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Algerian National Navy

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The Algerian Naval Force (ANF; Arabic: القوات البحرية الجزائرية, French: Forces Navales Algériennes) is the naval branch of the Algerian military. The naval force operates from multiple bases along the country's nearly 1,440 km (890 mi) coastline, fulfilling its primary role of monitoring and defending Algeria's territorial waters against all foreign military or economic intrusion. Additional missions include coast guard and maritime safety missions as well a projection of marine forces (fusiliers marins). Algerian forces are an important player in the Western Mediterranean. The Algerian navy ranks 15th globally in the world's most important naval forces report of 2023.[2][3]

Algerian Naval Force
القوات البحرية الجزائرية (Arabic)
Forces Navales Algériennes (French)
Algerian Naval badge
Active1963–present
Country Algeria
BranchNavy
RoleNaval warfare
Size15,000[1]
Part ofAlgerian People's National Army
Garrison/HQL'AMIRAUTE, Algiers
AnniversariesFebruary 2, 1967
Equipment213 vessels, 30 helicopters, 3 MPA Aircraft
Websitewww.mdn.dz/site_cfn/accueil_an.php
Commanders
Current
commander		Mahfoud Benmeddah
Notable
commanders		Chabane Ghodbane (1992–2000)
Insignia
Naval Ensign

As with other Algerian military branches, the naval force was built and structured with assistance from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but has also relied on other sources for equipment in some areas. Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has remained an important partner, but Algeria has increasingly sought additional sources for equipment as well as building its own shipbuilding capacity.

Bases

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Principal naval bases are located at Algiers, Annaba, Mers el-Kebir, Oran, Jijel and Tamentfoust. Mers el Kébir is home to the OMCN/CNE shipbuilding facilities where several Algerian vessels have been built. Algeria's naval academy at Tamentfoust provides officer training equivalent to that of the army and the air force academies. The naval force also operates a technical training school for its personnel at Tamentfoust.

Equipment

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The bulk of the Algerian Naval Force is still based on Cold War designs, although work is being done to both acquire new platforms as well as modernize existing equipment. The surface fleet is equipped with a mixture of smaller ships well suited to coastal and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol work. The fleet is led by three Koni class frigates which have been updated with more modern systems. These are due to be augmented in the coming years by a pair of MEKO A-200 frigates which will represent the most modern equipment of the naval force when they enter service, also, Algeria signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company for the construction of three light frigates about 2,800 tons full load. A mixture of six corvettes and off-shore patrol vessels complement the frigates, while a large number of smaller boats cover the role of coastal patrol. Algeria had maintained a relatively large fleet of Osa class fast attack craft by the end of the Cold War, but it is questionable whether any of these remain in operational use.

Algeria has had a small submarine presence in the Mediterranean with a pair of Kilo class patrol submarines, Algeria is the only country in the region that can launch offensive missiles from a submarine,[4] though the recent acquisition of an additional four upgraded boats will expand this presence significantly. Their amphibious warfare capacity has traditionally been limited with a small group of landing ships essentially for coastal transport roles. This capacity will be greatly upgraded with the planned acquisition of an amphibious transport dock capable of supporting more robust operations. In the area of civil support, the purchase of seagoing rescue tugs will mark the first ability of an African nation to provide valuable services to economic and commercial operators in the Western Mediterranean.

The Algerian military has long maintained a strong veil of secrecy over its organization and equipment, making an exact accounting of operational vessels difficult to ascertain. Open sources are known to vary widely in their reports of several aspects of Algerian equipment.

Submarines

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Class Image Origin In service Boat Year
Commissioned 		Note
Submarine (6)
Project 636.1[1]     Russia 4[1] Messali el Hadj (021)
Akram Pacha (022)
El Ouarsenis (031)
El Hoggar (032)		 2010–2019 The first pair were ordered in mid-2006 and delivered in 2010-2011. The second pair were ordered by June 2014[5] and commissioned in January 2019.[6]
Project 877EKM
 
Rais Hadj Mubarek
   Soviet Union 2 Rais Hadj Mubarek (012)
El Hadj Slimane (013)		 1987–1988 These boats commissioned in 1986 and 1987. They were refitted from 1993 to 1996, and 2005 to 2012.[5]

