Algerian National Navy

The Algerian Naval Force (ANF; Arabic: القوات البحرية الجزائرية) is the naval branch of the Algerian military. The naval force operates from multiple bases along the country's nearly 1,440 km (890 mi) coastline, fulfilling its primary role of monitoring and defending Algeria's territorial waters against all foreign military or economic intrusion. Additional missions include coast guard and maritime safety missions as well a projection of marine forces (fusiliers marins). Algerian forces are an important player in the Western Mediterranean.

Algerian Naval Force
Arabic: القوات البحرية الجزائرية
Algerian Naval badge
Active1516–1827
1963–present
Country Algeria
BranchNavy
RoleNaval warfare
Size6,000[1]
Part ofAlgerian People's National Army
Garrison/HQL'AMIRAUTE, Algiers
AnniversariesFebruary 2, 1967
Equipment213 vessels, 30 helicopters, 3 MPA Aircraft
Commanders
Current
commander		Mahfoud Benmeddah
Notable
commanders		Chabane Ghodbane (1992 - 2000)
Insignia
Naval Ensign

As with other Algerian military branches, the naval force was built and structured with assistance from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but has also relied on other sources for equipment in some areas. Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has remained an important partner, but Algeria has increasingly sought additional sources for equipment as well as building its own shipbuilding capacity.

Bases

Principal naval bases are located at Algiers, Annaba, Mers el-Kebir, Oran, Jijel and Tamentfoust. Mers el Kébir is home to the OMCN/CNE shipbuilding facilities where several Algerian vessels have been built. Algeria's naval academy at Tamentfoust provides officer training equivalent to that of the army and the air force academies. The naval force also operates a technical training school for its personnel at Tamentfoust.

Equipment

The bulk of the Algerian Naval Force is still based on Cold War designs, although work is being done to both acquire new platforms as well as modernize existing equipment. The surface fleet is equipped with a mixture of smaller ships well suited to coastal and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol work. The fleet is led by three Koni class frigates which have been updated with more modern systems. These are due to be augmented in the coming years by a pair of MEKO A-200 frigates which will represent the most modern equipment of the naval force when they enter service, also, Algeria signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company for the construction of three light frigates about 2,800 tons full load. A mixture of six corvettes and off-shore patrol vessels complement the frigates, while a large number of smaller boats cover the role of coastal patrol. Algeria had maintained a relatively large fleet of Osa class fast attack craft by the end of the Cold War, but it is questionable whether any of these remain in operational use.

Algeria has had a small submarine presence in the Mediterranean with a pair of Kilo class patrol submarines, though the recent acquisition of an additional four upgraded boats will expand this presence significantly. Their amphibious warfare capacity has traditionally been limited with a small group of landing ships essentially for coastal transport roles. This capacity will be greatly upgraded with the planned acquisition of an amphibious transport dock capable of supporting more robust operations. In the area of civil support, the purchase of seagoing rescue tugs will mark the first ability of an African nation to provide valuable services to economic and commercial operators in the Western Mediterranean.

The Algerian military has long maintained a strong veil of secrecy over its organization and equipment, making an exact accounting of operational vessels difficult to ascertain. Open sources are known to vary widely in their reports of several aspects of Algerian equipment.

Submarines
Class Image Origin In service Boat Year
Commissioned		 Note
Submarine (6)
Project 636  Russia 4

[2][3]

 Messali el Hadj (021)
Akram Pacha (022)
El Ouarsenis (031)
El Hoggar (032)		2010–2019Two project 636M in service since 2010. Two project 636.1 ordered in 2014, commissioned in early 2019.[4][5][6][7]
Project 877EKM
Rais Hadj Mubarek
Rais Hadj Mubarek
  Soviet Union 2Rais Hadj Mubarek (012)
El Hadj Slimane (013)		1987–1988Two original Kilo-class submarines in service, delivered in 1987 and 1988.[4] Refitted and upgraded in 1993 and 1996. 2 more on order to be delivered in mid 2021/22[8]

Amphibious warfare vessels
Class Image Origin In service Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned		 Note
Amphibious transport dock (1)
San Giorgio class  Italy 1Kalaat Béni Abbès9,000 tonnes2015Improved San Giorgio, Ordered in 2011(+1 in option)[9][10][11]'
Landing ships (2)
Kalaat Beni Hammed  United Kingdom2Kalaat Beni Hammed2,450 tonnes1984 Built by Brooke Marine in Lowestoft, UK
Kalaat Beni Rached Built by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, UK

