Current Title:	Aviación Naval Uruguaya
Title in English:	Uruguay Naval Aviation
Abbreviation:	ANU

Narrative Summary:
The service was formed as Servicio de Aeronáutica de la Armada on 7.2.1925 but received its first aircraft, two CANT 18 and one CANT 21, only on 24.9.1930. On 12.6.1934 Base Aeronaval No.1 Isla Libertad in the Bay of Montevideo became operational. In 1942 the service received some Sikorsky OS2U-3 Kingfisher and Fairchild PT-23A training aircraft from the United Staetes in return for base facilities. In 1947 Base Aeronaval No.2 Cap. Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo at Laguna del Sauce became operational. From 1949 till 1957 large quantities of Grumman Avenger, Grumman Hellcat and Martin Mariner were delivered to the Aviación Naval, as the service is known from 1951 on. The name was changed another time in 1955, when the Naval Aviation got its present name.

In the mid-1960s most of the operational aircraft reached the end of their economic life and it was only from 1965 on, when the ANU received Grumman S-2A Tracker and Sikorsky CH-34J. During the next years the service got only small quantities of aircraft and helicopters. Today the ANU is a small command with a Grupo de Escuadrones of two operational squadrons and one training school, which got a big boost in 2006, when they received six MBB Bo-105M from Germany.

Key Dates:
7 February 1925		Servicio de Aeronáutica de la Armada was formed.
24 September 1930		Servicio de Aeronáutica de la Armada received its first aircraft.
12 June 1934		Base Aeronaval No.1 Isla Libertad became operational.
10 September 1947		Base Aeronaval No.2 Cap. Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo at Laguna del Sauce became operational.
1951		The service was renamed Aviación Naval.
1955		Aviación Naval Uruguaya became operational.

 

Current Status:
The aircraft of the Naval Aviation are fully operational.

Future Plans:
No information available.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
From 1930 aircraft serials began with number 1 and were used in chronological order as aircraft arrived in the Naval Aviation. From 1942 prefixes for identification were used, e.g. OP (Observación y Patrulla), SG (Servicios y Generales). From 1955 the prefix A (Armada) followed by three digits was used. The A was dropped at a later date.

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None.

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order

Main Headquarters:
Base Aeronaval No.2 "Capitán Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo", Laguna del Sauce

Current Organisational Structure:
Today the ANU is a small command with a Grupo de Escuadrones (ESCAN) of two operational squadrons and one training school.

Current Order of Battle:
Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Orders of Battle:

Historical Order of Battle (as at 1947)

Current Air Bases:
The Uruguay Naval Aviation currently operates one mayor airbase.

Military Air Bases Listing

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Military Air Bases Listing

Books:

Armed Forces of Latin America (Adrian English)