Khmer National Navy

Khmer National Navy Marine Nationale Khmère
Khmer National Navy jack (1970–75)
Active	9 October 1970 – 17 April 1975
Country	Cambodia
Allegiance	Khmer Republic
Branch	Naval force
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare Amphibious warfare
Size	16,500 men, 171 ships, boats and other vessels (at height in 1974)
Part of	Khmer National Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Chrui Changwar Naval Base (Main base) Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh (Headquarters)
Nickname(s)	MNK
Colours	Navy blue, Pale stone
Anniversaries	1 March – MRK Day 9 October – MNK Day
Engagements	Cambodian Civil War Vietnam War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Vong Sarendy

The Khmer National Navy (French: Marine Nationale Khmère – MNK), was the naval component of the Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK), the official military of the Khmer Republic during the Cambodian Civil War between 1970 and 1975.

The Royal Khmer Navy (French: Marine Royale Khmère – MRK) was officially established on 1 March 1954, to provide limited patrolling of Cambodia's maritime coastline and territorial waters, monitoring the security of its main deep-water ports and major waterways. The MRK was formed with an initial strength of just 600 Officers and enlisted men placed under the authority of Captain (French: Capitaine de vaisseau) Pierre Coedes, a naval officer of mixed French-Cambodian origin, who acted as Chief of Naval Operations (French: Chef des Opérations Navales). They manned a handful of WWII-vintage ex-French Navy vessels transferred to Cambodia at the end of the First Indochina War: French-made Light Patrol Boats (French: Vedettes), US-made Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) and LCM (6) Landing Crafts. Most of the MRK's naval assets and personnel, together with its administrative headquarters, were harboured at the former French colonial riverine station situated in the Chrui Chhangwar Peninsula across the Mekong River outside Phnom Penh. However, the tiny facilities proved so inadequate that the Navy HQ was allocated aboard an old French-made riverine vessel named La Payotte, permanently moored at Chrui Chhangwar base.

Closely modelled after the Naval and riverine component of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps (CEFEO), the MRK received training, technical and material assistance primarily from France and the United States. At first, the Cambodian naval service continued to expand rapidly under French auspices between 1955 and 1957 – at this stage, a French Military Mission in Cambodia helped in the renovation or construction of new harbour facilities, provided technical assistance and training programs, and supervised equipment deliveries. The MRK also began to receive additional assistance from the United States Military Assistance Advisory Group (US MAAG) aid program, established since June 1955 at Phnom Penh.