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 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.
Diving Team 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 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 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 The Tongan Maritime Force was founded on 10 March 1973 by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, who also commissioned the first craft on that date. The first craft commissioned were (P101) and VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P102), meaning Golden Arrow and Silver Arrow, respectively. They were crewed by volunteers and are no longer in service.
In subsequent years, additional vessels were added to the fleet, including:
: A Pacific-class patrol boat, commissioned in 1989, provided by Australia as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. It was decommissioned in 2019. : A Pacific-class patrol boat, also part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, commissioned in 1990. It was decommissioned in 2020. : Another Pacific-class patrol boat, also gifted by Australia, which was commissioned alongside VOEA Pangai. It was decommissioned in 2020. VOEA Late-gifted by the Australia Department of Defence in 2025. The gift was part of Australia's pacific Maritime Security Program.
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, (P301) and (P302).
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. , the Tongan Maritime Force has two patrol vessels:
TypeClassOrigin DisplacementNamePennant numberCommissioned HomeportPatrol boat325 tonnesP3012019Touliki Base, NukuʻalofaPatrol boat325 tonnesP3022021Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa
Logistic Support Flotilla TypeClassOrigin DisplacementNamePennant numberCommissioned Homeport No image Landing craft LR+100 A1 SSC Mono Cargo(A)G4 A402 2025 Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa
Royal yacht TypeClassOrigin DisplacementNamePennant numberCommissioned HomeportRoyal yachtTitilupe1984Touliki Base, Nukuʻalofa
Decommissioned ships The following ships have been decommissioned from active service:
TypeClassOrigin DisplacementNamePennant numberCommissioned DecommissionedPatrol boat162 tonnesP20119882020Patrol boat162 tonnesP20219892019Patrol boat162 tonnesP20319902019Landing craftLCM 8113tonnes VOEA LateC31519822015Coastal TankerDnV+1A1 Tanker4000 TonnesVOEA Lomipeau A30119962002Patrol boat Lowestoft classUnknownP10119731990Patrol boat Lowestoft classUnknownVOEA Ngahau Siliva P10219761990
References
Further reading