Israeli Sea Corps

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Main operational areas of the Israeli Sea Corps as seen from  Space Shuttle STS-40: Mediterranean Sea (north), Gulf of Aqaba (east), Red Sea (south), and Gulf of Suez (west).
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Main operational areas of the Israeli Sea Corps as seen from Space Shuttle STS-40: Mediterranean Sea (north), Gulf of Aqaba (east), Red Sea (south), and Gulf of Suez (west).

The Israeli Sea Corps (Hebrew: חיל הים הישראלי) is the naval arm of the Israel Defense Forces, operating primarily in the Mediterranean Sea in the west and to the Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea, and Gulf of Suez in the south. The Sea Corps current commander is Aluf David Ben Ba'ashat.

Contents

[edit] Bases

The emblem of the Israeli navy
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The emblem of the Israeli navy
The naval ensign of Israel
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The naval ensign of Israel
  • Haifa base - The Missile Boats Flotilla, The Submarine Flotilla, Patrol Boats Unit 914.
The symbol of the Haifa base is two arrows - one signifying the missile-boats flotilla and the other the submarine flotilla
The symbol of the Ashdod base is two opposing arrows .
  • Eilat base - Patrol Boats Unit 915.
The Eilat base was founded in 1951 and has been in charge of the Red Sea Naval zone of the Israeli navy since 1981, when the Red Sea Naval command center was withdrawn from Sharm el-Sheikh according to the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
The symbol of the Eilat base symbolizes the red roofs of the houses of Eilat.
  • The Naval Training base - Located in Haifa. The submarine operation school, the missile-boat operation school, and the naval command school are located in the Naval Training Base.
  • Mamtam (Hebrew: ממת"ם) - IT, processes and computing. Mamtam is a small unit that is responsible for all communications and computer infrastructure and the IT systems, both logistic and operational, in the Israeli Navy. The soldiers that serve there are mainly programmers and university graduates in engineering, computer science and more technological degrees.
The symbol of the Haifa base is an owl - symbolizing wisdom and hard learning. .
  • Naval shipyards
  • The Navy Headquarters - Tel Aviv

[edit] Forces

[edit] The Missile Boats Flotilla

Missile boats are based in the port of the city of Haifa.

[edit] Unit's objectives

  • Protecting Israeli commerce at sea against foreign fleets.
  • Preventing a possible naval blockade of Israeli ports during wartime.
  • Blockading enemy ports at wartime.

[edit] The Submarine Flotilla

A volunteer elite unit. Founded in 1951.

[edit] Unit's objectives

Israel's underwater attack force.
  • Attacking enemy craft in their home ports.
  • Covert information gathering.
  • Acting as support units for other units.

[edit] Naval vessels

On Aug 24, 2006, the Israeli Navy ordered two additional nuclear weapon capable submarines (Type 214 - Dolphin Class) from a German manufacturer, giving it an offensive capability to launch cruise and nuclear weapons, as well as a second strike survivability/relaunch capability. The two additional Dolphin Class subs are expected to be delivered to the Israeli Navy in year 2010.

[edit] The 13th Flotilla (Naval Commando Unit)

See main article - Shayetet 13

[edit] Intelligence

The Corps' relies on its Naval Intelligence Department for sea intelligence.

[edit] Fleet

[edit] Destroyers

  • Z class destroyers
    • INS Eilat (K-40) - Formerly HMS Zealous (R39) - Sunk
    • INS Yaffo (K-42) - Formerly HMS Zodiac (R54) - Retired
  • Hunt class escort destroyers
    • INS Haifa (K-38) - Formerly HMS Mendip (L60) - Retired

[edit] Frigates

  • River class frigates
    • INS Mivtach (K-28) (adopted in 1949) - Formerly HMCS Orkney (K448) - Retired
    • INS Misgav (K-30) (adopted in 1949) - Formerly HMCS Strathadam (K682) - Retired
    • INS Miznak (K-32) (adopted in 1949) - Formerly HMCS Hallowell (K666) - Retired

