Chilean Navy Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Chilean Navy ''Armada de Chile''
Coat of arms of the Chilean Navy
Active	1817-present
Country	Chile
Size	25,000 personnel 71 vessels 8 frigates 4 submarines 4 amphibious warfare ship 7 fast attack craft 8 patrol boat 39 auxiliary ship
Motto(s)	Vencer o Morir ("Conquer or Die")
Anniversaries	21 May, Día de las Glorias Navales (Navy Day)
Engagements	Chilean War of Independence (1810–1826) Peruvian War of Independence (1811–1824) War of the Confederation (1836–1839) Chincha Islands War (1864–1866) War of the Pacific (1879–1883) Chilean Civil War (1891)
Commanders
Current commander	Edmundo González Robles
Notable commanders	Lord Thomas Cochrane Manuel Blanco Encalada Juan José Latorre Arturo Prat Jorge Montt Juan Williams Rebolledo
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack
Roundel of Naval Aviation

The Chilean Navy is the part of the Chilean Armed Forces that protects the country's waters. It is a very important part of Chile's defense.

History of the Chilean Navy
Chilean Marines: Land and Sea Force
The Chilean Navy Today
Navy Ships and Vessels
Related pages
Images for kids
See also

History of the Chilean Navy

The Chilean Navy started in 1817. After a big victory on land, General Bernardo O'Higgins said that controlling the sea was key for Chile's freedom.

This idea led to the creation of the navy. The first rules for how the navy would work were then made.

Chilean Marines: Land and Sea Force

Chilean Navy special forces sailors using an MP5N.

The Chilean Marines are also known as the Infanteria de Marina de Chile. They are a special force within the Chilean Navy. Their job is to carry out attacks both on land and from the sea.

There are about 5,000 Marines. They have special training and modern equipment to do their important work.

The Chilean Navy Today

Today, the Chilean Navy has about 25,000 people. This includes 5,200 Marines. Admiral Enrique Larrañaga Martin was in charge in 2013.

The navy has 66 ships, and this number is growing to 74. Twenty-one of these are large warships. Most of these ships are based in Valparaíso. The navy also has its own planes for transport and patrols. They do not have fighter or bomber planes.

The navy also uses four submarines and a special ship that helps them. These are all based in Talcahuano. Many experts believe the Chilean Navy is one of the best and most skilled navies in the Americas. It works closely with other strong navies, like the British Royal Navy.

Navy Ships and Vessels

The Chilean Navy has many different types of ships. Each ship has a special job to do.

Submarines: Silent Hunters

Submarines are special ships that can travel underwater. They are used for secret missions and to watch for other ships.

Type of Submarine	Names of Vessels	Built In	Notes
Submarines
Type 209 - 1400L	SS-20 Thomson SS-21 Simpson	Germany	These submarines were updated in 2009. They can now launch special missiles.
Scorpène-class submarine	SS-23 O'Higgins SS-22 Carrera	Spain France

Frigates: Versatile Warships

Frigates are medium-sized warships. They are used for many different tasks, like protecting other ships and hunting submarines.

Type of Frigate	Names of Vessels	Built In	Photos
Surface Warships
Type 23	Almirante Cochrane (ex-Norfolk)	United Kingdom	Hunting Submarines
	Almirante Lynch (ex-Grafton)
	Almirante Condell (ex-Marlborough)
Type 22	Almirante Williams (ex-Sheffield)	United Kingdom	General Purpose	This ship was modernized in Chile.
M-class	Almirante Blanco Encalada (ex-Abraham van der Hulst)	Netherlands	General Purpose
M-class	Almirante Riveros (ex-Tjerk Hiddes)	Netherlands	General Purpose
L-class	Almirante Latorre (ex-Jacob van Heemskerck)	Netherlands	Air Defense
L-class	Capitán Prat (ex-Witte de With)	Netherlands	Air Defense

Fast Attack Craft: Quick and Agile

These are smaller, very fast ships. They are designed to attack quickly, often with missiles.

Type of Craft	Names of Vessels	Built In	Photos	Notes
Fast Attack Craft
Sa'ar 4-class missile boat	(LM-32) Chipana (LM-31) Casma (LM-34) Angamos	Israel		Used by the Northern Command.

Replenishment Vessels: Supplying the Fleet

These ships carry fuel, food, and other supplies. They help other navy ships stay at sea for longer periods.

Type of Vessel	Name of Vessel	Built In
Supply Ships
Henry J. Kaiser-class oiler	AO-52 Almirante Montt (ex-Andrew J. Higgins)	United States
Araucano	AO-53 Araucano	Sweden

Amphibious Warfare Ships: Landing Troops

These ships are designed to carry and land troops and equipment on beaches. They are important for marine operations.

Type of Ship	Name of Vessel	Built In
Amphibious Ships
Foudre class	LSDH-91 Sargento Aldea (ex-Foudre)	France
Aquiles	AP-41	Chile
Rancagua Chacabuco	LST-92 LST-95	Chile

Patrol Boats: Guarding the Coasts

Patrol boats are smaller ships used to guard the coast, stop illegal activities, and help with search and rescue.

Type of Boat	Names of Vessels	Built In
Patrol Boats
Patrulleros de Zona Marítima PZM	(OPV-81) Piloto Pardo (OPV-82) Comandante Toro (OPV-83) Marinero Fuentealba (OPV-84) Cabo Odger.	Chile
Patrullero Clase "Taitao"	(PSG-71) Micalvi (PSG-72) Ortiz (PSG-73) Isaza (PSG-78) Sibbald (PSH-77) Cabrales (PMD-74) Cirujano Videla	Chile
Grumete-class patrol boats	(LPC-1814) Díaz (LPC-1815) Bolados (LPC-1816) Salinas (LPC-1817) Téllez (LPC-1818) Bravo (LPC-1820) Machado (LPC-1822) Troncoso (LPC-1823) Hudson	Israel

Military of Chile

Images for kids

The Chilean Squadron sails off for Perú.
Chilean Navy officer's uniform, around 1890.
The Chilean Air Force bombs the Chilean Fleet at the port of Coquimbo during the Chilean naval mutiny of 1931. (This photo might be faked).
A Sa'ar 4 type ship of the Chilean Navy.
Amphibious landing ship Foudre.
The Naval Battle of Iquique, showing Esmeralda versus Huascar.
The Battleship Almirante Latorre.
The submarine Simpson (SS-21) entering Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 2004.
The Capitan Prat on the North Sea.
A Chilean Navy Cougar helicopter.
The Chilean frigate Almirante Blanco Encalada at Pearl Harbor, 2006.
The Chilean training ship Esmeralda in Charlottetown.
Headquarters of the Chilean Navy, in Valparaíso.