Random Article Summary #146

The Tongan Maritime Force is Tonga’s naval branch within His Majesty’s Armed Forces. Its main jobs are patrolling Tonga’s waters, doing search and rescue, enforcing maritime law, and supporting humanitarian help during disasters and emergencies across Tonga’s large exclusive economic zone. Tonga is a Polynesian island nation made up of 171 islands, with 45 inhabited, and it was first settled around 400 years BC. Over time, Tonga grew into a regional power and became a thalassocracy, controlling major parts of the Pacific, including areas of the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, and Niue. Its military history is strongly connected to fighting from the sea, beginning in earlier times and continuing through major changes around European contact in 1616 and the spread of Christianity to the islands. The Tongan Maritime Force’s mission within the HMAF is to protect and defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga. The Tongan Maritime Force runs operations to keep Tonga’s seas safe. This includes stopping illegal fishing, tackling transnational crime, and providing logistical support to communities across Tonga’s many islands. The Tongan Maritime Force has a trained and certified Diving Team that can carry out underwater investigations, as well as search and recovery missions to depths of up to 60 meters. Divers receive their certification from the Component Commander of the Maritime Force (CCMF). Dedicated boarding teams are stationed on patrol vessels and use specialised equipment to improve their ability to board vessels. In September 2025, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force trained Tongan personnel in maritime boarding, search, and seizure procedures.