Somali Navy
{{Short description|Naval warfare branch of Somalia's military}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
| unit_name = Somali Navy
| native_name = Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliya
| image = Coat of arms of the Somali Navy.svg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Coat of arms of the Somali Navy
| start_date = 10 February 1964
| country =
| role =
| size = Hundreds (?){{sfn|Robinson|2021|page=135}}
| command_structure = Somali Armed Forces
| garrison = Mogadishu
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| nickname =
| motto = Somali: Isku Tiirsada!
English: Support each other!
| core values =
| colors = Blue, Gold {{color box|#002F6C}}{{color box|#FFB81C}} Black (beret colour) {{color box|#000000}}
| colors_label = Colors of the Navy
| march =
| mascot =
| battles =
| anniversaries = {{plainlist |
- 1 July (Independence Day)
- 26 October (Armed Forces Day)
}}
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| current_commander = 12px Commodore Admiral Abdi Warsame Osman
| current_commander_label = Chief of the Navy
| colonel_of_the_regiment =
| colonel_of_the_regiment_label =
| notable_commanders = {{plainlist |
}}
| identification_symbol = 150px
| identification_symbol_label = Naval ensign
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
| dates = 10 Feb 1965 – present
}}
The Somali Navy ({{langx|so|Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliyeed}}, {{langx|ar| القوات البحرية الصومالية|translit=al-Quwwat al-Bahriyah as-Sumaliyah|lit=Somali Navy Force}}) is the naval warfare service branch of the Somali Armed Forces. It is now virtually inactive.
History
The Somali Navy was founded in 1964 with the help of Soviet military advisers. It had its bases in Berbera, on the Gulf of Aden and Kismayo on the Indian Ocean near the border with Kenya. It also operated a radar facility in Merca.{{sfn|Robinson|2021}} Initial deliveries included Soviet-made Project 368P and Project 183 patrol and torpedo boats.{{cite book|editor-last1=Lehr|editor-first1=Peter|title=Violence at sea : piracy in the age of global terrorism|date=2007|publisher=Routledge|location=New York [u.a.]|isbn=978-0415953207}} In 1977, Siad Barre terminated the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Moscow and expelled all Soviet military advisers from Somalia due to their intervention in the Ogaden War.{{cite web|title=Country Data - Somalia|url=http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-12055.html|access-date=22 June 2015}}
In 1990 the naval inventory included two Soviet Osa-II missile-armed fast attack craft, four Soviet Mol PFT torpedo-armed fast attack craft, and several patrol craft.Helen Chapin Metz, ed., Somalia: A Country Study, p.206. The navy also possessed a Soviet Polnocny-class landing ship capable of carrying five tanks and 120 soldiers, and four smaller landing craft.
The Navy dissolved as Barre's regime fell in 1990–91; there have been reports that some vessels took refuge in Aden.{{sfn|Robinson|2021}}
=Re-establishment=
In June 2009, the Somali navy was re-established with a new commander appointed: Admiral Farah Omar Ahmed.
Up to 500 naval personnel were training in Mogadishu, with their training expected to finish in December 2009. They were reported as the first batch of a 5000 strong navy force.{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/6677944.html|title=Somalia gets new navy force after years of absence|publisher=English.people.com.cn|access-date=23 October 2014}} Admiral Farrah Ahmed Omaar told a New Yorker reporter in December 2009 that the navy was 'practically nothing' at the time, though five hundred new recruits were in training.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/12/14/the-most-failed-state|title=The Most Failed State|last=Anderson|first=Jon Lee|date=2009-12-07|work=New Yorker|access-date=2019-07-13|language=en|issn=0028-792X}}
It was said by Admiral Omar that the recruits were being paid $60 per month.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8096137.stm|title=BBC News - Somali navy chief: World's worst job?|publisher=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=23 October 2014}}
A Somali delegation visiting Turkey in August 2011 submitted a request for two search-and-rescue ships and six coast guard boats. Worth some 250 million euros, if approved, the request might have turned the new Somali navy into a stronger naval force, capable of curbing piracy and protecting its coastline.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=starving-somalia-asks-for-coast-guard-ships-2011-08-15|title=TURKEY - Starving Somalia asks for coast guard ships|work=hurriyetdailynews.com}}
In August 2011 a Transitional Federal Government-Puntland cooperative agreement called for the creation of a Somali Marine Force.{{cite web|url=http://maritimesecurity.asia/free-2/piracy-2/somalia-puntland-president-speech-at-constitutional-conference-in-garowe/|title=Somalia: Puntland President Speech at Constitutional Conference in Garowe|publisher=Maritimesecurity.asia|access-date=23 October 2014}}
On 30 June 2012, the United Arab Emirates announced a contribution of $1 million toward enhancing Somalia's naval security. Boats, equipment and communication gear necessary for the rebuilding of the coast guard would be bought. A central operations naval command was also planned to be set up in Mogadishu.{{cite news |title=UAE committed to contribute US$1 million to support Somali naval security capabilities, says Gargash |url=http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/UAE_committed_to_contribute_US$1_million_to_support_Somali_naval_security_capabilities,_says_Gargash/50139.htm |access-date=24 March 2013 |newspaper=UAE Interact |date=30 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614080844/http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/UAE_committed_to_contribute_US$1_million_to_support_Somali_naval_security_capabilities,_says_Gargash/50139.htm |archive-date=14 June 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}