Surface combatants
Class Image Origin In service Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned		 Note
Frigates (8)
MEKO A200  Germany 2Erradii
El Moudamir		 3,700 tonnes2016-2018Two in service with the option for two more.[12]
Adhafer class 353 El Kirch  China 3Adhafer
El Fatih
Ezzadjer		 2,880 tonnes2015–2016 Armed with NG-16-1 (76 mm) main gun, 2 seven-barrel 30 mm Type 730 CIWS, 2 quad C-802 missiles.[13]
Koni class  Soviet Union 3Mourad Rais
Rais Kellik
Rais Korfou		2,000 tonnes1980–1985Modernized in Russia in 2011.[14]
Corvettes (16)
Nanuchka class 802 Salah Rais  Soviet Union 3Ras Hamidou
Salah Reis
Reis Ali		 660 tonnes1982In service, Project 1234E built by Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk, modernized in 2012.
Djebel Chenoua class  Algeria 4Djebel Chenoua
El Chihab
El Kirch
Hassan Barbiear		 540 tonnes2002 Built by OMCN / CNE in Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria.

Armed with 4 C802 ASM and AK630 CIWS.

Type 056 class  China 1 or 6El Moutassadi 1,500 tonnes2023 Sources vary on whether one or six modified Type 056 class corvette were ordered.First ship delivered in 2023.[15][16][17]
Steregushchiy class  Russia 3 1,800 tonnes 2022 Three Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvettes on order. Reception in 2022.[18][19]
Mine countermeasures (3)
Lerici class  Italy 3El-Kasseh 1
El-Kasseh 2
El-Kasseh 3		600 tonnes2016–2021In service.[20]
Patrol boats (65)
Osa II-class missile boat  Soviet Union 81978
Kebir-class patrol boat  United Kingdom 14El Yadekh250 tonnes1982The first two units built by Brooke Marine.
FPB98 MKI Ocea-class patrol boat  France 31[21]Denebi2008-2021Built by Ocea France.[22][23]
Alusafe 2000  Spain
 Algeria		 12[24] El Mounkid 2016 Produced locally.[25]

Fleet auxiliaries
Class Image Origin No. Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned		 Note
Survey ship
El Idrissi  Japan 673El Idrissi540 tonnes1980Built by Matsukara Zosen in Hirao, Japan.
OSV-95  France 205El Masseh2021Built by Ocea shipyards, France.[26]
Training ship
Soummam Soummam  China 937Soummam5,500 tonnes20065,500 tons (full load).
EL Mellah  Poland 938El Mellah (the sailor)2017A three-masted tall ship constructed in Gdańsk, Poland.
Salvage ship
El Mourafik  China 261El Mourafik600 tonnes1990Built in China.
High seas tow vessel
El Mounjid  Norway 701El Mounjid3,200 tonnes2012Type UT 515 CD built in Norway and Motorization by Rolls-Royce.
702El Moussif
703El Moussanid

Aircraft
Aircraft Image Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
Westland Super Lynx  United Kingdom ASW 130/140 10[27]
AgustaWestland AW101  United Kingdom
 Italy		 SAR / utility 5[27]
AgustaWestland AW139  Italy light utility 3[27]

Modernization
Algerian Sailors conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO).

The Naval force is currently being upgraded with the following technological developments: the existing units are being modernized, with the submarine force strengthened by two new Kilo class submarines (last generation).[28]

  • One LPD from Italy in 2014.
  • Two MEKO A200 frigates from Germany.
  • TYPE 054A frigates
  • AIP Submarines
  • Three corvettes C28A with option of three more produced locally. Radar and electronic equipment will be supplied by Thales, and mounted in Algeria. They will be built at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard.[29][30][31]
  • 31 units of the type FPB98 MKI Ocean Patrol Boat.[32][33]
  • 12 units of Alusafe 2000 high speed rescue and patrol vessel.[34]

Munitions

SAM

Anti-ship Missiles

Air to ground Missiles
  • Mokopa - the Algerian Navy's six new Super Lynx 300-series helicopters are conducting flight tests armed with Mokopa anti-armour missiles.
  • Raptor-2 Precision-Guided Glide Bomb series from South Africa[45]

[46] [47]

Ranks
Main article: Military ranks of Algeria

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Algerian National Navy[48]
فريق أول‎‎
Fariq 'awal		 فريق
Fariq		 لواء
Liwa		 عميد
Amid		 عقيد
Aqid		 مقدم
Muqaddam		 رائد
Ra'id		 نقيب
Naqib		 ملازم أول
Mulazim awwal		 ملازم
Mulazim		 مرشح
Murashah
Général d'armée Général de corps d'armée Général major Général Colonel Lieutenant colonel Commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous lieutenant Aspirant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Algerian National Navy[48]
 No insignia
مساعد أول
Mosa'id awwal		 مساعد
Mosa'id		 رقيب أول
Raqib awwal		 رقيب
Raqib		 عريف أول
Earif 'awal		 عريف
Earif		 جندي
Jundiun
Adjudant chef Adjudant Sergent chef Sergent Caporal chef Caporal Djoundi

See also

References
Notes
    Citations
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    Bibliography
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