Namibian Navy
Namibian Navy | |
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![]() Official Emblem, NN | |
Active | 10 October 2004 – present (19 years, 10 months) |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | Constitution of Namibia |
Type | Brown-water navy |
Size | 1200[1] |
Part of | Namibian Defence Force |
Garrison/HQ | Walvis Bay, Namibia |
Anniversaries | 11 September 1998(Maritime Wing),[2] 10 October 2004 (Navy) |
Commanders | |
Commander In Chief | President Hage Geingob |
Minister of Defence | Peter Vilho |
Navy Commander | Rear Admiral Sinsy Nghipandua |
Insignia | |
Naval Ensign | ![]() |
The Namibian Navy is the Maritime Warfare Branch of the Namibian Defence Force.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Namibian_Navy_Sailors.jpg/250px-Namibian_Navy_Sailors.jpg)
Development of Namibia's navy has been slow, and the force was only formally established in 11 September 1998 as a maritime wing and in 2004 as a fully fledged navy, fourteen years after independence. Extensive Brazilian aid has assisted in the development of the Namibian Navy. The first ten officers from the Namibian Army who would be the core group were sent to Brazil in August 1995 after Walvis Bay had been integrated into Namibia in 1994. This group led by Phestus Sacharia consisted of Headquarters staff and Ship captains[3]. They completed their studies in 1998 from the Admiral Wandenkolk Instruction Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[4] . In 1996 the second group of six students all members of the public were also sent to Brasil for studies. The Maritime wing headquarters was established in 1998, while in 2000 the Navy base construction at Walvis Bay started.[4]
Consisting of approximately 1200 personnel the Navy deploys a small number of lightly armed patrol vessels. The first maritime wing commander was Captain Phestus Sacharia. The first ship to be commissioned into service was the donated patrol boat Oryx in 2002.[5] Brazil and Namibia signed an agreement in 2004 for the delivery of a patrol boat and two smaller patrol craft. The newly built 200 ton patrol boat NS Brendan Simbwaye, built at the Brazilian shipyard INACE, was commissioned on January 19, 2009.[6]
An ongoing co-operation program allows Namibian sailors and naval officers to be trained by the Brazilian Navy; by 2009, 466 seamen had been trained. Brazil also provided assistance in preparing a nautical chart of the approach to Walvis Bay and consulting in charting the outer limits of the continental shelf.[7] The Brazilian Navy has also trained the Namibian Marine Corps.[8]
Role
The Ministry of Defence has outlined the Naval policy as follows:
"In peacetime, the Navy of the NDF have a role of augmenting civil offshore patrol forces, particularly providing the means and the expertise to execute enforcement action effectively. Specific tasks include assisting civil forces to combat illegal immigration, smuggling (arms, drugs etc.) and threats to the environment; conducting maritime surveillance, search and rescue; and assisting the Ministry of Fisheries with enforcing a fisheries protection regime. A longer term peacetime task is the protection of offshore oil, gas, diamonds and other installations. A navy aerial surveillance component is a necessary part of the defence system."[9]
Fleet
The fleet is operationally divided into Squadrons, the squadron are based on the different roles of the different boats and ships, the squadrons were activated on the 24th May 2018. There are four squadrons namely:
- Combat Squadron
- Combat Support Squadron
- Coastal Patrol Squadron
- Harbour Patrol Squadron
Current
Name | Picture | Origin | Class | Type | Built | Entered service (LNF) | Notes |
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Combat Support Squadron | |||||||
S11 Elephant | ![]() |
Elephant class | Logistics Support Vessel | 2012 | 2012 | Multipurpose offshore Patrol and logistics vessel built at Wuhan Shipyard. | |
