Atlit naval base
{{Short description|Military base of Israeli forces}}
{{coord|32|42|19|N|34|56|02|E|display=title|region:IL-HA_type:landmark_source:dewiki}}
Atlit naval base is a classified Israeli Navy base on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel. The base is home to Shayetet 13, Israel's naval commando unit.
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Altit Naval Base
| ensign = IN Atlit Tag.svg
| ensign_size = 100px
| country = {{country|Israel}}
| image = Isnavsht13.jpg
| caption = Coat of Arms of the base
| type = Naval Base
| image_map =
| image_mapsize =
| image_map_alt =
| image_map_caption =
| ownership = {{armed forces|Israel}}
| operator = {{navy|Israel}}
| garrison =
{{navy|Israel}}
}}
In 2010, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the base to salute the commandos who took part in the Gaza flotilla raid.[http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=192926 Netanyahu salutes Shayetet 13 soldiers in 'Marmara' raid] During the Operation Arrows of the North, Hezbollah claimed that its drone squadron successfully struck the Atlit base.{{Cite web |last=Najjar |first=Farah |title=Hezbollah target Israeli naval base near Haifa |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/24/israel-attacks-lebanon-live-global-calls-for-restraint-as-492-killed |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |quote=The group says in a statement that it unleashed a squadron of attack drones on the headquarters of the Israeli army’s Special Naval Task Force at the Alit Base. Hezbollah said that this attack on the Alit base targeted “the locations of [Israeli] officers and soldiers” and achieved direct hits.}}
Atlit Shipyard
Atlit Shipyard, a part of the Naval Shipyards (Israel) is also in the parameter of the base.
=Establishment=
After the establishment of Shayetet 13, the research and planning division of the Weapons Development Authority , began a project based on sabotage boats that were manufactured in Italy and which were used to sink Emir Farooq. A new model passed the tests in Shipyard until March 1954 and in April of that year it was tested by the Navy and its production began. In 1956 the boats entered operational use in the Navy.{{Cite book |author=Yosef Evron|title=The Defense Industry in Israel |year=1980 |chapter=The Historical Development. Subchapter: C-11 Remotely Guided Bombing Boat |page=324-325|publisher=Ministry of Defense (Israel)}}
=Integration into Naval Shipyards=
After the integration of Shayetet 13 into the Navy, the Shayetet 13 shipyard was subordinated to the Naval Shipyard.{{Cite book |title=Zev Almost|author=Zev Almog |chapter=Infrastructure Works|page=1020-1021}} In 1958, bodies of pigs were developed by Lt. Col. Haim Shachel. The design was outsourced to the Orlight plant in Ness Ziona and in 1963 a molded fiberglass model was launched as a unified body and not composed of separate parts.{{Cite book|author=Salmon Wolf |title=Lone wolf in a thick forest|page=277}}
=Covert Operations=
Covert repairs and operations were also carried out in this shipyard.{{Cite book|author=Zev Almog|title=Zev Almog|chapter=Technological Head|page=438-441}}
Château Pèlerin
Within the base stands Château Pèlerin, a medieval crusader fortress currently closed to the public.{{cite web |author=Moshe Gilad |date=Jul 13, 2016 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/travel/.premium-1.730008 |title=The Most Beautiful Place in Israel That You Can’t See |work=Haaretz |url-access=subscription}}
File:Atlit fort (short).JPG|Château Pèlerin, on the grounds of the Atlit naval base
File:Athlit fortress 6 (short).JPG|Another view of Château Pèlerin