Amphibious warfare vessels

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Class Image Origin In service Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned 		Note
Amphibious transport dock (1)
San Giorgio class     Italy 1 Kalaat Béni Abbès 9,000 tonnes 2015 Improved San Giorgio, Ordered in 2011(+1 in option)[7][8][9]'
Landing ships (2)
Kalaat Beni Hammed   United Kingdom 2 Kalaat Beni Hammed 2,450 tonnes 1984 Built by Brooke Marine in Lowestoft, UK
Kalaat Beni Rached Built by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, UK

Surface combatants

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Class Image Origin In service Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned 		Note
Frigates (8)
MEKO A200     Germany 2 Erradii
El Moudamir 		3,700 tonnes 2016-2018 Two in service with the option for two more.[10]
Adhafer class     China 3 Adhafer
El Fatih
Ezzadjer 		2,880 tonnes 2015–2016 Armed with NG-16-1 (76 mm) main gun, 2 seven-barrel 30 mm Type 730 CIWS, 2 quad C-802 missiles.[11]
Koni class     Soviet Union 3 Mourad Rais
Rais Kellik
Rais Korfou		 2,000 tonnes 1980–1985 Modernized in Russia in 2011.[12]
Corvettes (8)
Nanuchka class     Soviet Union 3 Ras Hamidou
Salah Reis
Reis Ali 		660 tonnes 1982 In service, Project 1234E built by Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk, modernized in 2012.
Djebel Chenoua class     Algeria 4 Djebel Chenoua
El Chihab
El Kirch
Hassan Barbiear 		540 tonnes 1988–2017 Built by OMCN / CNE in Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria.

Armed with 4 C802 ASM and AK630 CIWS.

Type 056 class     China 1 El Moutassadi 1,500 tonnes 2023 Unconfirmed reports that six were ordered.[13]
Mine countermeasures (2)
Lerici class     Italy 3[14] 600 tonnes 2016–2021
Patrol boats (75)
Osa II-class missile boat     Soviet Union 8 1978
Kebir-class patrol boat [fr]   United Kingdom 14 El Yadekh 250 tonnes 1982 The first two units built by Brooke Marine.
FPB98 MKI Ocea-class patrol boat     France 41[15] Denebi 2008-2021 Built by Ocea France.[16][17]
Alusafe 2000 [es]     Spain
  Algeria 		12[18] El Mounkid 2016 Produced locally.[19]

Fleet auxiliaries

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Class Image Origin No. Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned 		Note
Survey ship
El Idrissi   Japan 673 El Idrissi 540 tonnes 1980 Built by Matsukara Zosen in Hirao, Japan.
OSV-95     France 205 El Masseh 2021 Built by Ocea shipyards, France.[20]
Training ship
Soummam     China 937 Soummam 5,500 tonnes 2006 5,500 tons (full load).
El Mellah     Poland 938 El Mellah (the sailor) 2017 A three-masted tall ship constructed in Gdańsk, Poland.
Salvage ship
El Mourafik   China 261 El Mourafik 600 tonnes 1990 Built in China.
High seas tow vessel
El Mounjid     Norway 701 El Mounjid 3,200 tonnes 2012 Type UT 515 CD built in Norway and Motorization by Rolls-Royce.
702 El Moussif
703 El Moussanid

Aircraft

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Aircraft Image Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
Westland Super Lynx     United Kingdom ASW 130/140 10[21]
AgustaWestland AW101     United Kingdom
  Italy 		SAR / utility 5[21]
AgustaWestland AW139     Italy light utility 3[21]

Modernization

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Algerian Sailors conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO).

The Naval force is currently being upgraded with the following technological developments: the existing units are being modernized, with the submarine force strengthened by two new Kilo class submarines (last generation).[22]

  • One LPD from Italy in 2014.
  • Two MEKO A200 frigates from Germany.
  • TYPE 054A frigates
  • AIP Submarines
  • Three corvettes C28A with option of three more produced locally. Radar and electronic equipment will be supplied by Thales, and mounted in Algeria. They will be built at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard.[23][24][25]
  • 31 units of the type FPB98 MKI Ocean Patrol Boat.[26][27]
  • 12 units of Alusafe 2000 high speed rescue and patrol vessel.[28]

Munitions

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Surface-to-air missiles

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Anti-ship missiles

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Air-to-ground missiles

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Ranks

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Main article: Military ranks of Algeria

Commissioned officer ranks

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Algerian National Navy[34]
                    
