| Unit Name: | Mexican Navy |
| Country: | Mexico |
| Type: | Navy |
| Role: | Naval warfare |
| Size: | 87,556 personnel (2024) |
| Command Structure: | Secretariat of the Marines |
| Current Commander: | Admiral José Rafael Ojeda Durán |
| Battles: |
|
| Anniversaries: | June 1, National Navy Day[1] |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Naval jack |
The Mexican Navy is one of the two independent armed forces of Mexico. The actual naval forces are called the Armada de México. The Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR) (English: Naval Secretariat) includes both the Armada itself and the attached ministerial and civil service. The commander of the Navy is the Secretary of the Navy, who is both a cabinet minister and a career naval officer.
The Mexican Navy's stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for external defense, and to help with internal order".[2] As of 2020, the Navy consisted of about 68,200 men and women plus reserves,[3] over 189 ships, and about 130 aircraft.[4] [5] The Navy attempts to maintain a constant modernization program to upgrade its response capability.
Given Mexico's large area of water (3149920km2) and extensive coastline (11122km (6,911miles)), the Navy's duties are of great importance. Perhaps its most important on-going missions are fighting the Mexican drug war, which includes protecting Pemex's oil wells in Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico. Another important task of the Mexican Navy is to help people in hurricane relief operations and other natural disasters.
The Mexican navy is the second largest navy in Latin America and North America, and the third largest in the Americas after the United States and Brazil.
The Mexican Navy has its origins in the creation of the Ministry of War in 1821. From that year until 1939 it existed jointly with the Mexican Army in the organic ministry. Since its declaration of independence from Spain in September 1810, through the mid decades of the 19th century, Mexico found itself in a constant state of war, mostly against Spain which had not recognized its independence. Therefore, its priority was to purchase its first fleet from the U.S. to displace the last remaining Spanish forces from its coasts.[6]
The Mexican Navy has participated in many naval battles to protect and defend Mexico's interests. Some of the most important battles were:
The first French intervention in Mexico (The 'Pastry War') (November 1838 – March 1839)
Second invasion by the United States (April 9, 1914 – November 23, 1914)
The President of Mexico is commander in chief of all military forces. Day-to-day control of the Navy lies with the Navy Secretary, José Rafael Ojeda Durán.[7] In Mexico there is no joint force command structure with the army, so the Secretary reports directly to the President. The Navy has a General Headquarters and three naval forces. There are furthermore eight regions (four on the Pacific coast, three on the Mexican Gulf coast and the Región Naval Central, grouping the naval forces, based in and around the capital Mexico City, such as the 7th Naval Infantry Brigade, the Central Special Operations Group and the Air Transport Squadron), thirteen zones, and fourteen naval sectors.
The Navy is divided into three main services designated as "forces":
Other notable services include:
Officers are trained at the Mexican Naval Academy, called the "Heroica Escuela Naval Militar" ("Heroic Military Naval School"), located in Antón Lizardo, Veracruz.
See main article: Mexican Naval Infantry.
The Mexican Naval Infantry Corps was reorganized in 2007–2009 into 30 Naval Infantry Battalions (Batallones de Infantería de Marina – BIM), a paratroop battalion, a battalion attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade, two Fast Reaction Forces with six battalions each, and three Special Forces groups.[8] The Naval Infantry are responsible for port security, protection of the ten-kilometer coastal fringe, and patrolling major waterways.
The Naval Infantry also is responsible for 23 National Service Training Units under the responsibility of the Navy Secretary, enforcing the National Service obligation for Mexicans of teenage and young adult age.
See main article: Mexican Naval Aviation.
See main article: Maritime Search and Rescue (Mexico). In 2008, the Mexican Navy created its new search and rescue system, allocated in strategic ports at Pacific and Gulf of Mexico ports,to provide assistance to any ships which are in jeopardy or at risk due to mechanical failure, weather conditions or life risk to the crew. To provide such support, the Navy has ordered Coast Guard Defender class ships (two per station, and one 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat coast guard vessel). Other stations will be provided only with s.[9]
On April 1, 2014, SEMAR officially announced the creation of Port Protection Naval Units (Unidades Navales de Protección Portuaria: UNAPROP) which will include a marine section.[10] [11] The main task of UNAPROPs is to ensure maritime surveillance and inspection.[12]
The Navy offers several options for graduate studies in their educational institutions:
See main article: Naval ranks and insignia of Mexico.
The annual Navy's budget is in a one to three proportion of the national budget relative to the Mexican Army and Mexican Air Force. The Navy has a reputation for being well-run and well-organized. This reputation allows for a close relationship with the United States Navy (USN), as evidenced by the procurement of numerous former USN ships.
The Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Mariano Francisco Saynez Mendoza, announced on October 1, 2007, detailed plans to upgrade and modernize the country's naval capabilities. On the following day, La Jornada newspaper from Mexico City, disclosed the Mexican Navy plans, which are among others, to build six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) with a length of 86m (282feet), 1,680 tons and each housing a Eurocopter Panther helicopter as well as small high-speed interception boats. The budget for this project is above US$200 million.
