Royal Moroccan Navy
Royal Morrocan Navy (English) القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية (Arabic) Adwas Ageldan n Yilel (Berber) Marine royale (French) |
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Moroccan Royal Navy Seal
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Active | 1960 - Present |
Country | Morocco |
Allegiance | Kingdom of Morocco |
Branch | Navy |
Type | Navy |
Size | 7,800 personnel (includes 1,500 Marines) |
Part of | Administration of Defence إدارة الدفاع |
Headquarters | Rabat-Salé |
Anniversaries | April 1st (foundation) |
Equipment | 89 vessels 17 aircraft |
Commanders | |
Inspector General of the Navy | Vice-Admiral Mohammed Laghmari |
Commander-in-Chief | King Mohammed VI |
Insignia | |
Naval Ensign | |
Naval Jack | |
Aircraft flown | |
Helicopter | AS565 Panther |
The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية, Berber: Adwas Ageldan n Yilel, French: Marine royale) is a branch of the military of Morocco responsible for conducting naval operations. The Royal Moroccan Navy is administratively managed by the Administration of Defence, which is (de facto) commanded by King Mohammed VI, the commander-in-chief of the Moroccan Armed Forces.
Contents
Mission
The Royal Moroccan Navy is part of the Moroccan Armed Forces. 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 overseeing the Strait of Gibraltar, it (along with Spain and the United Kingdom) is deeply involved in the security of this important international waterway.
History
The history of the modern Royal Moroccan Navy began in 1960 with its foundation by King Mohammed V. The first admiral of the modern Moroccan Navy was Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki, who held the position as the Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy for 14 years and devoted 46 years of services to the Moroccan Navy. Vice Admiral Triki was awarded these decorations: (from Morocco) Legion of the Order of Commander, Knight of the Order of the Throne by his majesty King Hassan II; (from France) Legion of Honor by President Jacques Chirac; (from USA) Legion of Merit by President Bill Clinton; and (from Spain) Legion of Merit. 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 soon became 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 had 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 dismantled the last remanents of the Moroccan Navy.
Bases
The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in:
Equipment
Warships
Class | Photo | No. | Ship | Year Commissioned |
Note |
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Frigates (6) | |||||
FREMM frigate | 701 | Mohammed VI | 2014 | ASW version[2] | |
Damen Sigma class | 613 | Tarik Ben Ziyad | 2011 | Sigma 10513 version | |
614 | Sultan Moulay Ismail | 2012 | Sigma 9813 version | ||
615 | Allal Ben Abdellah | 2012 | Sigma 9813 Version | ||
Floréal | 611 | Mohammed V | 2002 | ||
612 | Hassan II | 2003 | |||
Corvettes (1) | |||||
Descubierta Class | 501 | Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani | 1983 | Updated in 2014 [3] | |
Missile boats (4) | |||||
Lazaga Class | 304 | El Khattabi | 1981 | ||
305 | Commandant Boutouba | 1981 | |||
306 | Commandant El Harty | 1982 | |||
307 | Commandant Azouggarh | 1982 | |||
Patrol boats (18) | |||||
OPV-70 | 341 | Bir Anzaran | 2011 | 4 under construction | |
OPV-64 | 318 | Raïs Bargach | 1995 | ||
319 | Raïs Britel | 1996 | |||
320 | Raïs Charkaoui | 1996 | |||
321 | Raïs Maaninou | 1997 | |||
322 | Raïs Al Mounastiri | 1997 | |||
Osprey 55 class | 308 | El Lahiq | 1987 | ||
309 | El Tawfiq | 1988 | |||
316 | El Hamiss | 1990 | |||
317 | El Karib | 1990 | |||
Cormoran Class | 310 | Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi | 1988 | ||
311 | Errachiq | 1988 | |||
312 | El Akid | 1989 | |||
313 | El Maher | 1989 | |||
314 | El Majid | 1989 | |||
315 | El Bachir | 1989 | |||
PR-72 class corvette | 302 | Okba | 1976 | ||
303 | Triki | 1977 | |||
Damen Interceptor 1503 | 1-5 | TBD | 2016 | 5 under construction for Coast Guard Duties, capable of 60 knots |
Amphibious and auxiliary vessels
Class | Photo | No. | Ship | Year Commissioned |
Note |
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Amphibious ships | |||||
BATRAL LST | 402 | Daoud Ben Aicha | 1977 | ||
403 | Ahmed Es Sakali | 1977 | |||
404 | Abou Abdallah El Ayachi | 1978 | |||
Support ships | |||||
Ad Dakhla CLS | 408 | Daoud Ben Aicha | 1997 | coastal logistics ship | |
Hydrographic research boat | H-01 | H-01 | 2011 | Used to chart the underwater coastal area. | |
Damen Stan Tug 2208 | A2 | Al Mounkid | 2015 | Coastal & Harbour Tug | |
BBP | 803 | BBP | Submariner Training Ship. | ||
Marrakech transport ship ro-ro | xxx | ro-ro | transport Ship ro-ro. | ||
50 m landing craft tank (LCT) from Piriou | xxx | LCT | landing craft tank . |
Inshore patrol vessels
- P-32
- El Wacil ( 203 )
- El Jail ( 204 )
- El Mikdam ( 205 )
- El Khafir ( 206 )
- El Haris ( 207 )
- Essahir ( 208 )
- Erraid ( 209 )
- Erraced ( 210 )
- El Kaced ( 211 )
- Essaid ( 212 )
- VCSM/RPB 20 (107-116)
- Rodman-101 (130-139)
- Arcor-46 (D01-D18) In Service with Moroccan Customs
- 15 Arcor-53 In Service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
- 2 Griffon 500TD hovercraft In service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
- 10 Rodman-55
- 10 Arcor-17
Aircraft
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Aircraft | Photo | Origin | Mission | In Service | Note |
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Maritime Patrol Aircraft | |||||
Britten-Norman Defender | 150px | United Kingdom | Maritime patrol aircraft | 14 | Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force |
Helicopters | |||||
Eurocopter AS565 MA | France | Naval Military utility | 3 | Operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy |
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 Salé, 17th century.
- Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki of Safi, Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy from 1991 to 2005.
Gallery
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Descubierta Class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
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Descubierta Class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
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Descubierta Class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
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Floréal Class Mohammed V
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OPV-64 Raïs Al Mounastiri
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OPV-64 Rais Charkaoui
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Lazaga Class Commandant Azouggarh
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Batral LST Abou Abdallah El Ayachi
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Newport TLS Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah (Inactive)
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Moroccan sailors in parade.jpg
Moroccan sailors on parade during the Royal Armed Forces' 50th Anniversary.
See also
References
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