[edit] Corvettes

INS Eilat (501) and INS Lahav (502) under construction at the Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard, 1993.
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INS Eilat (501) and INS Lahav (502) under construction at the Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard, 1993.
  • Flower class corvettes
    • INS HaShomer (K-18) (adopted in 1948) - Formerly HMCS Beauharnois (K540) - Retired
    • INS Hagana (K-20) (adopted in 1948) - Formerly HMCS Norsyd (K520) - Retired
  • Saar 5 class missile corvettes
    • INS Eilat (501) (1994) - Active
    • INS Lahav (502) (1994) - Active
    • INS Hanit (503) (Spear, 1995) - Active

[edit] Missile boats

INS Akko (323), 1988.
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INS Akko (323), 1988.
  • Saar 2 / Saar 3 class (Mivtach class) missile boats - based on German Jaguar class
    • INS Mivtach (311) (converted from Saar 1 class) - Retired, currently on display in the Cladestine Immigration and Sea Corps Museum, Haifa
    • INS Miznak (312) (converted from Saar 1 class) - Retired
    • INS Misgav (313) (converted from Saar 1 class) - Retired
    • INS Eilat (321) - Retired
    • INS Haifa (322) - Retired
    • INS Akko (323) - Retired
    • INS Saar (331) (Storm) - Retired
    • INS Sufa (332) (Storm) - Retired
    • INS Gaash (333) (Volcano) - Retired
    • INS Herev (341) (Sword) - Retired
    • INS Hanit (342) (Spear) - Sold to Chile in 1988
    • INS Hetz (343) (Arrow) - Sold to Chile in 1988
  • Saar 4 class (Reshef class) missile boat - designed and built by Israel Shipyards Ltd. (ISL)
    • INS Reshef (1973) - Sold to Chile in 1997
    • INS Keshet (Bow, 1973) - Sold to Chile in 1981
    • INS Romah (Lance, 1974) - Sold to Chile in 1979
    • INS Kidon (Bayonet/Javelin, 1974) - Converted to Saar 4.5 class in 1994
    • INS Tarshish (1975) - Sold to Chile in 1997
    • INS Yaffo (Jaffa, 1975) - Converted to Saar 4.5 class in 1998
    • INS Nitzachon (Victory, 1978) - Active
    • INS Atzmaut (Independence, 1979) - Active
    • INS Moledet (Homeland, 1979) - Sold to Sri-Lanca in 2000
    • INS Komemiyut (Uprising, 1980) - Sold to Sri-Lanca in 2000
  • Saar 4.5 class (Aliya class) missile boats / helicopter carriers - designed and built by Israel Shipyards Ltd. (ISL)
    • INS Aliya (Homecoming, 1980) - Sold to Mexico in July 2004
    • INS Geula (Salvation, 1980) - Sold to Mexico in July 2004
INS Hetz, 1991.
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INS Hetz, 1991.
  • Saar 4.5 class (Hetz class) missile boats - designed and built by Israel Shipyards Ltd. (ISL)
    • INS Romah (Lance, 1981) - Active
    • INS Keshet (Bow, 1982) - Active
    • INS Hetz (Arrow, 1991) - Active
    • INS Kidon (Bayonet/Javelin, 1995) (converted from Saar 4 class) - Active
    • INS Tarshish (1995) - Active
    • INS Yaffo (Jaffa, 1998) (converted from Saar 4 class) - Active
    • INS Herev (Sword, 2002) - Active
    • INS Sufa (Storm, 2003) - Active

[edit] Patrol Boats

Dabur class boat 860, 1998.
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Dabur class boat 860, 1998.
  • Netz class boats - Retired
  • Yatush class patrol boats - Retired
  • Bertram class patrol boats - Retired
  • Dabur class patrol boats - 12 built by Sewart Seacraft, the rest by IAI-Ramta - 34 adopted in 1973-77, 15 active, numbers in a 860-920 range.
  • Super Dvora class fast patrol boats - built by IAI-Ramta
    • Super Dvora Mk I - 9 adopted from 1988, 9 active, numbers 811-819
    • Super Dvora Mk II - 4 adopted from 1996, 4 active, numbers 820-823
    • Super Dvora Mk III - 6 ordered
  • Shaldag class fast patrol boats
    • Shaldag Mk II - 2 ordered
  • Nachshol class patrol boats (Stingray Interceptor-2000) - built by Stingray Marine - 3 adopted (1997-98), 3 active

