Brazilian Navy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Brazilian Navy (Portuguese: Marinha do Brasil) is the navy of Brazil. It is the largest navy in Latin America, with a 27,307-ton aircraft carrier, the NAe São Paulo (formerly FS Foch of the French Navy), some American and British-built frigates, a few locally-built corvettes, coastal diesel-electric submarines and many other river and coastal patrol craft.

The Brazilian Navy also includes the Brazilian Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais). The Marine Corps is composed of an operational brigade and some guard and ceremonial duty battalions. All told, the Brazilian Marine Corps numbers about 14,600 Marines (2004). There is also a naval aviation arm, with about 1,150 members (2004). Of about 48,600 members of the Brazilian Navy, about 3,200 are conscripts (2004).

Brazil has committed nearly USD$500 million towards the goal of producing an indigenous nuclear propulsion system for submarines over the next eight years. This project is managed by the Brazilian Navy.^[1]

[edit] History

A navy was assembled immediately after Pedro I of Brazil declared independence from Portugal in September 1822. These naval forces were then used in the Brazilian War of Independence, which had begun a year earlier. The navy would later figure in the Cisplatine War; the River Plate conflicts; the Paraguayan War; both World War I and World War II; and in the sporadic civil conflicts that would mark Brazil's history.

In the initial decades following independence, the country had maintained a modest naval presence. In 1860, the fleet consisted of eight paddle steamers, seven screw sloops, six frigates and corvettes, and 14 smaller vessels. During the Paraguayan War, several ironclads were purchased from the United Kingdom and France.

After the losses of the 1893 naval rebellion, very little naval expansion occurred until the 1905 naval program was initiated. It was then that Brazil acquired two of the most powerful and advanced dreadnoughts of the day. These vessels, of the Minas Gerais class, were the last battleships of the Brazilian Navy.

[edit] Mission

In addition to the roles of a traditional navy, the Brazilian Navy also carries out the role of organizing the Merchant Navy and other operational safety missions traditionally conducted by a coast guard. Other roles include:

• Providing riverine and brown water security;
• Contribute to the formulation and conduction of country-wide sea policies;
• Implement sea-related laws and regulations and inspect their fulfillment in the sea and in the inland waters.

[edit] Comparison chart

[edit] Naval fleet

The Brazilian Navy has 89 ships in commission, and others in construction, process of acquisition, and modernization in 2007.

[edit] Aircraft inventory

The Navy operates 94 aircraft in 2007, with all but the A-4 Skyhawks being helicopters.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

• Brazilian Army
• Brazilian Air Force
• Military history of Brazil
• Military ranks of Brazil
• Brazil and weapons of mass destruction

[edit] External links

• Official website (Portuguese)
• Brazilian Fighting Ships(Portuguese)
• Global Security profile
• History of World's Navy's - Ships of the Brazilian Navy
• History of VF-1 "Falcões" (Hawks) in the Brazilian Navy
• Brazilian naval flags
• Base Militar Web Magazine's Brazilian military aircraft data base
• Military Orders and Medals from Brazil (Portuguese)
• Poder Naval OnLine - warships, naval aviation and related information
• Hazegray - World Navies Today (outdated)
• Battleships
• Carriers

cs:Brazilské námořnictvo es:Marina de Brasil eo:Brazila Mararmeo it:Marina del Brasile he:חיל הים הברזילאי pt:Marinha do Brasil