Egyptian Navy

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The Egyptian Navy is the smallest branch of the Egyptian military. The navy's missions include protection of more than 2,000 kilometers of coastline of the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, defense of approaches to the Suez Canal, and support for army operations.

The navy's main operational subdivisions are the Frigate, Submarine, Mine Warfare, Missile Boat, and Coastal Patrol Boat commands. Commanding the naval forces is Vice Admiral Moheb Memish as of 1 Nov 2007.

The navy lacks its own air arm and depends on the air force for maritime reconnaissance and protection against submarines. The air force equipment that supports the navy includes 9 Gazelle, 13 SH-2G Seasprite and 5 Sea King helicopters mounted with antiship and antisubmarine missiles. In mid-1988 the air force also took delivery of the first of six E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, it also operates 6 Beech 1900C aircraft for maritime surveillance purposes with search and side-looking radar. The Egyptian Navy also uses Mi-8 and H-3 Sea King helicopters to transport troops.^[1]

The Egyptian Navy has adopted the 60m, diesel-powered Ambassador MK III fast missile patrol craft and construction of the boats began in spring 2001. Egypt already had an older version of the Ambassador patrol craft in service, but the new boats would contain an update in design meant to make the vessels more resistant to radar detection. Design was conducted with the assistance of Lockheed Martin.

Contents 1 The Current Fleet 1.1 Submarine Force 1.2 Surface Combattant Force 1.2.1 Guided Missile Frigates 1.2.2 General Purpose & ASW Frigates 1.3 Littoral Warfare Force 1.3.1 Guided Missile Combatants 1.3.2 Large Fast Attack Crafts (FAC) Missile 1.3.3 Coastal Fast Attack Crafts (FAC) Missile 1.3.4 ASW Coastal Patrol Boats 1.3.5 Coastal Patrol Boats 1.4 Amphibious Forces 1.5 Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) 1.6 Auxiliary Ships 1.7 Training Ships 2 The Egyptian Coast Guard (ECG) 2.1 Patrol Boats 2.2 Patrol Crafts 3 Weaponry 3.1 Ship to Ship/Surface Missiles 3.2 Surface to Ship/Surface Missile (Coastal Defence) 3.3 Air to Surface/Ship Missiles 4 Bases 5 Records and Milestones 6 See also 7 References

[edit] The Current Fleet

For detailed informations about modifications, and major specifications: List of ships of the Egyptian Navy

The Egyptian Navy (EN) currently consists of 114 ships and craft:

[edit] Submarine Force

• 4 Improved Romeo class

831 , 842, 852, 858

[edit] Surface Combattant Force

[edit] Guided Missile Frigates

• 4 Mubarak (Oliver Hazard Perry) class
• 2 Domyat (Knox) class

[edit] General Purpose & ASW Frigates

• 2 Descubierta class
• 2 Jianghu class
• 2 Koni class (ex-Yugoslavia)

[edit] Littoral Warfare Force

[edit] Guided Missile Combatants

• 4 Ambassador MK III class

[edit] Large Fast Attack Crafts (FAC) Missile

• 4 Osa class missile boat I (Type 205)
• 5 Tiger class (Class 148)
• 6 Ramadan class

[edit] Coastal Fast Attack Crafts (FAC) Missile

• 4 October class
• 5 Hegu class

[edit] ASW Coastal Patrol Boats

• 8 Hainan class

[edit] Coastal Patrol Boats

• 6 Shershen class
• 4 Shanghai II class

[edit] Amphibious Forces

• 3 Polnocny A class Landing Ships, Medium (LSMs)
• 9 Vydra class Landing Craft, Utility (LCU)
• 8 Seafox class Landing Craft, Assault (LCA)

[edit] Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs)

• 6 T-43 class Fleet Minesweepers (MSFs)
• 4 Yurka class Fleet Minesweepers (MSFs)
• 2 Osprey class Coastal Mine Hunters (MHCs)
• 3 Swiftships Coastal Mine Hunters (MHCs)
• 2 Swiftships Inshore Route Survey Vessels (MSIs)
• 4 Tuima class Minelayer boats (MLC) ^[2]

[edit] Auxiliary Ships

• 6 Okhtenskiy Ocean Tug
• 8 Toplivo II Coastal Tankers

[edit] Training Ships

• 1 El Fateh (Z) class Destroyer
• 1 Tariq (Blackswan) class Frigate(Sloop)
• 1 Intissar class Ship
• 1 El Horeya Yacht
• 1 El Quosseir Yacht

[edit] The Egyptian Coast Guard (ECG)

The Coast Guard is responsible for the onshore protection of public installations near the coast and the patrol of coastal waters to prevent smuggling. Currently consists of one hundred five ships and craft.

[edit] Patrol Boats

• 21 Timsah class
• 9 Swiftships class

[edit] Patrol Crafts

• 9 Type 83 class
• 6 Crestitalia class
• 12 Spectre class
• 12 Petersen class
• 5 Nisr class
• 29 DC class

[edit] Weaponry

[edit] Ship to Ship/Surface Missiles

• Harpoon with 120km range and 220kg payload (launched from Ambassador class FPB/M, Knox class frigates, Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates & Discubierta class light frigates).
• Exocet (MM-38) with 65km range and 165kg payload (launched from Tiger class FPB/M).
• HY-2 Silkworm with 95km range and 513kg payload (launched from Hegu class Coastal FAC/M).
• Otomat Mk1 with 80km range and 210kg payload (launched from Ramadan class FPB/M).
• SS-N-2a Styx with 43km range and 513kg payload (launched from OSA I & October class FAC/M).

[edit] Surface to Ship/Surface Missile (Coastal Defence)

• FL-1 with 95km range and 513kg payload.
• AS-5 Kelt with 250km range and 1000kg payload. (Modified from air launched version)
• Otomat MkII with 180km+ range and 210kg payload.
• Exocet (MM-40 MK III) with 180km range and 165kg payload.

[edit] Air to Surface/Ship Missiles

• Exocet (AM-39) with 70km range and 165kg payload (launched from Mirage 5 & Mirage 2000).
• Harpoon with 120km range and 220kg payload (launched from F-4E & F-16C/D fighters).

See also: List of naval ships of Egypt

[edit] Bases

The Egyptian navy's main base is at Alexandria. There are also bases in Hurghada ,Safaga and Suez.

[edit] Records and Milestones

In 1967, the Egyptian Navy was the first navy in history to sink down a ship via anti-ship missiles when Egyptian Komar class fast-attack craft sank the Israeli destroyer Eilat with at least three direct hits. This was a milestone of modern naval warfare, and for the first time anti-ship missiles showed their potential, sinking this destroyer at 17 km from Port Said.

[edit] See also

• Egyptian Armed Forces

[edit] References

• Globalsecurity.org - egyptian navy