Tongan Maritime Force

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The Tonga Royal Navy is the naval arm of His Majesty's Armed Forces of Tonga.

Tonga Royal Navy
The Tongan patrol boat VOEA Savea underway in Sydney Harbour in 2013.
Active10 March 1973
Country Tonga
TypeNavy
RoleNaval warfare
Size140 personnel[1]
Insignia
Naval Ensign

History

The TDS was founded on 10 March 1973 by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, who also commissioned the first craft on that date.[2] The first craft was VOEA Ngahau Koula, followed by VOEA Ngahau Siliva - the names mean Golden Arrow and Silver Arrow respectively.[2] They were crewed by volunteers, but are no longer in service.[2]

List of craft

Royal yacht

Type Class Origin Displacement Name Pennant number Commissioned Homeport
  Royal yacht Titilupe Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa

Patrol Boat Flotilla

The Pacific-class patrol craft were provided to Tonga by Australia as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. The TDS' main base is Touliki Base, in Nuku'alofa.[2] As of September 2021, it has two patrol vessels:

Type Class Origin Displacement Name Pennant number Commissioned Homeport
Patrol boat Guardian class   Australia VOEA Ngahau Koula P301 2019 Nukuʻalofa
  Patrol boat Guardian class   Australia VOEA Ngahau Siliva P302 2021 Nukuʻalofa

Logistic Support Flotilla

Type Class Origin Displacement Name Pennant number Commissioned Homeport
  Landing craft mechanized LCM-8   Australia 113
tonnes
VOEA Late C315 Nukuʻalofa

Royal Tongan Marines

The Royal Tongan Marines is a single Battalion with a HQ and Support Company and 3 Light Infantry Companies, based at Fuaʻamotu.[3]

References

  1. ^ "His Majesty's Armed Forces Corporate Plan & Budget 2020–2023" (PDF). Government of Tonga. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Moore, John (1984). Jane's All The World's Fighting Ships. Jane's Publishing. p. 465. ISBN 0710607741.
  3. ^ "Tonga - His Majesty's Armed Forces". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 8 August 2024.