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Royal Moroccan Navy

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Royal Moroccan Navy
القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية
Flag of the Royal Moroccan Navy
Founded11th century
Country Morocco
TypeNavy
Size7,800 personnel (includes 1,500 Marines)[1]
Part ofRoyal Moroccan Armed Forces
HeadquartersRabat
AnniversariesApril 1st (foundation)
Equipment121 vessels 17 aircraft
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefKing Mohammed VI
Inspector General of the NavyVice-Admiral Mostapha El Alami
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Aircraft flown
HelicopterAS565 Panther

The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية) is a branch of the military of Morocco responsible for conducting naval operations. The Royal Moroccan Navy is administratively managed by the Administration of Defence, which is (de facto) commanded by King Mohammed VI, the commander-in-chief of the Moroccan Armed Forces.

Mission

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The Royal Moroccan Navy is part of the Moroccan Armed Forces. Its mission includes the protection of Moroccan territory and sovereignty, as well as the control of Morocco's 81,000-square-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Given Morocco's significant coastline (2,952 km) and strategic position overseeing the Strait of Gibraltar, it (along with Spain and the United Kingdom) is deeply involved in the security of this important international waterway.

History

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The history of the modern Royal Moroccan Navy began in 1960 with its foundation by King Mohammed V. The first admiral of the modern Moroccan Navy was Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki, who held the position as the Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy for 14 years from 1991 to 2005, and devoted 46 years of services to the Moroccan Navy. Vice Admiral Triki was awarded these decorations: (from Morocco) Legion of the Order of Commander, Knight of the Order of the Throne by his majesty King Hassan II; (from France) Legion of Honor by President Jacques Chirac; (from USA) Legion of Merit by President Bill Clinton; and (from Spain) Legion of Merit. Although the modern Royal Navy was structured following independence, the Moroccan naval military traces its roots back to the 11th century, with the rise of the Almoravid dynasty, and its ambition for naval hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea. Admiral Abdullah Ben Meimoun is credited for being the first commander of the Almoravid dynasty organized naval forces. With the Almohad dynasty taking over most of northern Africa, together with Al-Andalus, the Almohad dynasty navy soon became the "first fleet of the Mediterranean".[2] At its peak, the Almohad navy's military reputation was well known, inciting Ayyubid dynasty Egypt and Saladin to seek its help in preventing Crusades expeditions. The 16th century had the starting decline of the Moroccan state and consequently the navy that served it. The capture of major coastal cities and locations by Spain and Portugal significantly affected Morocco's naval capabilities.

Ranks

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Main article: Military ranks of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces

Officers

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Rank group General/Flag/Air officers Senior officers Junior officers
Royal Moroccan Navy[3]
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau-major Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe

Enlisted

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Royal Moroccan Navy[3]
 No insignia
Maître principal Premier maître Maître Second-maître de 1ère classe Second-maître de 2ème classe Quartier-maître de 1ère classe Quartier-maître de 2ème classe Matelot de 1ère classe Matelot

Bases

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The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in:

Equipment

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Warships

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Class Photo No. Ship Origin Year
Commissioned 		Note
Frigates (6)
FREMM 701 Mohammed VI  France/ Italy 2014 ASW version[4]
Floréal 611 Mohammed V  France 2002
612 Hassan II  France 2002
Sigma 613 Tarik Ben Ziyad  Netherlands 2011 Sigma 10513 version

(Frigate)[5][6]

614 Sultan Moulay Ismail  Netherlands 2012 Sigma 9813 version (multi mission frigate)
615 Allal Ben Abdellah  Netherlands 2012 Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate)
Corvettes (1)
Descubierta Descubierta class Lieutenant Colonel Errahmani 501 Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani Spain Spain 1983 Updated in 2014[7]
Missile boats (4)
Lazaga 304 El Khattabi  Spain 1981
305 Commandant Boutouba  Spain 1981
306 Commandant El Harty  Spain 1982
307 Commandant Azouggarh  Spain 1982
Patrol boats (18)
OPV-70 341 Bir Anzaran 341 Bir Anzaran  France 2011 4 under construction
OPV-64 322 Raïs Al Mounastiri. 318 Raïs Bargach  France 1995
319 Raïs Britel  France 1996
320 Raïs Charkaoui  France 1996
321 Raïs Maaninou  France 1997
322 Raïs Al Mounastiri  France 1997
Osprey 55 308 El Lahiq  Denmark 1987
309 El Tawfiq  Denmark 1988
316 El Hamiss  Denmark 1990
317 El Karib  Denmark 1990
Cormoran 310 Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi f 1988
311 Errachiq 1988
312 El Akid 1989
313 El Maher 1989
314 El Majid 1989
315 El Bachir 1989
PR-72 302 Okba  France 1976
303 Triki  France 1977
Damen Interceptor 1503 1-5 TBD  Netherlands 2016 5 under construction for Coast Guard Duties, capable of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph)
Fearless 36 12 Boats
Map

Amphibious and auxiliary vessels

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Class Photo No. Ship Year
commissioned 		Note
Amphibious ships
BATRAL 402 Daoud Ben Aicha 1977
403 Ahmed Es Sakali 1977
404 Abou Abdallah El Ayachi 1978
LCT 409 Sidi Ifni Landing craft tank[8]
Support ships
Hydrographic and oceanographic boat 804 Dar Al Beida 2018 Used to chart the underwater coastal area[9]
Ad Dakhla CLS 408 Daoud Ben Aicha 1997 Cargo ship which has a displacement of 2100 tons[10]
Hydrographic research boat H-01 H-01 2011 Used to chart the underwater coastal area.
Damen Stan Tug 2208 A2 Al Mounkid 2015 Coastal & harbour tug[11]
BBP 803 BBP Submariner training ship

