Editing Papua New Guinea Defence Force (section)

==Maritime Element==
The Maritime element is the naval branch of the PNGDF, being mainly a light patrol force and is responsible for defending local waters only. It too suffers from chronic equipment shortages and underfunding.<ref name=JanesNavies>{{cite web | url = http://jwna.janes.com/JDIC/JWNA/home.do | title = Janes Worlds Navies – Papua New Guinea | access-date = 5 January 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The navy has three primary roles: support for military operations, EEZ protection, and heavy logistic support for the army and civil society.<ref name=JanesNavies/>

===Current organisation===
[[File:Naval Ensign of Papua New Guinea.svg|thumb|Naval Ensign]]
The navy is commanded by Commander Sebastian Maru<ref>{{cite AV media|title=More HMPNGS needed |medium=Television production |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_MlBMg_gpU |publisher=EMTV |access-date=19 January 2024 |date=23 November 2023}}</ref> and consists of approximately 200 personnel<ref name="CIA 2019">{{cite web|title=CIA – The World Factbook – Papua New Guinea|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/papua-new-guinea/ |website=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109222958/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/papua-new-guinea/ |archive-date=9 January 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and is based in [[Port Moresby]] ([[HMPNGS Basilisk]]) and [[Manus Island]] ([[Lombrum Naval Base|HMPNGS Tarangau]]) and currently comprises the following:

* Four {{sclass|Guardian|patrol boat|0}} patrol boats (supplied by Australia)<ref name="PostCourier2023">{{cite news |last1=Finkeo |first1=Marjorie |title=One More Vessel for Defence Force |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/one-more-vessel-for-defence-force/ |access-date=22 April 2023 |work=Post Courier |date=13 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="GilbertToropo">{{cite press release |author1=Minister for Defence Richard Marles |author2=Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy |author3=Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh |title=Fourth Guardian-class Patrol Boat delivered to Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2023-10-04/fourth-guardian-class-patrol-boat-delivered-papua-new-guinea |website=Department of Defence Ministers |access-date=19 January 2024 |date=4 October 2023}}</ref>
* One {{sclass|Balikpapan|landing craft heavy|0}} landing craft (transferred from [[Royal Australian Navy]])<ref>{{cite press release|author1=Defence Minister Senator David Johnston|title=Minister for Defence – Defence Minister welcomes the commissioning of HMPNGS Lakekamu|url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2014/12/04/minister-for-defence-defence-minister-welcomes-the-commissioning-of-hmpngs-lakekamu-4-december-2014|website=Department of Defence|archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/gov/20141215060037/https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2014/12/04/minister-for-defence-defence-minister-welcomes-the-commissioning-of-hmpngs-lakekamu-4-december-2014|archive-date=15 December 2014|date=4 December 2014|access-date=12 March 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* One Malaysian built landing craft (supplied by Australia)<ref name="NavyNews2022"/>

According to Janes, the navy is badly underfunded and the task of patrolling such a large [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] (EEZ) is too great and they are heavily reliant for information about the presence of foreign ships on daily reports supplied by US satellite surveillance. The main concern is illegal tuna fishing by Japanese vessels.<ref name=JanesNavies/> Australia continues to assist the navy patrol its waters and in the training of personnel. A Royal Australian Navy Officer has been seconded to PNG's National Co-ordination Centre and joint exercises are held regularly to review and strengthen current maritime border surveillance. The [[Australian Border Force]] also takes part in cross-border patrols. As a matter of course, Australian doctrine and procedures are used.<ref name=JanesNavies/>

