- Royal Moroccan Navy
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البحرية الملكية
al-Bahriyya al-Malakiyah
Adwas Ageldan n ill
Moroccan Royal Navy SealActive 1960 - Present Country Morocco
Allegiance Kingdom of Morocco Branch Navy Type Navy Size 7,300 personnel
1,500 Marines
21 Patrol Boats
4 Amphibious transport ships
1 Corvette
2 Frigates
3 RotorcraftPart 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 :
- Casablanca
- Al Hoceima
- Agadir
- Ksar Sghir
Current ships
Vessel Origin Class Notes Frigates (3 in service) Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani Spain
Descubierta class Mohammed V France
Floréal class Hassan II France
Floréal class Patrol Combattants (21 in service) Raïs Bargach France
OPV 64 class Raïs Britel France
OPV 64 class Raïs Charkaoui France
OPV 64 class Raïs Maâninou France
OPV 64 class Raïs Al Mounastiri France
OPV 64 class El Lahiq Denmark
Osprey 55 class El Tawfiq Denmark
Osprey 55 class El Hamiss Denmark
Osprey 55 class El Karib Denmark
Osprey 55 class Lieutnant de Vaisseau Rabhi Spain
Vigilance class Errachiq Spain
Vigilance class El Akid Spain
Vigilance class EL Maher Spain
Vigilance class El Majid Spain
Vigilance class El Bachir Spain
Vigilance class Commandant El Khattabi Spain
Lazaga class Commandant Boutouba Spain
Lazaga class Commandant El Harti Spain
Lazaga class Commandant Azzouggarh Spain
Lazaga class Okba France
PR 72 Triki France
PR 72 Amphibious warships and craft
Class Origin In service Newport class tank landing ship United States
2 Champlain class France
3 EDIC class France
1 LCM class France
1 Patrol Boats
Class Origin In service P32 France
6 RBP France
2 Aircraft
Aircraft Origin Type In service Eurocopter AS565 MA France
Naval Military utility 4 Auxiliary Ships
- Logistic ships
1 El Dakhla class 1 El Aigh class (ex- Mere Caribe)
- Oceanographic ships
Conrad class (1 in service)
Future acquisitions
Origin Type Number ordered Notes France
FREMM multipurpose frigate 1(1) Anti-submarine version. Ship is expected to be named Mohammed VI. Negotiations for additional vessels have started.[2] Netherlands
Sigma class frigate 3 - Delivery by 2012
- Two 9813 class frigate (with VLS) and a 10513 class frigate based on a modified design
France
OPV70 class patrol boats 4 - First of them, Bin An Zaran, launched 25 August 2010, delivered by 2012
Notable sailors
- Abdellah Ben Aïcha, admiral of Salé, ambassador to king Louis XIV of France in 1689.
- Abdelkader Perez, ambassador to England in 1723 and again in 1737.
- Abdellah Ben Soleïman, commander of the Almohad fleet under sultan [Abd al-Mu'min]
- Abdellah Ben Taâ Allah, commander of the Almohad fleet under Muhammad an-Nasir and governor of Majorca
- Corsair Triki of Sale 17th century Alaouite dynasty
See also
References
- Baker III, A. D. (1998). Combat Fleets of the World 1998-1999. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
- ^ André, Charles-André (1994). Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord. Paris: Payot. p. 866. ISBN 9782228887892.
- ^ http://www.imdexasia.com/pdf/Hot%20News%20February%202011.pdf
Military of Morocco
Royal Moroccan Navy ·
Royal Moroccan Army ·
Royal Moroccan Air Force ·
Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie ·
Moroccan Royal Guard
Moroccan security forces Military Ministry of Defense · Royal Moroccan Armed Forces · Army · Navy · Air Force · Moroccan Royal Guard · Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
Law enforcement Ministry of Interior · Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale (DGSN) (National Police) · Moroccan Auxiliary Forces · Urban Security Groups (defunct)
Intelligence Directorate for Research and Documentation (DGED) · Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST)
Categories:- Military of Morocco
- Navies by country
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