Tongan Maritime Force

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.

Tongan Maritime Force
The Tongan patrol boat VOEA Savea underway in Sydney Harbour in 2013.
Active	10 March 1973
Country	Tonga
Branch	His Majesty's Armed Forces of Tonga
Type	Maritime Security
Role	Maritime patrol Maritime interdiction vessel boarding Support amphibious warfare Maritime search and rescue Law enforcement
Size	140 personnel[1]
Insignia
Naval ensign
Naval jack

Mission

The Tongan Maritime Force's mission within HMAF is to "Defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga"

Operations

The Tongan Maritime Force conducts maritime security operation, Including countering illegal fishing and transnational crime, and providing logistical support between Tonga's many islands

Boarding Teams

The Tongan Maritime Force maintains trained dedicated Boarding Teams that are embarked on Patrol vessels with specaliised 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

Tonga works closely with international partners particularly Australia and New Zealand, as well as Japan who provide significant support through the Pacific Maritime Security Program. This includes gifting vessels, maintenance support, and extensive raining programs

History

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]

These ships were vital for Tonga's maritime interdiction, maritime search and rescue, maritime security, maritime warfare (as far as possible according to the capabilities of existing warships), 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).^[6]

List of craft

Patrol Boat Flotilla

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

	Type	Class	Origin	Displacement	Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport
	Landing craft mechanized	LCM-8	Australia	113 tonnes	VOEA Late	C315		Touliki Base,Nukuʻalofa

Royal yacht

	Type	Class	Origin	Displacement	Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport
	Royal yacht				Titilupe		1984	Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa

Decommissioned ships

The following ships have been decommissioned from active service:

	Type	Class	Origin	Displacement	Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Decommissioned
	Patrol boat	Pacific class	Australia	162 tonnes	VOEA Neiafu	P201	1988	2020
	Patrol boat	Pacific class	Australia	162 tonnes	VOEA Pangai	P202	1989	2019
	Patrol boat	Pacific class	Australia	162 tonnes	VOEA Savea	P203	1990	2019
	Patrol boat	Lowestoft class	UK	Unknown	VOEA Ngahau Koula	P101	1973	1990
	Patrol boat	Lowestoft class	UK	Unknown	VOEA Ngahau Siliva	P102	1976	1990