Royal Moroccan Navy

البحرية الملكية
al-Bahriyya al-Malakiyah
Adwas Ageldan n ill

Moroccan Royal Navy Seal
Active 1960 - Present
Country  Morocco
Allegiance Kingdom of Morocco
Branch Navy
Type Navy
Part of Administration of Defence إدارة الدفاع
Headquarters Rabat-Salé
Anniversaries April 1st (foundation)
Commanders
Inspector General of the Navy RADM Mohammed Laghmari
Commander-in-Chief King Mohammed VI
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack
Aircraft flown
Helicopter AS565 Panther

The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: البحرية الملكية‎, Berber: Adwas Ageldan n ill) is a branch of the military of Morocco responsible of conducting naval operations. The Royal Moroccan Navy is administratively managed by the Adminsitration of Defence, which is (de facto) commanded by King Mohammed VI (Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces)

Contents

Mission

The Royal Moroccan Navy is part of the Moroccan Armed Forces (Al-Quwwat al Mussallaha al Malakiya). Its mission includes the protection of Moroccan territory and sovereignty, as well as the control of Morocco's 81,000 square nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Given Morocco's significant coastline (2,952 km) and strategic position oversseing the strait of Gibraltar, it (with Spain and the United Kingdom) is deeply involved in the security of this important international waterway.

History

The history of the Royal Moroccan Navy begins in 1960 with its foundation by King Mohammed V. The first Admiral of the modern Royal Navy was Vice Admiral Mohamed Triki, who held the position as the head of the Moroccan Royal Navy for 14 years. Although the modern Royal Navy was structured following Independence, the Moroccan naval military traces its roots back to the 11th century, with the rise of the Almoravid dynasty, and its ambition for naval hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea. Admiral Abdullah Ben Meimoun is credited for being the first commander of the Almoravid dynasty organized naval forces. With the Almohad dynasty taking over most of northern Africa, together with Al-Andalus, the Almohad dynasty navy would soon become the "first fleet of the Mediterranean".[1] At its peak, the Almohad navy's military reputation was well known, inciting Ayyubid dynasty Egypt and Saladin to seek its help in preventing Crusades expeditions. The 16th century saw the starting decline of the Moroccan state and consequently the navy that served it. The capture of major coastal cities and locations by Spain and Portugal much affected Morocco's naval capabilities. Later on, under pressure from a coalition of European powers, Sultan Slimane dismanteled the last remanents of the Moroccan Navy.

Bases

The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in :

Current ships

Vessel Origin Class Notes
Frigates
701 Mohammed VI  France Aquitaine Class Anti-submarine version. Ship is expected to be commisioned in 2013.
501 Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani  Spain Descubierta class It will be replaced by the Aquitaine Class [2]
611 Mohammed V  France Floréal class
612 Hassan II  France Floréal class
613 Tarik Ben Ziyad  Netherlands FMMM Sigma 10513 Version.
614 Sultan Moulay Ismail  Netherlands FMMM Sigma 9813 Version. Will be Commissioned in Feb-2012.
615 Allal Ben Abdellah  Netherlands FMMM Sigma 9813 Version. Will be Commissioned in Aug-2012
Patrol Combattants
341 Bir Anzaran  France OPV 70 class +5 OPV70 in construction. [3]
318 Raïs Bargach  France OPV 64 class
319 Raïs Britel  France OPV 64 class
320 Raïs Charkaoui  France OPV 64 class
321 Raïs Maaninou  France OPV 64 class
322 Raïs Al Mounastiri  France OPV 64 class
308 El Lahiq  Denmark Osprey 55 class
309 El Tawfiq  Denmark Osprey 55 class
316 El Hamiss  Denmark Osprey 55 class
317 El Karib  Denmark Osprey 55 class
310 Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi  Spain Vigilance class
311 Errachiq  Spain Vigilance class
312 El Akid  Spain Vigilance class
313 El Maher  Spain Vigilance class
314 El Majid  Spain Vigilance class
315 El Bachir  Spain Vigilance class
304 El Khattabi  Spain Lazaga class
305 Commandant Boutouba  Spain Lazaga class
306 Commandant El Harty  Spain Lazaga class
307 Commandant Azouggarh  Spain Lazaga class
302 Okba  France PR 72
303 Triki  France PR 72
203 El Wacil  France P-32
204 El Jail  France P-32
205 El Mikdam  France P-32
206 El Khafir  France P-32
207 El Haris  France P-32
208 El Essahir  France P-32
209 Erraid  France P-32
210 Erraced  France P-32
211 El Kaced  France P-32
212 Essaid  France P-32
323 Lexus  United Kingdom [4]
Amphibious Ships
407 Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah  United States Newport class Ex-LST 1198, seriously damagaged.
402 Daoud Ben Aicha  France Champlain
403 Ahmed Es Sakali  France Champlain
404 Abou Abdallah El Ayachi  France Champlain
Auxiliaries
408 Ad Dakhla  France Ad Dakhla CLS
802 Abou Barakat Albarbari  United States Robert D. Conrad class Ex-T-AGOR-13, oceanographic research ship
803 YDT  France BBP (batiment-base de plongeurs) ex-chalutier,
H 01  Netherlands Hydrographic research boat Delivered in April 2011, it will be used to chart the underwater coastal area. [5]
Law Enforcement & Cost Guard Fleet
10 patrol boats  France Arcor 17 Class
18 patrol boats D01-D18  France Arcor 46 Class
15 patrol boats.  France Arcor 53 Class In service with GRM
10 patrol boats.  Spain Rodman 55
10 patrol boats.  Spain Rodman 101
10 patrol boats.  France Raidco Marine RPB 20
2 Hovercraft  United Kingdom Griffon 500TD hovercraft [6]

Aircraft

Aircraft Origin Type In service
Eurocopter AS565 MA  France Naval Military utility 4

Notable sailors

See also

References

  1. ^ André, Charles-André (1994). Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord. Paris: Payot. p. 866. ISBN 9782228887892. 
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ [3]
  5. ^ [4]
  6. ^ [5]