Lebanese Navy
Lebanese Navy | |
---|---|
File:Lebanese Navy Flag.gif | |
Active | 1950 - present |
Country | Lebanon |
Type | Navy |
Size | 1,800 [1] |
Part of | Lebanese Armed Forces |
Headquarters | Beirut Naval Base |
List of Equipment | Vessels |
Engagements | Operation Nahr el-Bared |
Commanders | |
Commander | ADM Ali AL Mouaalem |
Insignia | |
Emblem | An editor has nominated the above file for discussion of its purpose and/or potential deletion. You are welcome to participate in the discussion and help reach a consensus. |
The Lebanese Navy (Arabic: القوات البحرية اللبنانية al-Quwa'at al-bahriya al-Lubna'aniya) is the Navy of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was formed in 1950 and based in Beirut Naval Base, Lebanon’s first naval base. The navy, which currently lacks the proper number of equipment, has an number of approximately 50 vessels of various sizes and roles; however, the navy is trying to modernize itself, and increase its size. The flag of the Lebanese navy depicts a Phoenician ship with the Lebanese Cedar tree, positioned on an anchor above the Arabic inscription of the navy's name.
History
The Lebanese Navy was founded in 1950, and stationed in Beirut Naval Base, the Lebanese flag was hoisted on a military ship for the first time in 1954. In 1972, Jounieh Naval Base was established, followed by the Naval Academy in 1973, which took from Naval base in Jounieh a place. In 1976, a naval company was put in charge as a presidential guard because no other unit was available for that task, as the Lebanese Civil War was at its beginning.
The name of the navy was changed in 1982 replacing Naval Defense Forces by Naval Forces. After the long civil war came to an end, the naval bases had to be restored, both Beirut Naval Base and Jounieh Naval Base were reclaimed and reestablished in 1991. The base in Jounieh was completely destroyed after being attacked in 1990, whilst Beirut's did not suffer such destruction.
Organizational Structure
Mission
The Lebanese Navy's missions include the following:
- Preserve the safety of Lebanese coast and territorial waters.
- Give naval support to the army units.
- Counter Smuggling and Piracy.
- Search and rescue at sea.
- Prevent sea pollution and preserve marine environment.
- Support the domestic commercial fleet.
- Execute surveillance and control of navigation within the territorial waters, according to the joint maritime operations center instructions.
- Impose nation's authority and apply Lebanese and international laws.
Bases
The Lebanese Navy has two naval bases:
- Beirut Naval Base
- Jounieh Naval Base
- Includes the Naval Academy
The Lebanese government approved on January 16, 2009 a request by the Lebanese Ministry of Defense to build a new naval base on the shores of Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.[2]
Equipment and Systems
Present Vessels
Type | Class/Country of Origin | Details | Numbers |
---|---|---|---|
Patrol boats | Germany | 41 -Amchit - 34 meters (ex-Bremen 2) | |
Avel Gwalarn Class[3] / France | 43 - Al-Kalamoun - 30.35 meters (ex-DF 41) | ||
Class 905 / Germany | 42 -Tabarja - 28 meters (ex-Y838 Bergen) | ||
Fassmer FFPB 20 / Germany | Nakoura - 20 meters (ex-Bremen 9) | ||
Tracker class / United Kingdom | 307 - Sarafand | ||
303 - Batroun | |||
Attacker class / United Kingdom | 301 - Trablous | ||
302 - Jounieh | |||
304 - Jbeil | |||
305 - Beirut | |||
306 - Saida | |||
Medium Yacht (Captured from a drug smuggler) [4] | 501 - Imanuella | ||
Watercraft 45 ft/ UK | 13.7 meters CPC | 4 | |
Fast intercept boats | United Arab Emirates | 12 meters | 6 |
16 meters | 4 | ||
Phenix 55 FPB / Lebanon [5] | Sannine, 46 knots | 1 | |
Landing craft | EDIC-III Class (59 meters LCU-LCT) / France | 21 - Sour | |
22 - Damour | |||
Combat support boats | MK2 / United Kingdom | 8.24 Meters CSB/BEB | 27 |
The UAE promised to donate three more patrol boats the Lebanese Navy[6], the type and equipment are still unknown. The United States promised to deliver one 42m blue-water CSC-137 Class-1 patrol craft.[7]
Past Vessels
Type | Class/Country of Origin | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Large patrol craft boats | France | 1959 | 1991 | 31 - Tarablous |