Another project is to build 12 CB 90 HMN high speed (50kn) interception boats under license from a Swedish boat company Dockstavarvet to the Mexican Navy. Also, a number of fully equipped planes for surveillance and maritime patrol are being considered. Combinations of options and development are being defined.
See main article: Secretary of The Navy Shipyards. The Mexican Navy depends upon their naval shipyards for construction and repairs of their ships. There are five shipyards located in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean:
The Mexican Navy initiated studies to develop and construct its first missile, according to a May 2005 interview with the undersecretary of the Navy, Armando Sanchez, the missile was to have an average range of 12to and be able to target enemy ships and aircraft. The undersecretary added that they already had the solid propellant, and the basic design of the missile. All aspects relative to their fuselage were solved as well as the launch platforms. The Mexican Navy was developing the software to direct the missile to its target. In July 2008, the project was reported to be 80% complete. Despite this effort, the missile development was canceled in 2009 due to "problems with the propulsion system".[14]
In 2009, the Mexican Navy began operating a batch of new MPQ-64 Sentinel radars in the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico. The radar network was installed in 2007 for a trial phase while military personnel were trained to get familiar with the system. The new installations will work together with combat surface vessels that patrol the area.[15] [16]
See main article: List of Mexican Navy ships.
| Class | Image | Type | Ships | Origin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frigates (5) | |||||
| United States – ex-US Navy | |||||
| Reformador class[17] | Multipurpose Frigate | F101 Benito Juárez[18] | Netherlands/Mexico – Ships being built in The Netherlands and Mexico. At least 8 ships planned for fleet modernisation plan. | ||
| Missile boats (2) | |||||
| A301 A302 | Israel – ex-Israeli Navy | ||||
| Patrol vessel and other Warships (35) | |||||
| Offshore patrol vessels | P161 P162 P163 Independencia P164 Revolución P165 Chiapas[19] P166 Hidalgo P167 Jalisco[20] P168 Tabasco | Mexico | |||
| Offshore Patrol Vessel | P151 P152 P153 P154 | Mexico | |||
| P141 Sierra P143 Prieto P144 | Mexico | ||||
| Offshore patrol vessels | P131 Holzinger P132 Godínez P133 De la Vega P134 Berriozabal | Mexico | |||
| Offshore patrol vessels | P122 Azueta P123 Baranda P124 Bretón P125 Blanco P126 Monasterio | Spain | |||
| Converted Minesweeper / Offshore patrol vessels | P102 Juan de la Barrera P103 Mariano Escobedo P104 Manuel Doblado P106 Santos Degollado P108 Juan N. Álvarez P109 Manuel Gutiérrez Zamora P110 Valentín Gómez Farías P112 Francisco Zarco P113 Ignacio L. Vallarta P114 Jesús González Ortega P117 Mariano Matamoros | United States – ex- | |||
| Coastal patrol ships (44) | |||||
| [21] [22] | Coastal patrol | PC331 PC332 PC333 ARM Palenque PC334 ARM Mitla PC335 ARM Uxmal PC336 ARM Tajin[23] PC337 ARM Tulum[24] PC338 ARM Monte Albán PC339 ARM Bonampak[25] PC340 Chichen Iztzá | Netherlands/Mexico Based on Damen Stan Patrol 4207 | ||
| Coastal patrol | PC202 Cordova PC206 Rayón PC207 Rejón PC208 De la Fuente PC209 Guzmán PC210 Ramírez PC211 Mariscal PC212 Jara PC214 Colima PC215 Lizardi PC216 Mugica PC218 Velazco PC220 Macías PC223 Tamaulipas PC224 Yucatán PC225 Tabasco PC226 Cochimie PC228 Puebla PC230 Vicario PC231 Ortíz | United Kingdom Mexico | |||
| Coastal patrol | PC241 Demócrata PC242 Francisco I. Madero | Mexico | |||
| Coastal patrol | PC271 Corriente PC272 Corso PC273 Catoche | Mexico | |||
| Coastal patrol | PC-281 Morro PC-282 Mastún | Mexico | |||
| Interceptors | |||||
| Small Patrol vessel | 44 In service | Sweden | |||
| Small Patrol vessel | 6 In service + 17 under construction | Mexico | |||
| Acuario A/B class | Patrol vessel | In service | Mexico | ||
| Isla class | In service | Mexico | |||
| Amphibious ships (3) | |||||
| United States – ex-USN | |||||
| Tank landing ship | United States – ex-US Navy USS Clearwater County, transferred in 1972 | ||||
| Logistic support vessel (2) | |||||
| Landing ship | BAL01 Montes Azules BAL02 Libertador (construction completed, inaugurated on September 10, 2012)[26] | Mexico | |||
| TBD class | Supply ship | BAL11 Isla Madre Launched July 11, 2016.[27] | Netherlands Based on Damen Stan 5009 Fast Crew Supplier | ||
| Mine counter-measure (6) | |||||
| Banderas Magdalena Kino Yavaros Chamela Tepoca | United States | ||||
| Auxiliary vessels | |||||
| Huasteco class | Multipurpose logistics vessel | AMP01 Huasteco AMP02 Zapoteco | Mexico | ||
| Maya class | Multipurpose | ATR01 Maya ATR02 Tarasco | Mexico | ||
| B.E.Cuauhtémoc class | Three-masted barque sail training ship | BE01 | Spain | ||
The Mexican Navy includes 60 smaller patrol boats and 32 auxiliary ships. It acquired 40 fast military assault crafts, designated CB 90 HMN, between 1999 and 2001 and obtained a production license in 2002, enabling further units to be manufactured in Mexico.
