Navy Service Medal

The Navy Service Medal was a decoration of the Republic of Vietnam. established by Decree No. 154 of 12 May 1964, it was intended to recognise members of the South Vietnamese Navy who had completed a set number of years of service.^[1]

The medal was divided into four classes indicated by a device on the ribbon bar:

• First Class: This class recognised sailors who had served more than fifteen years in the navy. This class was indicated by two silver depictions of three waves and a silver compass rose.^[2]
• Second Class: This class recognised sailors who had served more than ten years in the navy. This class was indicated by two silver depictions of three waves.^[2]
• Third Class: This class recognised sailors who had served more than five years in the navy. This class was indicated by a silver depiction of three waves.^[2]
• Honour Class: this class recognised members of other branches of the ARVN.^[2]

During its existence, the medal went through three designs:

Type 1: This design features a light blue disc depicting a silver whale swimming in light blue waves beneath a light blue sky. The disc surmounted a golden compass rose, which in turn surmounted a silver anchor. The reverse was plain. The suspension device was a standard trapezoid device.^[2]

Type 2: This design was a golden anchor surmounted by a six-spoked ship's wheel; the reverse was either plain or had the words "VIỆT-NAM" surrounded by the words "HẢI-VỤ BỘI-TINH". The suspension device was a standard trapezoid device.^[2]

Type 3: This design features a light blue disc depicting a silver whale swimming in light blue waves beneath a light blue sky. The disc surmounted a golden compass rose, which in turn was surrounded by a silver wreath. The reverse was inscribed "VIỆT-NAM". The suspension device was a fouled anchor.^[2]