Tongan_Maritime_Force
Tongan Maritime Force
Military unit
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 (P203) underway in Sydney Harbour in 2013. | |
| Active | 10 March 1973 |
| Country |  Tonga |
| Type | Navy |
| Role | Naval warfare |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Ensign | |
_-_RAN-IFR_2013_D3_75.jpg){kind=link}
The TDS was founded on 10 March 1973 by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, who also commissioned the first craft on that date.[1] The first craft was VOEA Ngahau Koula (P101), followed by VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P102) - the names mean Golden Arrow and Silver Arrow respectively.[1] They were crewed by volunteers, but are no longer in service.[1]
- Titilupe , Touliki Base,
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.[1] As of September 2021[update], it has two Patrol vessels:
| Type | Class | Origin | Displacement | Name | Pennant number | Commissioned | Homeport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol Boat | Guardian-class patrol boat |  Australia |
VOEA Ngahau Koula | P301 | 2019 | Nukuʻalofa | ||
| Patrol Boat | Guardian-class patrol boat | Australia |
VOEA Ngahau Siliva | P302 | 2021 | Nukuʻalofa |
_at_Austal_shipyards_in_Henderson,_Western_Australia,_August_2020_01.jpg){kind=link}
| Type | Class | Origin | Displacement | Name | Pennant number | Commissioned | Homeport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landing Craft Mechanized | LCM-8 | Australia |
113 tonnes |
VOEA Late (C315) | C315 | Nukuʻalofa | ||
| Tanker |  France |
4,000 tonnes |
VOEA Lomipeau (A301) | A301 | 1995 | Nukuʻalofa |
The Royal Tongan Marines is a single Battalion with a HQ and Support Company and 3 Light Infantry Companies, based at Fuaʻamotu.
Maritime Aviation Wing based at Fuaʻamotu International Airport.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft G.18S |  USA |
Search and rescue | SNB-1 Kansan | 1 | |
| American Champion Citabria | USA |
Maritime patrol | 7KCAB | 1 | |
- Moore, John (1984). Jane's All The World's Fighting Ships. Jane's Publishing. p. 465. ISBN 0710607741.