| Royal Bahraini Naval Force | |
|---|---|
| سلاح البحرية الملكية البحرينية | |
|
Error creating thumbnail: Naval jack | |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Country |
 Bahrain |
| Type | Navy |
| Size |
700 personnel 35 ships 2 aircraft |
| Part of |
Ministry of Defense Bahrain Defense Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Mina Salman Naval Base |
| Nickname(s) | RBNF |
| Engagements | Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of the Navy | Rear Admiral Mohammed Ibrahim Al Binali[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Ensign | Error creating thumbnail: |
The Royal Bahraini Naval Force (Arabic language: القوات البحرية الملكية البحرينية, abbreviated RBNF), also called the Royal Bahraini Navy,[2] is the maritime branch of the Bahrain Defence Force. The RBNF consists of 700 personnel, 35 ships, and two helicopters. The fleet includes one frigate, the former U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry-class RBNS Sabha.[3]
The RBNF received the frigate Sabha from the U.S., arriving in Bahrain on 9 July 1997.[2] On 18 January 2024, a second Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, RBNS Khalid bin Ali, reached Bahrain after being transferred from the U.S. Navy.[4]
History[]
The United States and Bahrain signed an agreement on 23 December 1971 that allowed the U.S. Navy's Middle East Force to use the former British naval facilities in the country after they were given over to the Government of Bahrain by the United Kingdom.[5] Bahrain's first warship entered the Royal Bahraini Naval Force on 20 March 1979, and it acquired the frigate RBNS Sabha on 9 July 1997.[2]
Bahrain deployed RBNS Sabha with U.S. ships during the invasion of Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom.[6]
Fleet[]
Ships[]
| Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| Frigate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate (RBNS Sabha and RBNS Khalid bin Ali) | 2 | United States | 1997–present | 4 Harpoon SSMs, 1 MBB BO-105 shipboard helicopter, and SM-1MR SAMs.[7] |
| Corvette | ||||
| Al-Manama class Lürssen FPB 62 Guided-Missile Corvette Combatants | 2 |  Germany |
1988–present | 4 MM40 Exocets.[7][8] Being upgraded with new weapon control system.[9] |
| Offshore patrol vessel | ||||
| River-class Offshore Patrol Vessel - Modified Batch 1b (RBNS Al-Zubara) | 1 |  United Kingdom |
2020 - Present | ex-HMS Clyde (P257).[10][11][12] |
| Patrol craft | ||||
| Cyclone-class patrol ship | 5 | United States | 2022–present | [13] |
| Ahmed Al Fateh class Lürssen TNC 45 Guided-Missile Patrol Craft | 4 | Germany |
1984–present | 4 MM40 Exocets.[7] Being upgraded with new weapon control system.[9] |
| Al Riffa class Lürssen FPB 38 Patrol Craft | 2 | Germany |
1982–present | [7] |
| Al Jarim Swiftships 65 Patrol Boat | 2 | United States | 1982–present | [7] |
| Swiftships 35 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV35s) | 2 | United States | 2021 | [14] |
| Mark V Special Operations Craft | 7 | United States | 5 during 2018–19 | [14] |
| Vigor Response-Boat Mediums (RB-M) | 2 | United States | 2019 | [15] |
| BMT Group 18m patrol boat | 6 | United Kingdom |
2013–present | Built in Turkey, option for 6 more.[16] |
| Wasp-11 | 2 | |||
| Wasp-20 | 2 | |||
| Wasp-30 | 1 | |||
| VT Group VT-Halmatic 20 | 4 | Error creating thumbnail: Qatar | ||
| VT Group VT-Halmatic 160 | 6 | Error creating thumbnail: Qatar | ||
| Fairey Marine Swordsman | 4 | United Kingdom |
||
| Amphibious warfare ship | ||||
| Al Hamra class ADSB Steel Landing Craft | 4 |  United Arab Emirates |
2009+ | 2 42-meter and 2 16-meter. |
| LCU-1466 | 4 | United States | ||
| Fairey Marine LCU | 1 | United Kingdom |
||
| Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company Landing craft | 1 | Bahrain |
2016 | 34.5m in overall length.[17] 1 more could be ordered. |
Aircraft[]
| Type | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| Helicopter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo 105CBS-4 | 2 | Germany |
The naval force operates a squadron of two Bo 105CBS-4 helicopters.[3][19] | |
Missiles & Torpedoes[]
| Type | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| Missiles & Torpedoes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exocet MM-40 | 67 |  France |
Delivered between 1984 and 2010. | |
| Harpoon | 8 | United States | Delivered 1997–1998. | |
| RIM-66 Standard | 22 | United States | RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered 1997. | |
| Mark 46 torpedo | 18 | United States | Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered 1997. | |
Ranks[]
- Officer ranks
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bahrain Navy |
File:15.RBNF-FM.svg | File:14.RBNF-GEN.svg | Error creating thumbnail: | File:12.RBNF-MG.svg | File:11.RBNF-BG.svg | File:10.RBNF-COL.svg | File:09.RBNF-LTC.svg | File:08.RBNF-MAJ.svg | 
|
File:06.RBNF-1LT.svg | File:05.RBNF-2LT.svg | |||||||||||||
| مشیر Mushir |
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 | ||||||||||||||
- Enlisted and NCO ranks
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain Navy |
File:04.RBNF-MSG.svg | File:03.RBNF-SGT.svg | File:02.RBNF-CPL.svg | File:01.RBNF-LCPL.svg | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| رقیب أول Raqib 'awal |
رقیب Raqib |
عريف Earif |
جندي أول Jundiun awwal |
جندي Jundiun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Future[]
Sep. 8, 2017 - The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain for two 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats. The estimated cost is $60.25 million.[20] Now in service.
