Kuwaiti Navy

القوة البحرية الكويتية Kuwait Naval Force
File:Kuwait naval force.jpg
Country	Kuwait
Branch	Military of Kuwait
Type	Navy
Size	2,700
Commanders
Commander	Cdre Jassim Al Ansari
Ceremonial chief	Cdre Mansoor Al Masaad

La Combattante-class fast-attack-craft Al Fahaheel (P3721) in May 2013

The Kuwaiti navy, or Kuwait Naval Force (Arabic: القوة البحرية الكويتية), is the sea-based component of the Military of Kuwait. The headquarters and sole naval base is Ras al-Qulayah Naval Base, located in the south of Kuwait, approximately 35 miles (56 km) south of Kuwait City. The Kuwait Naval Force numbers consists of over 2,700 officers and enlisted personnel, including approximately 500 coast guard.

History

Kuwait's Navy was established in 1961 shortly after Britain ended the country's protectorate status and Kuwait became fully independent. During the Invasion of Kuwait, part of the Persian Gulf War, Kuwait's navy was almost completely destroyed. At the start of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Iraqi forces captured 6 Kuwait missile boats armed with Exocet missiles and Kuwait lost 17 ships of other classes during the war.

The capture of the Exocets raised fears that Iraq might use them against coalition forces during the Gulf War. Iraq did not use them and the captured vessels were all heavily damaged or sunk by coalition forces. During the war, the two Lürssen's that evaded Iraqi capture helped retake Kuwaiti coastal islands and oil platforms.^{[citation needed]}

On 11 November 2008, Kuwait Naval Base was the location of the historic signing of the non-legally binding maritime Khawr Abd Allah Protocols otherwise known as the KAA Protocols. The signing of the KAA Protocols by the then respective heads of the Kuwaiti Naval Force and the Iraqi Navy was the first formal and successful maritime bilateral military agreement for the co-ordinated and de-conflicted use of the Khawr Abd Allah waterway since before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The protocols were developed and mediated by Major David Hammond RM, a British Royal Navy barrister in 2008 and they were subsequently ratified by both the Kuwaiti and Iraqi governments before the 11 November 2008 signing. They were subsequently reported to the US Congress within the December 2008 'Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq' report and the text of which have since become open source following leaks in US diplomatic notes.

Present fleet

Personnel year 2008: 2,700 (includes 500 coast guard)

• 1 TNC-45 fast attack craft (Al Snbouk class) - 255 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1984
• 8 Combattante BR-42 fast attack craft (Umm Al Maradem class) - 245 tons full load - 4 Sea Skua SSM - commissioned 1999-2000
• 1 FPB 57 fast attack craft (Al Estqlaal class) - 410 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1983
• 1 support ship (Durrar class)
• 15 RHIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) Special Operations Patrol Boats 2 x .50 Cal, 10 meters.
• 10 Sea Ark Special Operations Patrol Boats 4 x .50cal. 11 meters. 5 additional boats on order.
• 2 Harbour Tugs.
• 1 LCM Landing Craft
• 1 HSV (Hydrographic Support Vessel)
• 6 (of 10) Mk 5 Fast Patrol Craft

Future ships

• 1 DSV (Diving Support Vessel)

Landing craft order, the programme for Kuwait involves the supply of two 64m landing craft, one 42m landing craft and five 16m composite landing craft. All will be built at ADSB’s facilities in the Mussafah industrial area(UAE)

References

• Article on Kuwaiti Military
• Globalsecurity.org report on the Iraqi navy
• Ships of the Kuwait Navy, past and present
• Um Al Marradin Class description
• Summary of Kuwait military power
• Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq

External links

• Kuwait Navy buys gun system from Rheinmetall
• [1]