In November 2018, Australia donated to PNG the first of four [[Austal]]-built ''Guardian''-class patrol boats to replace the four {{sclass|Pacific|patrol boat|0}} patrol boats donated to PNG in the late-1980s through the Pacific Patrol Boat Program.<ref>{{cite press release|author1=Minister for Defence Industry|title=Pacific Patrol Boat Milestone |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/christopher-pyne/media-releases/pacific-patrol-boat-milestone|website=Department of Defence|access-date=22 September 2017|date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922194349/https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/christopher-pyne/media-releases/pacific-patrol-boat-milestone|archive-date=22 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Asianmilrev">{{cite news|last1=Valenti|first1=Dr. Alix|title=PNGDF Plans Expansion|url=https://asianmilitaryreview.com/2016/12/pngdf-plans-expansion/|access-date=23 September 2017|work=Asian Military Review|date=21 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923145011/https://asianmilitaryreview.com/2016/12/pngdf-plans-expansion/|archive-date=23 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author1=Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne |author2=Minister for Defence Industry Steven Ciobo |title=First Guardian Class patrol boat gifted to PNG |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2018-11-30/first-guardian-class-patrol-boat-gifted-png |website=Department of Defence Ministers |access-date=22 April 2023 |date=30 November 2018 |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422150910/https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2018-11-30/first-guardian-class-patrol-boat-gifted-png |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first ''Guardian''-class boat {{HMPNGS|Ted Diro}} was commissioned in February 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=West |first1=LT Sarah |title=Pacific security bolstered as first Guardian class Patrol Boat commissioned |url=https://news.navy.gov.au/en/Feb2019/Events/5060/Pacific-security-bolstered-as-first-Guardian-Class-Patrol-Boat-commissioned.htm |website=Royal Australian Navy |date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212075206/https://news.navy.gov.au/en/Feb2019/Events/5060/Pacific-security-bolstered-as-first-Guardian-Class-Patrol-Boat-commissioned.htm#.XGJ7K_zP02w |archive-date=12 February 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=22 April 2023 }}</ref> In 2018, the first ''Pacific''-class boat was decommissioned with the remaining three decommissioned in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Her Majesty Papua New Guinean Ship 'Rabaul' |url=https://www.facebook.com/EMTVonline/posts/her-majesty-papua-new-guinean-ship-rabaul-was-farewelled-in-a-traditional-naval-/2303271803024039/ |work=EMTV Online |via=Facebook |access-date=22 April 2023 |date=4 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vessels decommissioned |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/vessels-decommissioned/ |access-date=22 April 2023 |work=The National |date=19 April 2021}}</ref> In June 2022, PNG commissioned HMPNGS ''Cape Gloucester'', a Malaysian-built landing craft donated to PNG by Australia.<ref name="NavyNews2022">{{cite news |last1=Felton |first1=Benjamin |title=Australia Supplies New Ships To Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/05/australia-supplies-new-ships-to-papua-new-guinea/ |access-date=22 April 2023 |work=Naval News |date=25 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="LoopPNG2022">{{cite news |last1=Kellerton |first1=Marysila |title=HMPNGS Cape Gloucester |url=https://www.looppng.com/png-news/hmpngs-cape-gloucester-113335 |access-date=22 April 2023 |work=Loop PNG |date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422155008/https://www.looppng.com/png-news/hmpngs-cape-gloucester-113335 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Cape Gloucester'' replaced two ''Balikpapan''-class landing craft: {{HMPNGS|Salamaua}} decommissioned in 2020 and {{HMPNGS|Buna}} decommissioned in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yafoi |first1=Melisha |title=Naval ship decommissioned |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/naval-ship-decommissioned/ |access-date=22 April 2023 |work=Post Courier |date=22 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Former navy officers recall time on board Buna |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/former-navy-officers-recall-time-on-board-buna/ |access-date=22 April 2023 |work=The National |date=28 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="LoopPNG2022"/> {{HMPNGS|Lakekamu}}, a ''Balikpapan''-class landing craft donated to PNG by Australia in 2014, remains in service as a [[training ship]] in addition to transporting equipment.<ref>{{cite web |author=Department of Defence |title=Labuan lives on through Lakekamu |url=https://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jan2018/Events/4405/Labuan-lives-on-through-Lakekamu.htm |website=Royal Australian Navy |date=16 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116071402/https://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jan2018/Events/4405/Labuan-lives-on-through-Lakekamu.htm#.Wl2mRfzP02w |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 April 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zarriga |first1=Miriam |title=Armoured Vehicle Delivery |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/armoured-vehicle-delivery/ |access-date=23 April 2023 |work=Post Courier |date=27 June 2022}}</ref>

Australia is funding a A$175 million upgrade to the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island with construction commencing in mid-2020.<ref>{{cite press release |author1=Prime Minister Scott Morrison |title=Joint Statement between Australia and Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/joint-statement-between-australia-and-papua-new-guinea.html |website=Prime Minister of Australia |archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20201006203304/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/170811/20201007-0059/www.pm.gov.au/media/joint-statement-between-australia-and-papua-new-guinea.html |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=1 November 2018 |url-status=dead |access-date=21 January 2024 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Joint Initiative at Lombrum Naval Base (PNG) |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/defence-activities/programs-initiatives/pacific-engagement/lombrum-naval-base |website=Department of Defence |access-date=21 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Faa |first1=Marian |title=Australian Defence Force to fund $175 million major upgrade for Papua New Guinea's naval base on Manus Island |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-15/major-naval-base-on-png-manus-island-lombrum-adf/100216040 |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=16 June 2021}}</ref>

===Vessels===
[[File:HMPNGS Francis Agwi at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia, October 2021 03.jpg|thumb|HMPNGS ''Francis Agwi'' at Austal shipyard in 2021]]
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Vessel
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
| {{ship|HMPNGS|Lakekamu}}
| Australia
| Landing Craft
| [[Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy|Balikpapan class]]
|-
| HMPNGS ''Cape Gloucester'' (L21)
| Malaysia
| Landing Craft
| 
|-
| {{HMPNGS|Ted Diro|P401|6}} (P401)<ref name="PostCourier2023"/>
| Australia
| Patrol Boat
|[[Guardian-class patrol boat|Guardian Class]] 
|-
| HMPNGS ''Rochus Lokinap'' (P402)<ref name="PostCourier2023"/>
| Australia
| Patrol Boat
|Guardian Class
|-
| HMPNGS ''Francis Agwi'' (P403)<ref name="PostCourier2023"/>
| Australia
| Patrol Boat
|Guardian Class
|-
| HMPNGS ''Gilbert Toropo'' (P404)<ref name="GilbertToropo"/>
| Australia
| Patrol Boat
|Guardian Class
|}