Navy comparison: Vietnam vs South Africa
Vietnam's 112-ship navy outnumbers South Africa's 49 vessels (2.3x advantage). Of these, 109 and 49 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 9 vs 3 submarines, 9 vs 4 frigates, 16 vs 0 corvettes, 21 vs 0 amphibious ships, 32 vs 33 patrol boats, 8 vs 2 mine warfare ships (Vietnam vs South Africa). Vietnam's navy is officially the Vietnam People's Navy, while South Africa's is the South African Navy.
Vietnam People's Navy 🇻🇳
| Official Name | Vietnam People's Navy |
| Total ships | 112 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 109 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
South African Navy 🇿🇦
| Official Name | South African Navy |
| Total ships | 49 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 49 as of 2025 |
Vietnamese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 9 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 9 | |
| Corvettes | 16 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 32 | |
| Amphibious ships | 21 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 8 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 17 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
South African ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 3 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 4 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 33 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 2 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 7 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, Vietnam or South Africa?
Vietnam has a larger navy with 112 ships compared to South Africa's 49 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, Vietnam or South Africa?
Vietnam operates more submarines with 9 compared to South Africa's 3.
Which navy has more frigates, Vietnam or South Africa?
Vietnam operates 9 frigates compared to South Africa's 4.
How do the Vietnam and South Africa navies compare in size?
Vietnam's navy is 2.3 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total ships (112 vs 49).