// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy was the Tongan Maritime Force ship's captain so good at rope climbing? He had a whale of a grip.
| Tonga Royal Navy | |
|---|---|
_at_Austal_shipyards_in_Henderson,_Western_Australia,_August_2020_01.jpg) The Tongan patrol boat VOEA Ngahau Siliva P302 at Henderson, Western Australia | |
| Active | 10 August 2020 |
| Country |  Tonga |
| Branch | His Majesty's Armed Forces of Tonga |
| Type | Maritime patrol |
| Role | Maritime interdiction Visit, board, search, and seizure Maritime search and rescue Law enforcement Support amphibious landing operations |
| Size | 140 personnel[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Taniela Tuita |
| Insignia | |
| Naval ensign |  |
| Naval jack |  |
The Tongan Maritime Force is the sea arm of His Majesty's Armed Forces of Tonga. Its primary roles include maritime patrol, search and rescue, law enforcement and supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across Tonga's vast exclusive economic zone.
Tonga is an island country in Polynesia, The country is made up of 171 islands of which 45 are inhabited, Tonga was first inhabited about 400 years BC and grew into a regional power. It was a thalassocracy that conquered and controlled unprecedented swathes of the Pacific, including parts of the Solomon Islands and the whole of New Caledonia and Fiji in the west to Samoa and Niue its military history is of expeditionary warfare from the Sea, up to European discovery in 1616 and the bringing of Christianity to the Tonga Islands.
Mission
[edit]The Tongan Maritime Force's mission within HMAF is to "Defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga".
Operations
[edit]The Tongan Maritime Force conducts maritime security operation, Including countering illegal fishing and transnational crime, and providing logistical support between Tonga's many islands.
Diving Team
[edit]The Tongan Maritime Force maintains a trained and certified Diving Team, which can perform underwater Investigation, search and recovery tasks down to a depth of 60 Meters. Diving Certification is by the Component Commander of the Maritime Force (CCMF).
Boarding Teams
[edit]Dedicated Boarding Teams are embarked on Patrol vessels with specialised equipment to enhance boarding capabilities. In September 2025, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force conducted a training program for Tongan personnel that covered "Maritime Boarding, Search and Seizure".
International cooperation
[edit]Tonga works closely with international partners, including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, who provide significant support through the Pacific Maritime Security Program. This includes gifting vessels, maintenance support, and extensive training programs.
History
[edit]The Tongan Maritime Force was founded on 10 March 1973 by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, who also commissioned the first craft on that date.[2] The first craft commissioned were VOEA Ngahau Koula (P101) and VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P102), meaning Golden Arrow and Silver Arrow, respectively.[2] They were crewed by volunteers and are no longer in service.[2]
In subsequent years, additional vessels were added to the fleet, including:
- VOEA Savea: A Pacific-class patrol boat, commissioned in 1989, provided by Australia as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program.[2] It was decommissioned in 2019.[3]
- VOEA Pangai: A Pacific-class patrol boat, also part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, commissioned in 1990.[2] It was decommissioned in 2020.[4]
- VOEA Neiafu: Another Pacific-class patrol boat, also gifted by Australia, which was commissioned alongside VOEA Pangai.[2] It was decommissioned in 2020.[5]
- VOEA Late-gifted by the Australia Department of Defence in 2025.[6] The gift was part of Australia's pacific Maritime Security Program.[6]
These ships were vital for Tonga's maritime interdiction, maritime search and rescue, maritime security,support amphibious warfare, and law enforcement until they were decommissioned and replaced by the newer vessels, VOEA Ngahau Koula (P301)[3] and VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P302).[7]
List of craft
[edit]Patrol Boat Flotilla
[edit]The Guardian-class patrol craft were provided to Tonga by Australia as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program.[2] As of September 2021[update], the Tongan Maritime Force has two patrol vessels:
| Type | Class | Origin | Displacement | Name | Pennant number | Commissioned | Homeport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Patrol boat | Guardian class |  Australia |
325 tonnes | VOEA Ngahau Koula | P301 | 2019 | Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa |
|
Patrol boat | Guardian class | Australia |
325 tonnes | VOEA Ngahau Siliva | P302 | 2021 | Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa |
Logistic Support Flotilla
[edit]| Type | Class | Origin | Displacement | Name | Pennant number | Commissioned | Homeport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No image | Landing craft | LR+100 A1 SSC Mono Cargo(A)G4 | Australia |
VOEA Late | A402 | 2025 | Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa |
Royal yacht
[edit]| Type | Class | Origin | Displacement | Name | Pennant number | Commissioned | Homeport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Royal yacht | Titilupe | 1984 | Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa |
Decommissioned ships
[edit]The following ships have been decommissioned from active service:
| Type | Class | Origin | Displacement | Name | Pennant number | Commissioned | Decommissioned | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
Patrol boat | Pacific class | Australia |
162 tonnes | VOEA Neiafu | P201 | 1988 | 2020 |
| Patrol boat | Pacific class | Australia |
162 tonnes | VOEA Pangai | P202 | 1989 | 2019 | |
_-_RAN-IFR_2013_D3_75.jpg) |
Patrol boat | Pacific class | Australia |
162 tonnes | VOEA Savea | P203 | 1990 | 2019 |
 |
Landing craft | LCM 8 | Australia |
113 tonnes |
VOEA Late | C315 | 1982 | 2015 |
| Coastal Tanker | DnV+1A1 Tanker |  France |
4000 Tonnes | VOEA Lomipeau | A301 | 1996 | 2002 | |
| Patrol boat | Lowestoft class |  UK |
Unknown | VOEA Ngahau Koula | P101 | 1973 | 1990 | |
| Patrol boat | Lowestoft class | UK |
Unknown | VOEA Ngahau Siliva | P102 | 1976 | 1990 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "His Majesty's Armed Forces Corporate Plan & Budget 2020–2023" (PDF). Government of Tonga. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Moore, John (1984). Jane's All The World's Fighting Ships. Jane's Publishing. p. 465. ISBN 0710607741.
- 1 2 "VOEA Savea's final voyage from Tonga". Matangi Tonga. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ↑ "Navy farewells VOEA Pangai". Matangi Tonga. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ↑ "VOEA Neiafu arrives in Australia". Loop Tonga. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- 1 2 Xavier, Will (15 October 2025). "Tongan Maritime Force's newest landing craft enters service".
- ↑
"King Tupou VI commissions new patrol boat". Matanga Tonga. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
HM King Tupou VI commissioned the Tonga Navy's VOEA Ngahau Siliva patrol boat at the Masefield Base, Touliki, today.
Further reading
[edit]- "HMAF also celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Tonga Royal Navy - Tonga Royal Navy History in summary". Official Facebook page of His Majesty's Armed Forces - Tonga. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2025 – via Facebook.