Coastal patrol craft | Byblos class / France | 1955 | 1991 | 11 - Byblos |
1955 | 1991 | 12 - Sidon | ||
1955 | 1991 | 13 - Beirut |
Coastal Radar Stations
Lebanese Armed Forces |
---|
Organization |
Personnel |
Topics of Lebanon |
The Lebanese Navy is in charge of the coastal radar stations, in 1992, three stations in all of Tripoli, Sidon, and Tyre were established, followed by upgrades and new stations in 1997. However, during War 2006 all of stations were bombed by the Israeli Army. After the war ended, Germany and Lebanese signed a bilateral agreement to establish The Coastal Radar Organization (CRO) which aims to create and consolidate a chain of seven coastal radar stations with the ability to cover the entire Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. Three of these stations are older and are being refurbished with new equipment and facilities; the four other are new installations.[8]
Surveillance
In February, 2008, the Lebanese navy ordered six Pharos XLR3+ Long Range Multisensor Surveillance Platforms in order to equip their naval stations which lack 24/7 long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in all weather conditions [9].
Training
The Lebanese Naval Forces send nearly all of their Navy officers for training abroad in a variety of European countries as well as the United States. Each country offers different training depending on the specializations of each officer. Officers sent to the United States have undergone schooling in surface warfare and experienced on job training with the US Coast Guard. Many Lebanese Naval Forces Engineers head to France where they receive education regarding detection, transmission, and artillery. Skills used in much of the domestic duties of the Lebanese Naval Forces from initial staff courses, amphibious training, and maritime drug enforcement are taught at British academies.[10]
Cooperation with the UNIFIL MTF
The existence of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force is helping the Lebanese Navy to enhance the skills of its personnel through the periodical joint exercises and daily cooperation. Upon the arrival of the MTF to the region (after the 2006 Lebanon War), the Lebanese Navy began jointly working with the navy in lead, which at the time was the Italian Navy, in order to insure a successful outcome to the assigned peace operation.[11]
Figures
- Admiral Émile Lahoud who was elected the President of Lebanon in 1998.
See also
References
- ^ "قبيل تسلّم إيطاليا مهام القيادة من ألمانيا". Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). March, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
{{cite magazine}}
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(help) - ^ "Naval Base on the Shores of Nahr al-Bared Camp". Naharnet Newsdesk. January 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "Cérémonie de cession de la vedette française DF41 Avel Gwalarn au Liban" (in French). Ministère de la défense - Marine Nationale. May 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World. 291 Wood Road, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 446. ISBN 159114955X.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "جدول أعمال جلسة مجلس الوزراء التي ستعقد بتاريخ 8 نيسان 2009" (in Arabic). Lebanon Files. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
{{cite news}}
:|first=
missing|last=
(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Nerguizian, Aram (February 10, 2009). "The Lebanese Armed Forces - Challenges and Opportunities in Post-Syria Lebanon" (PDF). Center for Strategic & International Studies. p. 55. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ Goksel, Timur (January, 2008). "Germany's Contribution to Lebanese Sovereignty" (PDF). DGAP standpunkt. 1 (January, 2008). DGAP standpunkt: 4. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Lebanese Navy Order Pharos Long Range Multi-Sensor Surveillance Platform". Advanced Imaging Pro. February 14, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ "Lebanese Navy". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ "UNIFIL MTF and the Lebanese Navy cooperation and contribution to PSO" (.pdf). Rear Admiral (UH) Ali EL MOALLEM. Retrieved 2008-12-29.