History
Narrative Summary
The service was formed as Servicio Aeronáutica de la Marina in 1927. Naval aviation started in 1929 with the purchase of a Savoia Marchetti SM.59bis and one CANT 10. During the Chaco War the service received two Macchi M.18. One of these aircraft (serial R-5) made the first night aerial bombing mission in South America on December 20, 1934. After the war it was absorbed into the army air force only to become a separate force in the fifties again as Servicio Aeronaval de la Armada del Paraguay. During World War Two the ANP got two N3N through the Lend-Lease Program.
After their participation in the Revolution of 1947, the ANP was almost dismantled. This was due to the fact that the ANP fought on the rebel side and since the Government forces won, the Navy had to pay the price. There was only one N3N operational at that time. It was only 1950 when the ANP got three Republic RC-3. During the next years the service got only small quantities of transport and communication aircraft. During the 1960s the name was again changed and became Aviación Naval Paraguaya. In 1972 the naval aviation got its first helicopter, four Bell 47G Sioux.
Today the ANP is organised into three Grupo Aeronavals.
Key Dates
| 1927 |
|
The service was formed as Servicio Aeronáutica de la Marina. |
| 20 December 1934 |
|
First night aerial bombing mission in South America. |
| 1950s |
|
Naval aviation was reactivated as Servicio Aeronaval de la Armada del Paraguay. |
| 1960s |
|
The service was renamed as Aviación Naval Paraguaya. |
Current Status
The aircraft of the Naval Aviation are fully operational.
Future Plans
No information available.
Markings
National Insignia
Current — Historical
Aircraft Serial Numbers
Serial numbers consist of a three-digit number. Earlier transport aircraft were prefixed T, training aircraft E and helicopter H with a two or three-digit number.
Unit/Base Codes
Coding system not used
Aircraft
Aircraft Designations
None – Manufacturers designations used
Current Aircraft Inventory
Table of Current Service Aircraft
All-Time Aircraft Used List
All-Time Table of Aircraft Used
Aircraft NOT Used
No false reports known.
Aircraft Losses and Incidents
None known.
Organisation
Main Headquarters
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Avenida Mariscal Lopez y Vicepresidente Sanchez, Asunción
Organisational Structure
Today the ANP is organised in three Grupo Aeronavals.
Current Order of Battle
Table of Current Order of Battle
Historical Orders of Battle
Historical Order of Battle (as at 1932)
Historical Order of Battle (as at 1947)
All-Time Flying Units List
Escuadrilla de Caza-Bombardeo
Escuadrilla de Entrenamiento
Escuela Aeronaval
Esquadrilla de Helicópteros de Ataque
Esquadrilla de Propósitos Generales
Grupo Aeronaval de Helicópteros
Grupo Aeronaval de Propósitos Generales
Grupo Aeronaval Entrenamiento
Servicio Aeronaval (SAN)
Air Bases
Current Air Bases
The Paraguay Naval Aviation currently operates two mayor airbases.
Military Air Bases Listing
All-Time Air Bases Used List
Paraguayan Army Aviation operated from one mayor airbase.
Military Air Bases Listing
More Information
Books
Latin American Military Aviation (Midland Counties, 1982)
Militair 1982 (Aviation Press, 1982)
Magazines
World Air Power Journal No.31 p. 150-152
SAFO Vol. 16, No.2 (62), p.41-43
Websites
wikipedia: Military of Paraguay
Scramble: Paraguayan Air Arms
La Armada Paraguaya
Auction of 3 Navy Aircraft
Any photographs illustrating this air arm would be welcome.