Coastal Patrol Boat Squadron | |||||||
P11 Brendan Simbwaye | ![]() |
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Grajau Class | Patrol Boat | 2009 | 2010 | Hull P11 |
NPV Oryx | ![]() |
Oryx Class | Patrol Boat | 1975 | 2002 | Transferred from Namibian Fisheries ministry to Navy | |
Combat Squadron | |||||||
C12 Daures[10] | ![]() |
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Type 037 corvette Class [11] | Corvette | 2017 | Ex PLAN ship Wanning hull 786 | |
C13 Brukkaros[10] | ![]() |
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Type 037 corvette[11] | Corvette | 2017 | Ex PLAN ship Ledong Hull 748 | |
Harbor Patrol Squadron | |||||||
HPB20 Terrace Bay | ![]() |
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Marlim Class | Patrol Craft | 2009 | 2010 | Hull HPB20 |
HPB21 Möwe Bay | ![]() |
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Marlim Class | Patrol Craft | 2009 | 2010 | Hull HPB21 |
HPB01 and HPB02 | ![]() |
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Namacurra class | harbour patrol boat | 1980-1981 | 2002 | Donated by the South African Navy |
Other boats
In 2012/2013 the Namibian Navy ordered 19 new craft from Kobus Naval Design and Veercraft Marine of South Africa.[12]
- 5 Four meter Rowboats[12]
- 5 Six meter RHIBs
- 2 Six Meter Harbor Patrol Boats
- 2 Eight Meter Boarding Boats
- 2 Eight Meter Swamp Boats
- 1 Eleven Meter Landing Craft
- 2 Fourteen Meter Interceptors[13]
Decommissioned ships
- 1 Imperial Marinheiro class corvette - 1025 standard tons (1954)[14]
Installations
Naval Base Capt PN Sacharia
The naval base is situated at the port of Walvis Bay. The base was inaugurated in 2012 though its building was completed in 2004. It is officially known as the Naval Base Capt (N) P.N. Sacharia. Captain Phestus Sacharia (d. 2002) was the Maritime Wing's first commander and was instrumental in its establishment. The base has a 200 meter long jetty. The current base Commanding Officer is Captain. The base also houses the navy headquarters.
Naval Calling Station Luderitz
The Naval Calling Station Luderitz is based at Namibia's only other harbour town, Luderitz.[15] The commanding officer of the unit is Commander Natangwe Hekandjo,[16] he succeeded Coomander Simiranü Elia Ndiyaamena who had succeeded commander Armas Iigonda.[17]
Naval Training School
The Training School is located at the Rooikop Military base.[15] It was founded in 2009.[18] The school's Commandant is Marine Captain(N) Lazarus Erastus. Currently the school only trains junior naval ratings, administratively its divided into two wings namely the Sailors Training Wing and Marine Training Wing.[19] Courses offered at the school are the Basic Seamanship for sailors, Marine Soldier Specialization and Marine Section Commander Courses for marines.[19]
Old Naval Base
The 'Old Naval Base' in Walvis Bay functions as the current headquarters of the Namibian Marine Corps. The current Commandant of the Old Naval Base is Commander Rachel Tuyoleni.
Naval Base Impalila
Naval Base Impalila is a riverine naval base located at Impalila Island Zambezi Region and is permanently manned by marines.[20][21] The base's commandant is Commander (Marine) Christian Keendjele[22].
Organisation
The navy is a hierarchical organisation with the navy commander exercising overall command. The Navy Commander is always a 2 star flag officer who is then deputized by two 1 star flag officers heading the Naval Operations and the Naval Support directorates. The two directorates are made up of divisions headed by Chiefs of Staff(COS) who are usually Captain(N). Division of Naval Plans & Naval Operations falls under Naval Operations Directorate, while Naval Personnel & Naval ICT falls under Naval Support Directorate. The Navy is further augmented by the Namibian Marine Corps. The navy has 1200 personnel, most of whom have been trained in Brazil and South Africa.