On 23 January 2020, it was announced that the Turkish Naval Forces donated several patrol vessels and amphibious vessels to the Somali Navy as a form of military aid to Somalia and to carry on its commitment to the nations joint task force.{{Citation|title=Turkiga oo Doomo Dagaal ku wareejiyay Ciidamada Badda ee Soomaaliya|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMLiIvOIl28 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/uMLiIvOIl28 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}{{cbignore}}
In July 2020, it was reported that China and the Somali Navy were planning to Conduct joint naval patrols in the waters including Somaliland’s coast.{{cite web |title=China-Somalia to Conduct Joint Naval Patrols |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D1MPcVX-pPk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/D1MPcVX-pPk |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|publisher=NewsX}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |title=Why is China so worried about the new alliance between Taiwan and Somaliland? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/07/china-worried-new-alliance-taiwan-somaliland/ |website=Telegraph}}
Ships and equipment
{{Main|List of equipment of the Somali Armed Forces}}
= Current equipment =
| class="wikitable"
!Type !Description !Country of Manufacture !Inventory |
| colspan="4" |Patrol boat |
|---|
| ONUK MRTP Class 16
|{{Flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey |11{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} |
| colspan="4" |Rigid Inflatable Boat |
| Grand RIB
|{{Flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukraine |8 |
= Inventory circa 1970s =
The following was the Somali Navy's major equipment:{{cite book | last = Polmar | first = Norman | title = The Naval Institute guide to the Soviet Navy | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Md | year = 1991 | isbn = 9780870212413 }}
| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;"|Type ! style="text-align: left;"|Description ! style="text-align: left;"|Country of Manufacture ! style="text-align: left;"|Inventory |
| style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="4" | Missile boat |
|---|
| Osa-II missile-armed fast attack craft
| rowspan="2" | Missile boat | rowspan="2" | {{flag|Soviet Union}} | 2 |
| Mol PFT torpedo-armed fast attack craft
| 4 |
| style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="4" | Patrol boats |
| Poluchat-class patrol boats
| {{flag|Soviet Union}} | 5 |
Ranks and uniform
File:Somali Naval Cadets Xerada TURKSOM 2018.png graduate from TURKSOM Naval Academy in 2018 ]]
Somali Navy personnel wear camouflage uniforms but with black shoulder boards to identify them as Navy men. They also wear black berets to identify them as such, their service uniform is white, and they traditionally wear black ties alongside a white blazer, shirt, trousers, belts and if their rank allows, golden laces on their dress uniforms and black laces on their regular service dress and black gorget patches with more golden ornate design for flag officers and black formal shoes, however in more recent years, a high collar variant is worn by more junior officers who graduate from Camp TURKSOM's Navy Academy, also Rear Admirals and Commodore Admirals may have a red stripe at the bottom of their shoulder boards (similarly to those in the Yemeni Navy) to identify them as staff officers,{{Cite web|url=https://edu.goobjoog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/admiral-faaarax.jpg|title=Image of Rear Admiral Farah Qare in Service Uniform|last=Khadar|date=11 June 2017|website=Goobjoog Education|access-date=8 March 2020}} also the Navy also utilises sleeve rank insignia.{{Cite web|title=Taliyaha Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliya oo shaaciyay inaysan difaaci doonin Doomaha iyo kalluumeysata aan Sharciyeysnayn (SAWIRRO)|url=http://www.hiiraan.com/news/2013/dec/wararka_maanta5-44368.htm|website=www.hiiraan.com|access-date=2020-05-30}} There is also khaki uniforms utilised by the Navy with them retaining the black shoulder boards, lace and berets, although officers may wear a peaked cap.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IVbK3Nbeys&t=39s|title=Xarunta Ciidanka Badda Soomaaliya Oo La Dhagax-dhigay (Stone Laying of the Somali Naval Forces Headquarters) (Video is in Somali)|date=17 September 2018|website=YouTube|publisher=Waafi Films|url-status=live|archive-url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IVbK3Nbeys&t=69s|archive-date=17 March 2020|access-date=17 March 2020}}
= Ranks =
{{Main|Military ranks of Somalia}}
;Officers
| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Somalia}} |
;Enlisted
| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Blank}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/Somalia}} |
See also
- {{portal-inline|Somalia}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite journal|last=Robinson |first=Colin D. |title=The Somali Navy from 1965 to the 1980s: A research note|journal=Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies|url=https://jceeas.bdi.uni-obuda.hu/index.php/jceeas/article/view/7|issn=2786-1902|volume=1|number=1-2|year=2021}}
- {{cite news |title=Somalia to Make Task Marine Forces to Secure Its Coast |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201208010023.html |access-date=9 August 2012 |newspaper=Shabelle Media Network |date=31 July 2012}}
{{Somalia Military |state=collapsed}}
{{Navies in Africa |state=collapsed}}