| Vehicle/System | Type | Versions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armoured Vehicles | |||||
| APC-70 | |||||
| Wolverine (Escorpion) | |||||
| Renault Sherpa Light[28] | Light Armored Vehicle | MACK Sherpa Scout | |||
| Land Rover | Military light utility vehicle | Defender 4x4 | |||
| Infantry Transport Vehicles | |||||
| AM General HMMWV[29] [30] | M1026, M1038, M1151 | ||||
| Ford-150[31] | 4x4 F-150 series pick up | ||||
| Pickup truck | 4x4 F-250 series pick up | ||||
| Dodge Ram[32] | Pickup truck | 4x4 Pick up | |||
| Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen[33] [34] | Military light utility vehicle | 4x4 G-class | |||
| Trucks | |||||
| 6x6 truck | |||||
| Ural-4320[35] | Military truck | Off-road 6x6 truck | |||
| Unimog U-4000[36] [37] | Military truck | 4x4 truck | |||
| Amphibious 6-wheeled vehicle | 6x6 truck | ||||
| Freightliner M2[38] | 4x2 truck | ||||
| Name | Versions | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 5.56×45mm NATO | Assault rifle | |
| 5.56×45mm NATO | Carbine | |
| 5.56×45mm NATO | Assault rifle | |
| 9×19mm | Submachine gun | |
| .45 ACP | Submachine gun | |
| 5.7×28mm | Submachine gun | |
| .45 ACP | Semi-automatic pistol | |
| 9×19mm Parabellum | Pistol | |
| 9×19mm Parabellum | Semi-automatic pistol | |
| 5.7×28mm | Semi-automatic pistol | |
| 7.62×51mm NATO | Sniper rifle | |
| .50 BMG | Anti-material rifle | |
| 7.62×51mm NATO | Sniper rifle | |
| 5.56×45mm NATO | Light machine gun | |
| CETME Ameli[39] | 5.56×45mm NATO | Light machine gun |
| 12.7×99mm NATO | Rotary machinegun | |
| 12.7×99mm NATO | Heavy machine gun | |
| 7.62×51mm NATO | Rotary machinegun | |
| 40mm | Automatic grenade launcher | |
| 40mm | Grenade launcher | |
| 40mm | Grenade launcher | |
| 12 | Semi-automatic shotgun | |
| Name | Versions | Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-propelled artillery | ||||
| 40mm | Anti-aircraft autocannon | |||
| 20mm | Anti-aircraft autocannon | |||
| Shipboard anti-aircraft artillery | ||||
| 20mm | Close in Weapon System | |||
| Multiple rocket launchers | ||||
| 122mm | multiple rocket launcher | |||
| Towed artillery | ||||
| 105mm | Towed howitzer | |||
| K6 | 120mm | Heavy mortar | ||
| M29 | 81mm | Medium mortar | ||
| Brandt LR | 60mm | Light mortar | ||
| Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60 | 40mm | Towed anti-aircraft autocannon | ||
| Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70 | 40mm | Towed anti-aircraft autocannon | ||
| Oerlikon | 20mm | Towed anti-aircraft autocannon | ||
| Anti-shipping missiles | ||||
| Mk. II | Anti-ship missile | |||
| Block II | Anti-ship missile | |||
| Anti-aircraft missiles | ||||
| 72.2mm | Surface-to-air missile | |||
| RIM-116[40] | RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) | Surface-to-air missile | ||
| RIM-162[41] | RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) | Surface-to-air missile | ||
| Light anti-tank weapons | ||||
| Anti-tank weapon | 68mm | |||
| Rocket-propelled grenade | 82mm | |||
For the year 2008 budget, the Mexican Congress approved a US$15 million fund to build only 17 out of the 60 combat boats requested. These ships, designated CB 90 HMN, are to increase the Mexican Navy's fast boat fleet. Additional budgets will be awarded each passing year.[42] In total, the Mexican Navy has over 189 operational ships.
In January 2013, the 112th Session of US Congress authorized the transfer of the s and to the Mexican Navy,[43] but due to the cost of overhauling the vessels and the removal of all the weapons systems and most of the electronics and radar gear by the USN prior to transfer, this is still undecided by Mexico. The offer expired on January 1, 2016.[43]
On March 25, 2014 Beechcraft Corporation received an order of 2 T-6C+ military trainers from the Mexican Navy.[44]
On June 24, 2014, the Mexican Government requested the purchase of 5 UH-60Ms in USG configuration from the U.S.; its estimated cost is $225 million.[45] Also on June 24, BAE Systems announced it was awarded a contract by the Mexican Government to supply the navy with 4 Mk 3 57mm naval guns, for the ships of the Reformador class.[46]
