Albanian Naval Force
| Albanian Naval Forces Forca Detare | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1925 – today |
| Country |  Albania |
| Allegiance | Republic of Albania |
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 3,100 |
| Part of | Albanian Armed Forces |
| Anniversaries | December 25 – Navy's Foundation Day |
| Equipment | 31 vessels |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Ensign |  |
| Naval Ensign (1958–1992) | .svg) |
| Naval Ensign (1954–1958) | .svg) |
The Albanian Naval Force (Albanian: Forca Detare) is the naval branch of the Albanian military. Their name was changed from the Albanian Naval Defense Forces in 2010.[1] The Albanian Navy Headquarters is located in Durrës, and operates 2 bases: Kepi i Palit base in Durrës, and Pashaliman in Vlora.
The vessels of the Albanian Navy Brigade are mostly patrol craft and support craft, most of which were donated by Italy and the United States. Former Soviet or Chinese boats have been retired from service. Only 1 Soviet built minesweeper remains in service, pending the arrival of 4 large Damen Stan Type 4207 patrol boats from the Netherlands.
The Navy performs mainly duties, based on the concept of "one Force, two Missions." The legal framework has been updated in order to facilitate these missions and EU-NATO integration. Turkey and Greece are also assisting Albania in a common effort to modernize the current Naval Academy and rebuild the repair facilities in the Pashaliman district. The Navy is also responsible for aids to navigation, including lighthouses.[2]
History
Until 1996 Albania had more than 145 vessels in service. 45 of them were small, fast Chinese Type 25 Huchuan Class PHT torpedo boats, carrying two/four 533 mm Torpedoes, and some Shanghai-class coastal ASW patrol craft. The glory of the fleet were 4 Soviet built Whiskey class submarines, a direct result of an Albanian-Soviet dispute over their ownership, after Albania withdrew from the Warsaw Pact (1961) and the Soviets abandoned the Pashaliman base. The submarines were put into full service thanks to Chinese assistance, but by the end of 80's their efficiency was in doubt due to Albanian isolation and the end of Chinese help. Officially, the submarines were retired in 1998.
Equipment
Patrol craft
| Class | Photo | No. | Ship | Year Commissioned |
Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal patrol vessels | |||||
Damen Stan 4207
|
|
P 131 | Iliria | 2008 | Built in Netherlands |
| P 132 | Oriku | 2011 | Built in Albania (Pashaliman Naval Base) | ||
| P 133 | Lisus | 2012 | Built in Albania (Pashaliman Naval Base) | ||
| P 134 | Butrinti | 2014[3] | Built in Albania (Pashaliman Naval Base) | ||
T43 class |
 |
M-111 | 1960 | Soviet built at Izhora Leningrad (Pontonny Shipyard) and to be retired | |
| Project 122bis |
 |
P 207 | 1960 | Soviet built at Zelenodolsk and 1 of 6 built for Albania (2 returned to Soviet Union) | |
| Patrol boats | |||||
Seaspectre Mk III
|
|
R 215 R 216 |
1999 | 1 of 3 from the United States; built either by Marinette Marine or Peterson Builders 1968–1975 | |
| R 118 | 1999 | 1 of 3 from the United States; built either by Marinette Marine or Peterson Builders 1968–1975 | |||
| Patrol Craft, Coastal
|
|
R 117 | 45' PCC Class From US Coast Guard | ||
| R 217 | 45' PCC Class From US Coast Guard | ||||
Super Speranza |
 |
R ??? R 123 R 124 R 225 R 226 |
2002 | Donated by Italy Type 227 ex-Italian Coast Guard Built by Cantieri Rodriguez with Iveco Aifo 828SRM,4 between 1966–1969 and 1 in 1980 ex CP 224, delivered 2008 ex CP 229, delivered 18.6.2002 ex CP 124, delivered 18.6.2002 ex CP 225 ex CP 226, delivered 18.6.2002 | |
| 44' Archangel |
 |
5 boats | Donated by the US government,3 in August 2010 and 2 more in 14 March 2013,for drug interdiction.[4] Built by SAFE Boats International | ||
| Classe 2000 |
 |
R 125 R 126 R 127 R 128 R 224 R 227 R 228 |
2002 | Donated by Italy Type 2000 ex-Italian Coast Guard ex CP 2008, delivered in 2004 ex CP 2020, delivered in 2004 ex CP 2021, delivered in 2004 ex CP 2034, delivered in 2004 ex CP 2010, delivered 18.6.2002 ex CP 2007, delivered in 2004 ex CP 2023, delivered in 2004 | |
Service craft
| Type | Class | In Service | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service repair vessel | Landing Craft, Tank, Mk 3  Converted to support vessel |
1 | Donated by Italy ex MOC 1203 Italian Navy Delivered 18.6.2002 |
| Diving support vessel | Project 522 Nyryat I |
1 | Nyryat class from the Soviet Union |
| Torpedo recovery vessel | Project 368 Poluchat |
1 | From the Soviet Union |
| Anti-pollution boat | |
3 | 2 donated by Italy Type Siman C.1297 Delivered 26.8.2009 and 9.9.2009 [5] |
| Minesweeper | Project 501 (PO-2) |
2 | |
| survey boat | |
1 | Donated by Italy Delivered in 2003 [6] |
| lighter | 1 |
See also
References
- ^ Kondi, Luan (25 April 2010). "Forcat e Armatosura, struktura e re pa Komandën e Bashkuar". Shqip newspaper (in Albanian).
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Albania". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ^ "Një anije e re i shtohet Forcës sonë Detare" (html). MoD. April 2014.
- ^ Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (March 2011). "International Narcotics Control Strategy Report Volume I Drug and Chemical Control" (pdf). United States Department of State. p. 107.
- ^ http://www.difesa.it/OperazioniMilitari/op_int_concluse/DIE/notizie_teatro/Pagine/Consegna_alle_Forze_Navali_albane_10505marino.aspx
- ^ http://www.iho.int/mtg_docs/CB/CBA/Technical%20visits/TV08/TVALBANIA.pdf
Sources
- Wertheim, Eric. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 2005–2006; Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. US Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Maryland. 2005.
- Jane's Fighting Ships 2005–2006, Jane's Information Group, ISBN 0-7106-2692-4
- The Military Balance 2008, The International Institute for Strategic Studies, ISBN 978-1-85743-461-3