فريق أول‎‎
Fariq 'awal 		فريق
Fariq 		لواء
Liwa 		عميد
Amid 		عقيد
Aqid 		مقدم
Muqaddam 		رائد
Ra'id 		نقيب
Naqib 		ملازم أول
Mulazim awwal 		ملازم
Mulazim
Général d'armée Général de corps d'armée Général de division Général Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant

Other ranks

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Algerian National Navy[34]
             No insignia
مساعد أول
Mosa'id awwal 		مساعد
Mosa'id 		رقيب أول
Raqib awwal 		رقيب
Raqib 		عريف أول
Earif 'awal 		عريف
Earif 		جندي
Jundiun
Adjudant chef Adjudant Sergent chef Sergent Caporal chef Caporal Djoundi

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h The Military Balance 2024, p. 343.
  2. ^ "Largest Navies in the World 2023". Wisevoter. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  3. ^ F, Lamia (2023-08-07). "L'Algérie parmi les 20 puissances navales les plus fortes du monde en 2023". www.algerie360.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  4. ^ Rédaction, La (2024-05-26). "Rapport espagnol: l'Algérie est le seul pays de la région à pouvoir lancer des missiles offensifs depuis un sous-marin". Algérie Focus (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  5. ^ a b Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016 2015, p. 4.
  6. ^ Binnie, Jeremy (10 January 2019). "Algeria unveils new "Kilo"-class submarines". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Italian shipyard Fincantieri launched Algerian Navy future amphibious ship (BDSL program)". January 10, 2014. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "Le nouveau bâtiment de projection algérien". meretmarine.com. 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-04-13.
  9. ^ "Italian shipyard Fincantieri delivered amphibious ship Kalaat Beni-Abbes to Algerian Navy". September 7, 2014. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  10. ^ "First of Two German built MEKO A-200 AN Frigate Commissioned with Algerian Navy". February 29, 2016. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  11. ^ Akramov (2016-08-20). "EZZADJER arrive à Alger". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  12. ^ ""Северная верфь" — алжирскому флоту // НТВ.Ru". Archived from the original on 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  13. ^ Martin, Guy (3 April 2023). "Algerian Navy takes delivery of Chinese-built corvette". defenceWeb. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Intermarine achève un troisième chasseur de mines pour l'Algérie | Mer et Marine". www.meretmarine.com (in French). 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  15. ^ a b c d "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  16. ^ "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  17. ^ sablais, Le Reporter (2019-08-03). "Vendée - Le 5ème patrouilleur d'OCEA pour l'Algérie vient de quitter Les Sables d'Olonne". Le Reporter sablais (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  18. ^ Akramov (2016-02-05). "Une unité de fabrication de navires de sauvetage à Annaba". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  19. ^ "Record breaking contract!". maritime-partner.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  20. ^ Akramov (2021-04-20). "Un navire d'études hydrographique pour l'Algérie". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  21. ^ a b c "World Air Forces 2022". Flightglobal. 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Navantia to modernise Algerian Navy warships". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  23. ^ "Algerian National Navy, Algeria Naval forces, القوات البحرية الجزائرية, naval defence industry, navy technology, frigates, corvettes, submarines, systems". 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-02-06. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  24. ^ "Dutch OK Military Equipment Supply to Algeria | Army & Land Forces News at DefenceTalk". Archived from the original on 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  25. ^ "| : Armée algérienne : à quoi va servir la hausse du budget de la défense ? Blog Défense Armée algérienne : à quoi va servir la hausse du budget de la défense ? | Jeuneafrique.com - le premier site d'information et d'actualité sur l'Afrique". 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  26. ^ "Ocea livre le dernier des 21 patrouilleurs algériens | Mer et Marine". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
  27. ^ "Algeria - Navy - Equipment". Archived from the original on 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  28. ^ "News - maritime-partner.com > Record breaking contract!". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  29. ^ "Denel successfully fires land-based Umkhonto surface-to-air missile | defenceWeb". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  30. ^ "Italian shipyard Fincantieri delivered amphibious ship Kalaat Beni-Abbes to Algerian Navy". 7 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  31. ^ Akramov (2021-09-08). "L'Algérie commande six corvettes Type 56 à la Chine". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  32. ^ a b The Military Balance 2024, p. 344.
  33. ^ "Trade Registers". Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  34. ^ a b "Ranks". mdn.dz. Ministry of National Defence (Algeria). Retrieved 30 May 2021.

Sources

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  • Saunders, Stephen (2015). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-3143-5.
  • The International Institute for Strategic Studies (13 February 2024). The Military Balance 2024. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-78004-7.
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