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Brazilian Navy
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The Brazilian Navy is the navy of Brazil and forms part of the Brazilian Armed Forces. 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).
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Encyclopedia
The Brazilian Navy is the navy of Brazil and forms part of the Brazilian Armed Forces. 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 the Naval Aviation arm, with about 1,150 members. Overall there are 60,000 members in the Brazilian Navy.
Brazil has committed nearly US$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.
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 fight 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, France and of the imperial Arsenal of the Navy in Rio de Janeiro.
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. The aircraft carrier Minas Gerais, served the Navy until its decommission in the year 2001.
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.
Comparison chart
Naval fleet
The Brazilian Navy has 95 ships in commission, and others in construction, process of acquisition, and modernization in 2007. Between 1996 and 2005 the Navy retired 21 ships. The Brazilian Navy operates one aircraft carrier, NAe São Paulo which was the former French Aircraft carrier Foch. A-4 Skyhawks operate from São Paulo.
Brazilian Navy operates the Type 209 submarines. The four Tupi class submarines will be upgraded by Lockheed Martin at a cost of 35 million dollars. The modernization includes the replacement of existing torpedoes with new MK 48 torpedoes. Brazil plans to build a nuclear submarine and has sought international partnership. Negotiations are going on with the U.S., France, India, Russia and the U.K.
On August 2008 the Navy incorporated the Corvette Barroso, it was designed and built in Brazil at a cost of $263 million.
Below is a list of the combat ships of the Brazilian Navy, note that they may not be ready for duty:
Aircraft inventory
The Naval Aviation arm of the Navy operates 111 aircraft in 2007, with all but the A-4 Skyhawks being helicopters
See also
External links
Videos
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