẫn chạy tốt! . Tienphong.vn . 2020-02-26 . 2022-03-17.
5. Web site: Based on photos posted in ASEAN... – MaxDefense Philippines | Facebook . M.facebook.com . 2017-06-07 . 2022-03-17.
6. News: In a first, India gifts active warship INS Kirpan to Vietnam.
7. Web site: VISIT OF ADM R HARI KUMAR, CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF, TO VIETNAM. PIB. 2023-07-21.
8. Web site: VISIT OF ADM R HARI KUMAR, CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF, TO VIETNAM . 2023-07-24 . pib.gov.in.
9. Web site: VnExpress. 200 thiết bị quân sự Việt Nam sản xuất được giới thiệu ở Army Games. 2022-01-03. vnexpress.net. vi.
10. Web site: Việt Nam đóng thêm 4 tàu tên lửa Molniya với vũ khí mới. Vietnamese. VTC News. 30 June 2015. 30 April 2016.
11. Web site: SIPRI arms transfer database. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 6 November 2013. 29 April 2016.
12. Web site: 2020-07-24. Điểm lại những vũ khí Nga giúp nâng tầm quân đội Việt Nam gần đây. 2020-08-12. Kienthuc.net.vn.
13. Web site: Vietnam launches new submarine rescue vessel . . 2019-12-06 . asiapacificdefensejournal.com . 2020-09-02 .
14. Web site: Maritime. Baird. 2021-06-23. VESSEL REVIEW Highly versatile, deep-diving submarine rescue vehicle for Vietnam People's Navy. 2021-07-06. Baird Maritime. en-US.
15. Web site: Work Class ROVs. 2021-08-17. Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.. en-US.
16. Web site: 2019. Perry® XLX-C. Forum Energy Technologies.
17. Web site: wade. 2020-06-17. Forum's XLX-C ROV Successfully Completes Sea Trials for Vietnam Navy. 2021-07-31. Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.. en-US.
18. Web site: 2021-07-27. Lữ đoàn 127 đón Tàu 924 về đơn vị an toàn. 2021-08-16. Báo Hải Quân Việt Nam. en.
19. Web site: World Air Forces 2024. FlightGlobal. 2023. 9 January 2024.
20. Web site: These US partners in the Asia-Pacific are to receive ScanEagle drones. Yeo. Mike. 2019-06-06. Defense News. en-US. 2019-06-11.
21. Web site: 2020-05-28 . Vietnam unveils its new VCM-01 anti-ship cruise missile . 2023-09-20 . Navy Naval News Navy Recognition . en-gb.
22. Web site: Thống kê hợp đồng mua sắm đạn dược của Việt Nam. Vietnamese. Soha News. 9 June 2013. 29 April 2016.
23. Web site: Theo Quân đội Nhân dân . Trang bị mới của Hải quân Đánh bộ Việt Nam | Vũ khí | trithuccuocsong.vn . Kienthuc.net.vn . 2022-03-17.
24. Web site: Mũ chống đạn của Quân đội Việt Nam chịu được đạn 9mm. 2019-04-16. netnews.vn.
25. Web site: VCCorp.vn. Tìm hiểu các loại mũ sắt, mũ chống đạn của QĐNDVN. 2019-04-16. soha.vn. vi.
26. Web site: tintucvietnam.vn. 2018-03-04. Tìm hiểu về quân phục ngụy trang của quân đội Việt Nam (phần 2). 2019-04-16. Tin tức Việt Nam – Cập nhật tin tức trong nước hôm nay. vietnamese.
27. Web site: quan-phuc-nguy-trang-ky-thuat-so-cua-viet-nam-co-nhung-uu-diem-nao. 2019-04-17. baomoi.com.
28. Web site: Sức mạnh dàn súng Việt Nam tự sản xuất. baodatviet.vn. 2019-05-04.
29. Web site: K14-VN Pistol. 2015-12-19. Modern Firearms. en. 2019-05-04.
30. Web site: Israel's defense industry targets Vietnam. Yuval Azulai. Globes. 18 July 2012. 25 April 2016.
31. Web site: Israel Weapon Industries to begin assault rifle production in Vietnam. Jon Grevatt. IHS Jane’s 360. 3 February 2014. 25 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20140307055558/http://www.janes.com/article/33334/israel-weapon-industries-to-begin-assault-rifle-production-in-vietnam. 7 March 2014. dead.
32. Web site: IWI To Produce Weapons in Vietnam. Steve Johnson. 5 June 2013. The Firearm Blog. 29 April 2016.
33. Web site: 2017-08-17. Vietnam Begins Manufacture of 12.7mm KSVK, Expands Capabilities -. 2021-02-07. The Firearm Blog. en-US.
34. Web site: 28 September 2015. Báo Tây quan tâm "sát thủ diệt tăng" SU-100 của VN. kienthuc.net.vn.
35. Web site: VietDefense. 2020-10-03. Facebook. en.
36. http://www.armyrecognition.com/february_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/israel_has_delivered_20_extra_surface-to-surface_guided_rockets_to_vietnam_for_coastal_defence_12602166.html Israel has delivered 20 EXTRA surface-to-surface guided rockets to Vietnam for coastal defence
37. View the annual editions of Jane's Vessel Fighting since 1976 to keep track of the status of PRVSN Phạm Ngũ Lão (HQ-01) in the Vietnam People's Navy as it is best understood in the West.
38. Web site: Vietnam Negotiate Buying four Sigma Corvettes from the Netherlands. Tamir Eshel. Defense Update. 23 October 2011. 29 April 2016.
39. Web site: TT400TP – Tàu chiến "made in Việt Nam". Vietnamese. An ninh Thủ đô. 3 October 2011. 29 April 2016.
40. News: In a first, India gifts active warship INS Kirpan to Vietnam.
41. Web site: Hanoi to Purchase Six Kilo Class Russian Submarines. Naval Today. 13 June 2011. 29 April 2016.
42. Web site: India to supply Vietnam with naval vessels amid China disputes. Sanjeev Miglani. Sui-Lee Wee. Nick Macfie. Reuters. 28 October 2014. 29 April 2016.
43. Web site: Vietnam Navy receives transport choppers. Vietnamese. Tuổi Trẻ. 25 December 2011. 29 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20120106012041/http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/politics/vietnam-navy-receives-transport-choppers-1.55985. 6 January 2012 . dead.
44. Web site: VN sẽ có không lực thuộc hải quân. Vietnamese. BBC News. 15 September 2009. 29 April 2016.
45. Web site: Vietnam; Navy incepts Yakhont coastal missile . Defence Marketing Intelligence . 24 October 2011 . 29 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120424124334/http://dmilt.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2432%3Avietnam-navy-incepts-yakhont-coastal-missile&catid=3%3Aasia&Itemid=56 . 24 April 2012 . dead .
46. Web site: India ignores China's frown, offers defence boost to Vietnam. Indrani Bagchi. The Times of India. 29 October 2014. 29 April 2016.