Command structure
Sleeve insignia | Appointment | Rank and Name |
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Navy Commander | Rear Admiral Sinsy Ndeshi Bamba Nghipandua |
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Commander Naval Operations | Rear Admiral(JG) Alweendo P. Amungulu[23] |
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Commander Naval Support | Rear Admiral(JG) Nehemia Shikongo[24] |
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Senior Staff Officer Naval Personnel | Captain(N) Petrus N. Tjandja[25] |
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Senior Staff Officer Naval Operations | Captain(N) Davison Mwoombola[26] |
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Senior Staff Officer Naval Plans | Captain(N) Festus Negumbo[26] |
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Senior Staff Officer Naval ICT | Captain(N) Richard Kopano |
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Senior Staff Officer Force Preparation | Captain(N) Naftal Shuumbwa |
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Marine Corps Commandant | Captain(N) Appolos Haimbala |
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Naval Training School Commandant | Captain(N) Lazarus Erastus |
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PN Sacharia Naval Base Commandant | Captain(N) Armas Iigonda |
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Old Naval Base Commandant | Commander Rachel Tuyoleni |
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Naval Calling Station Commandant | Commander Natangwe Hekandjo[16] |
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Naval Base Impalila Commandant | Commander Christian Keendjele |
Master at Arms of the Navy |
Marines
The Namibian Marine Corps are a unit of the Navy. Its role is to provide naval infantry, amphibious, diving and small boat capability to the Navy. They are a battalion strong. The marines are trained by Brazilian naval instructors at the Naval Training School near Walvis Bay.The marine commandant is Captain Appolos Haimbala.[27]
Ranks and insignia
Naval ranks and insignia are based on the Royal Navy. Non-Commissioned Officers only retain the ranks as their insignia consists of a system of chevrons. The same ranks are also used by the Namibian Marine Corps. The highest rank in peace time a commissioned officer can attain in the navy is Rear Admiral. There may however be an exception when a naval officer is appointed as Chief of the Defence Force for which the individual which ascend to the rank of Vice-Admiral. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is Warrant Officer Class 1 but the highest appointment is Namibian Defence Force Sergeant Major.
Officer rank insignia
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral junior grade | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant junior grade | Ensign |
Non-commissioned officers and other appointments
Warrant Officer's can hold the following appointments.[29]
- Sergeant Major of the Namibian Defence Force
- Master-at-Arms of the Navy
- Command-Master-at-Arms
- Master-at-Arms
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Chief petty officer | Petty officer | Leading seaman | Able seaman | Seaman |
Proficiency badges
Gallery
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Naval Officers, sailors and marines of the Namibian Navy
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Marines of the Operational Boat Unit
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Namibian Navy Namacurra with a fisheries patrol vessel
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NS Daures & Brukkaros
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NS Brendan Simbwaye
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Marlim Class HPB
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.mod.gov.na/web/mod/navy1
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Namibia Defence Force: Namibia Navy marks its day.(n.d). Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved October 10, 2011, Namibian Ministry of Defence
- ^ Press release: Brazil exports warship to Namibia, Brazilian Navy, January 8, 2009. (in Portuguese)
- ^ Brazil-Namibia co-operation, Brazilian Navy (in Portuguese)
- ^ "Marinha do Brasil forma Primeira Turma de Soldados Fuzileiros Navais da Namíbia". Mar.mil.br. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ "Ministry of Defence". Mod.gov.na. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Nghipandua jetzt Chef - Ministerium - Allgemeine Zeitung". Az.com.na. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Two new navy vessels delivered for Namibia - Namib Times". Namibtimes.net. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ a b Martin, Guy. "KND progressing with 19-vessel order for Namibian Navy - defenceWeb". defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "Namibia navy orders 17 new vessels". namibian.com.na. Retrieved 2 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Naval ship, Lt. Gen Dimo Hamaambo decommissioned". New Era. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ a b New Era Publication Corporation. "Namibian navy weathering the storm". New Era Newspaper Namibia.
- ^ a b Reporter, New Era Staff (15 February 2018). "Change of command at Naval calling station".
- ^ New Era Publication Corporation. "Decorated naval officer praised for dedication". New Era Newspaper Namibia.
- ^ Marketing, Intouch Interactive. "Prince dethroned in title fight - Sports - Namibian Sun". namibiansun.com. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Naval Training School - GRN Portal". www.mod.gov.na.
- ^ https://www.namibian.com.na/79931/read/Impalila-naval-base-commissioned
- ^ [1]
- ^ https://www.namibian.com.na/79931/read/Impalila-naval-base-commissioned
- ^ "SAS SPIOENKOP visits Walvisbaai". Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Infantaria de Fuzileiros Navais da Namíbia inicia suas atividades". Alide.com.br. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Ministry of Defense". Mod.gov.na. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ [2] [dead link]
Further reading
- Navy (Namibia) (2011) Retrieved October 10, 2011, from Janes articles
- List of Namibian admirals