78th Anniversary of Tatmadaw (Navy) : Senior General delivers commemorative speech

A ceremony marking the 78th Anniversary of the establishment of the Tatmadaw (Navy) was held on Wednesday at the Naval Training Command Headquarters in Thanlyin Naval Base. Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, attended and conferred honors at the ceremony.

First, the Senior General delivered a commemorative address, in which he highlighted the historical origins of the Tatmadaw (Navy) dating back to the Bagan era, the nation’s extensive coastline stretching  1,260 nautical miles and its more than 1,400 large and small islands, including strategically significant islands such as Coco Island and the role of the Navy in safeguarding country’s rich and valuable maritime domain, which is abundant in surface and subsea natural resources.

He noted that the Navy has been commissioning major warships capable of conducting surface, aerial, and underwater operations, while also carrying out joint operations with the Army and Air Force, providing mutual fire support, and ensuring administrative and logistical support among the three services.

He further explained that in the 21st century, many countries face not only conventional threats but also non-conventional threats related to maritime security, such as piracy, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling.

To effectively address these challenges, there is a need for a modern, strong, and capable navy. He emphasized that, to ensure combat readiness, the Tatmadaw (Navy) must maintain three essential states of readiness: warship readiness, weapons and weapons systems readiness, and personnel readiness.

He added that, as Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, he has made efforts to comprehensively fulfill these requirements. With the ability to domestically construct and operate frigates, the Tatmadaw (Navy) now possesses combat capability across all four operational domains such as surface warfare, air warfare, underwater warfare, and electronic warfare, thereby enabling it to more effectively carry out its four major roles in the future including the military role, the diplomatic role, the law enforcement role, and the humanitarian assistance role etc.

Afterward, the Senior General, and party viewed a commemorative documentary produced in honor of the 78th Anniversary of the Myanmar Navy. Subsequently, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy presented the Senior General with a commemorative emblem marking the 78th Anniversary of the establishment of the Myanmar Navy, a historical record book of the Navy, and a photo album.

Naval officers then entertained the guests with the honorary song “United Union, March Forward.” Following this, the Senior General, and party visited the Tatmadaw (Navy) Museum, where they toured exhibitions depicting the progressive development of the Navy and research displays.

The Senior General then received the salute of the guard of honor from the saluting dais aboard the naval vessel “Mottama” and inspected the guard of honor. During the salute, the naval vessels “Yan Taing Aung” and “Yan Gyi Aung” fired a 21-gun salute, and a naval parade was conducted.

The submarine Minye Kyaw Htin, the frigate Aung Zeya leading the frigates Kyansittha and Sin Phyu Shin, the corvette Tabinshwehti, the offshore patrol vessel Inlay and the anti-submarine warfare vessels Yan Nyein Aung and Yan Ye Aung maneuvered in Single Line Formation and Line Abreast Formation, rendering honors as they sailed past.

Afterward, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) presented the Senior General with the first spent shell casing fired in the ceremonial gun salute as a commemorative gift. The Senior General then presented commemorative emblems and honorary gifts, which were received by the respective responsible officials.

The Senior General then delivered a guidance address to officers and sailors of the Tatmadaw (Navy). Afterwards, the Senior General, and party departed from No. (3) Naval Jetty to the Ayeyawady Naval Base Headquarters aboard the naval vessel Yadanabon. During the journey, officers and sailors aboard Tatmadaw Navy vessels stationed along the river rendered salutes to the Senior General.