[edit] Other warships

  • INS Eilat (A-16) (adopted in 1948, first warship of the Israeli Sea Corps, in 1957 renamed to Matspen) - Formerly USCGC Northland (WPG-49) icebreaker - Retired in 1962
  • INS Maoz (K-24) (adopted in 1948) - Formerly USS Cythera (PY-31)] patrol yacht - Retired
  • INS Nogah (K-26) (adopted in 1948) - Formerly US submarine chaser - Retired
  • INS Nogah 2 (K-22) (adopted in 1953) - Formerly USS PC-1188 submarine chaser - Retired in late 1960s
  • Saar 1 class boats - based on German Jaguar class
    • INS Mivtach (311) - Converted to Saar 2 class missile boat
    • INS Miznak (312) - Converted to Saar 2 class missile boat
    • INS Misgav (313) - Converted to Saar 2 class missile boat

[edit] Landing ships

  • LSM-1 class
    • INS Sheva (P-91) (bought in 1970) - Retired in 1973-74
    • INS Ofir (P-93) (bought in 1970) - Retired in 1973-74
    • INS Tarshish (P-95) (bought in 1970) - Retired in 1973-74
  • Kishon class landing ships - built in Israel
    • INS Etzion-Gever (P-51) - Retired by 1991
    • INS Shikmona (P-53) - Retired by 1991
    • INS Caesarea (P-55) - Retired by 1991
  • Ashdod class landing ships - built in Israel
    • INS Ashdod (P-61) - Retired in 2001
    • INS Ashkelon (P-61) - Retired in 1999
    • INS Achziv (P-61) - Retired in 1999
  • INS Bat-Sheva (bought in 1968-69) - Retired in 1990s, sunk during missile test

[edit] Support ships

  • INS Keshet - cargo ship
  • INS Nir - alongside tender
  • INS Nahariya - alongside tender
  • 78-ton tugs - built in Israel

[edit] Submarines

  • S Class submarines
    • INS Tanin (Ts-71) (Alligator) - Formerly HMS Springer (P264) - Retired
    • INS Rahav (Ts-73) (Pomp) - Formerly HMS Sanguine (P266) - Retired
  • T Class submarines
    • INS Leviathan (Ts-75) (Whale) - Formerly HMS Turpin (P354) - Retired
    • INS Dakar (Ts-77) - Formerly HMS Totem (P352) - Lost at sea
    • INS Dolphin (Ts-79) - Formerly HMS Truncheon (P353) - Retired
  • Gal Class - Modified German 206A type submarine, British built
    • INS Gal (Wave, 1976)
    • INS Tanin (Alligator, 1977)
    • INS Rahav (Pomp, 1977)
  • On August 25, 2006, Israel signed a deal with Germany to purchase two nuclear-capable Dolphin class sumbarines, a deal valued at $1.3 billion, with Germany financing one-third of the total cost. [1]

[edit] Commando boats

  • Dolphin type underwater crafts
  • Maiale (pig) type underwater crafts
  • Snunit boats
  • Zaharon boats
  • Mulit boats
  • Morena rigid-hulled inflatable boats

[edit] Equipment

  • Barak - Ship Point Defense Missile System - by MBT, ELTA and RAFAEL
  • Gabriel - Sea to Sea missile by MBT (IAI)
  • Typhoon - Naval Optronic Stabilized Weapon Platforms by Rafael
  • NAVAL Artillery Rocket System
  • Rafael Protector Unmanned Naval Patrol Vehicle
  • EL/M-2221 STGR - Search, Track & Guidance/Gunnery Radar
  • EL/M-2228S AMDR - Automatic Missile Detection Radar
  • EL/M-2228X SGRS - Surveillance & Gunnery Radar System
  • EL/M-2238 STAR -Surveillance & Threat Alert Radar
  • EL/M-2226 ACSR - Advanced Coastal Surveillance Radar

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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