Navy of Uruguay
| National Navy of Uruguay Armada Nacional del Uruguay |
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|---|---|
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| Active | 15 November 1817 - Present |
| Country |
 Uruguay
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| Branch | Navy |
| Role | "The National Navy, as an integral member of the Armed Forces, shares its mission to defend the Constitution and the laws of the state, its territorial integrity and the exercise of its authority and maritime police, in order to contribute to the defense of the honor, independence and peace of the Republic." |
| Size | abt. 5,700 personnel |
| Garrison/HQ | Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825, Montevideo |
| Motto(s) |
Llegar, Luchar, Vencer Siempre "To arrive. To fight. To win. Always." |
| Anniversaries | 15 November: Navy Day |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Adm. Leonardo Alonzo |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Jack |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | HC.2-Mk 2, MBB Bo-105M |
| Patrol | Beech 200T, BAe Jetstream T2 |
| Trainer | T-34C |
The National Navy of Uruguay (Armada Nacional del Uruguay) is a branch of the Armed Forces of Uruguay under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense and the commander in chief of the Navy (Comandante en Jefe de la Armada or COMAR) Admiral Juan H. Fernández.
Under the late Spanish Empire, Montevideo became the main naval base (Real Apostadero de Marina) for the South Atlantic, with authority over the Argentine coast, Fernando Po, and the Falklands. The arrival of 100 ships under Viceroy Pedro de Cevallos in 1777 was the beginning of the city's prosperity.
The Uruguayan navy, however, dates its origin from General Artigas's letter of marque on 15 November 1817, which authorized his forces to plunder Buenosairean shipping wherever they found it. Under the nominal leadership of the Pedro Campbell, the Irish "Gaucho Admiral", around 50 privateer schooners and brigs (including the República Oriental, the Fortuna, the Valiente, the Temerario, and the Intrépido) were able to capture more than 200 enemy vessels as far off as Madagascar, Spain, and the Antilles.
Following independence, a navy was established under Colonel Pablo Zufriategui, a veteran of Artigas's campaigns and the 33 Easterners. As Captain of Ports (Capitán General de Puertos), he fought smuggling and in 1832 directed the first sovereign engagement as the schooner Aguila chased off the pirate ship Exquisit from Uruguayan waters.
Although the force remained too small to play a decisive role in the Great War, it is notable that command of the small fleet was personally assumed by "Jose" Garibaldi, who captured Colonia del Sacramento, Isla Martín García, and Gualeguaychú. The flagship during this period was the corvette Sarandí, named after an important battle in the war for independence.
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Wikipedia