In 2019, Bahrain has purchased another frigate from the US, the USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49) which will join the fleet after completion of current refurbishment works.[21]
Bahrain has ordered 6 Vigor RB-M Fast Interceptor boats.[22] 3+ now in service.
1 Hamilton class cutter acquired from the United States in 2020 and 5 Cyclone patrol ships also acquired from the United States in 2022.[23][24]
Bahrain Eyes French-Origin Egypt-Built Gowind Corvettes[25]
Bases[]
RBNS Sabha in April 2008.
- Mina Salman Naval Base is a facility currently shared with the United States Navy and is used as a ship and submarine logistic support base for the entire US Fifth Fleet. It was opened in the 1980s as cargo facility and is now solely used as a naval port.
- Manama Naval Base is another key US Navy installation and formerly home to HMS Juffair. It is not used by RBNF.
- RBNF also operates a shipyard that is shared with several other neighbouring countries.
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Commander-in-Chief receives newly appointed Royal Bahrain Naval Force Commander. Bahrain News Agency. Published 23 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Royal Bahraini Naval Force. Bahrain Defense Force. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 IISS (2023). The Military Balance 2023. pp. 318–319.
- ↑ ‘RBNS Khalid bin Ali’ ship arrives in Bahrain; joins RBNF. Bahrain News Agency. Published 18 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ↑ United States Congress (1972). U.S. Interests in and Policy Toward the Persian Gulf. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ↑ Katzman, Kenneth (2010). Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy. Diane Publishing Company. p. 6.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute guide to combat fleets of the world : their ships, aircraft, and systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. pp. 37–38. ISBN 9781591149552.
- ↑ "The Naval Balance of Power: The Persian Gulf". http://gcreport.com/index.php/analysis/192-the-naval-balance-of-power-the-persian-gulf.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Leonardo delivers first upgraded Al Manama ship to Royal Bahrain Naval Force". Navyrecognition.com. 2018-01-24. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2018/january-2018-navy-naval-defense-news/5885-leonardo-delivers-first-upgraded-al-manama-ship-to-royal-bahrain-naval-force.html.
- ↑ W, Steve (7 August 2020). "Bahrain receives patrol warship "RBNS Al-Zubara"". (WHQ). https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDuzkhUUi5NKmSGxrV1l8fdc%3D.
- ↑ W, Steve (8 August 2020). "HMS Clyde sold to Bahrain". (George Allison). https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-clyde-sold-to-bahrain/.
- ↑ ""RBNS Al-Zubara" arrives in Bahrain". (WHQ). 26 November 2020. https://www.bna.bh/en/RBNSAlZubaraarrivesinBahrain.aspx?cms=iQRpheuphYtJ6pyXUGiNqnMzw7NuhiJgEJGlkztxoII%3D.
- ↑ Binnie, Jeremy (2022-04-04). "Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships" (in en-US). https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/bahrain-commissions-ex-us-patrol-ships.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Bahrain commissions new naval vessels". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/bahrain-commissions-new-naval-vessels.
- ↑ "Vigor Bahrain RB-M - BIDEC - Bahrain's Premier International Tri-Service Defence Show". https://www.bahraindefence.com/press-releases/vigor-bahrain-rb-m.
- ↑ "BMT Partners with Ares Shipyard to Deliver Patrol Boats for Bahrain Coast Guard". http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/newsb/naval-exhibitions/2013-archive-naval-exhibitons/dsei-2013/1232-bmt-partners-with-ares-shipyard-to-deliver-patrol-boats-for-bahrain-coast-guard.html.
- ↑ "ASRY construct new landing craft". http://www.newsofbahrain.com/viewNews.php?ppId=21619&pid=21,41&MNU=.
- ↑ "Swiftships Shipbuilders". http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/small/swiftships.htm.
- ↑ World Air Forces 2021. Flightglobal.com.
- ↑ "Bahrain – 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats - The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency". http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/bahrain-35-meter-fast-patrol-boats.
- ↑ "CBO: Navy frigate sale to Bahrain has $80M price tag". 13 July 2018. https://insidedefense.com/insider/cbo-navy-frigate-sale-bahrain-has-80m-price-tag.
- ↑ "NAVDEX 2019 : Vigor showcases its Vigor Fast Interceptor". Navyrecognition.com. 2019-02-18. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2019-naval-exhibitions/navdex-official-news-online-show-daily/6833-navdex-2019-vigor-showcases-its-vigor-fast-interceptor.html.
- ↑ "52-Year-Old Coast Guard Cutter Heads to Bahrain for Second Career". https://maritime-executive.com/article/52-year-old-coast-guard-cutter-heads-to-bahrain-for-second-career.
- ↑ "Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/bahrain-commissions-ex-us-patrol-ships.
- ↑ "Bahrain Eyes French-Origin Egypt-Built Gowind Corvettes". https://www.defensemirror.com/news/33545/Bahrain_Eyes_French_Origin_Egypt_Built_Gowind_Corvettes#.ZAG-tnZBxPY.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Royal Bahrain Naval Force. |
- Haze Gray Bahrain Navy[dead link]
- INSS Bahrain Navy
- 掲示板 インターネット日韓文化交流 - KJCLUB - KJLAND: Photos of surface vessels of the RBNF (in Japanese)
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