Inshore patrol vessels

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  • P-32
    • El Wacil (203)
    • El Jail (204)
    • El Mikdam (205)
    • El Khafir (206)
    • El Haris (207)
    • Essahir (208)
    • Erraid (209)
    • Erraced (210)
    • El Kaced (211)
    • Essaid (212)
  • VCSM/RPB 20 (107-116)
  • Rodman-101 (130-139)
  • Arcor-46 (D01-D18) In Service with Moroccan Customs
  • 15 Arcor-53 In Service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 2 Griffon 500TD hovercraft In service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 10 Rodman-55
  • 10 Arcor-17
      • No boats of this class have been built yet. Russia has offered the sub for sale to India, but in 2005, India ordered Scorpène-class submarines instead. On 4 July 2013, Rosoboronexport announced they will offer the Amur 1650 to the Moroccan Navy if they announce a tender for new submarines.[5]

Aircraft

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Main article: List of active Moroccan military aircraft
Aircraft Photo Origin Mission In Service Note
Maritime patrol aircraft
Britten-Norman Defender  United Kingdom Maritime patrol aircraft 14 Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force
Beech King Air  United States Maritime patrol aircraft 4[12] Two more were delivered in 2020. They are all of the 350ER versions
Helicopters
Eurocopter AS565 MA  France Naval Military utility 3 Operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy
Bell 412 MA  United States Anti-submarine helicopter 24 24 ordered by the Royal Moroccan Navy

Notable sailors

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Abdelkader Perez, Admiral and an ambassador to England in 1723.
  • Abdellah Ben Soleïman, commander of the Almohad fleet under sultan Abd al-Mu'min.
  • Abdellah Ben Taâ Allah, commander of the Almohad fleet under Muhammad an-Nasir and governor of Majorca.
  • Abdellah Ben Aïcha, admiral of Salé, ambassador to king Louis XIV of France in 1689.
  • Abdelkader Perez, ambassador to England in 1723 and again in 1737.
  • Corsair Triki of Salé, 17th century.
  • Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki of Safi, Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy from July 1991 to June 2005.
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  • Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
    Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
  • Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
    Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
  • Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
    Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
  • Floréal class Mohammed V
    Floréal class Mohammed V
  • OPV-64 Raïs Al Mounastiri
    OPV-64 Raïs Al Mounastiri
  • OPV-64 Rais Charkaoui
    OPV-64 Rais Charkaoui
  • AS565 MA Panther of the RMN
    AS565 MA Panther of the RMN
  • Eurocopter AS565 MA Panther of the RMN
    Eurocopter AS565 MA Panther of the RMN
  • Lazaga class Commandant Azouggarh
    Lazaga class Commandant Azouggarh
  • BATRAL LST Abou Abdallah El Ayachi
    BATRAL LST Abou Abdallah El Ayachi
  • Newport class Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah (inactive)
    Newport class Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah (inactive)
  • Moroccan Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) team during multi-national exercise Phoenix Express 2007.
    Moroccan Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) team during multi-national exercise Phoenix Express 2007.
  • Marines from Morocco during exercise Phoenix Express 2009.
    Marines from Morocco during exercise Phoenix Express 2009.
  • Moroccan sailors conduct boarding exercises.
    Moroccan sailors conduct boarding exercises.
  • Moroccan maritime interdiction operations team on basic close quarter battle training in Exercise Phoenix Express 2010.
    Moroccan maritime interdiction operations team on basic close quarter battle training in Exercise Phoenix Express 2010.

See also

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References

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  • Baker III, A. D. (1998). Combat Fleets of the World 1998-1999. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
  1. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. London: Routledge. p. 356. ISBN 9781032012278.
  2. ^ André, Charles-André (1994). Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord. Paris: Payot. p. 866. ISBN 978-2-228-88789-2.
  3. ^ a b Ehrenreich, Frederich (1985). "National Security". In Nelson, Harold D. (ed.). Morocco: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American University. pp. 350–351. LCCN 85600265. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  4. ^ "DCNS delivers multimission frigate Mohammed VI to Royal Moroccan Navy". January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  5. ^ "Shipbuilding Tribune - First Multi Mission Frigate for Royal Moroccan Navy Starts Sea Trials". 2011-08-11. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  6. ^ "Shipbuilding Tribune - Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Delivers SIGMA Class Frigate to Royal Moroccan Navy". 2012-03-31. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  7. ^ "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  8. ^ "MAROC - Commande d'une barge LCT de 50m - Dossier de presse : l'Actualité - PIRIOU - Construction, réparation et ingénierie navale". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  9. ^ "Piriou décroche la commande d'un bâtiment océanographique pour le Maroc". Archived from the original on 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  10. ^ Colombaro, Mike (2012-03-05). "Combat Fleets Of The World: Future of the Royal Moroccan Navy". Combat Fleets Of The World. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  11. ^ "Royal Moroccan Navy turns to Damen for first tug". Archived from the original on 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  12. ^ "Morocco starts maritime patrols with newly delivered King Air 350ER aircraft". defenceWeb. 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
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