Latvian Naval Forces

Latvian Naval Forces (Latvian: Latvijas Jūras Spēki) is the naval warfare branch of the National Armed Forces. It is tasked with conducting military, search and rescue operations, mine and explosive sweeping on the Baltic Sea, as well as ecological monitoring activities. The Naval Forces have participated in international NATO/Partnership for Peace operations and various exercises with great success. The main development priorities of the Naval Forces are to expand their activities within the Baltic States’ Ship Squadron BALTRON and to develop a Sea Surveillance System. They pay a great deal of attention to professionally specialized training and English-language teaching.

Latvian Naval Forces
Latvijas Jūras Spēki
Emblem of the Latvian Naval Forces
Active	10 August 1919 - 17 June 1940; 1991 - present
Country	Latvia
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Part of	Latvian National Armed Forces
Headquarters	Liepāja
Motto(s)	"Mūs vieno Latvijas svētais vārds!'" (English: "Holy name of Latvia unites us!"), (official)
Engagements	War of Independence Latvian Mercantile Marine during World War II
Commanders
Current commander	Captain Kaspars Zelčs[1]
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack

History

When Latvia regained its independence in 1991, it began recreating the Latvian Naval Forces under the command of Admiral (then Captain) Gaidis Zeibots. In 1994 the Naval Forces were composed of the Southern Region (in Liepāja), the Central Region (in Riga), the Coastal Defense Battalion (in Ventspils) and the Training Center (in Liepāja). The most important naval event of these early days of the re-established Latvian Republic occurred on April 11, 1991 when the Latvian flag was hoisted on the re-established Navy's first ship "SAMS". This date is now recognized as the rebirth of the Latvian Naval Forces.

In 1999 the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) was created with ships from the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Navies. Latvian Navy Captain Ilmars Lesinskis, then the Commander of the Southern District, was appointed to serve as the first commander of this multi-national force.

On July 1, 1999 Latvian Naval Forces were reorganized. The present structure was established on the basis of previous regional units – the War Ships Flotilla (HQ is in Liepāja), the Coast Guard Ships Flotilla in Riga (subunits are in Liepāja and Ventspils), the Coastal Defense Battalion in Ventspils (subunits are along the coast of the Baltic Sea and Riga Bay), the Training Center in Liepāja, the Logistic Base in Liepāja (subunits are in Riga and Ventspils).

On July 1, 2004 Latvian Naval Forces were reorganized again and since that time they consist of the Naval Forces Headquarters, Naval Forces Flotilla HQ with subunits and the Coast Guard Service. The new structure organizes personnel training and specialization better than before, as well as shares greater responsibility between commanders.

As part of the program to equip the Naval Forces with modern assets, the first of a new generation of nationally made patrol vessels, made with German assistance, was launched in 2011.

Mission

The Naval Force provides defense of the national territorial waters, carries out explosive ordnance disposal activities at sea and harbors, co-ordinates and carries out human search and rescue operations at sea within the national responsibility area. Warships of the Republic of Latvia have repeatedly made visits to foreign countries and have supported the visits of foreign warships and naval representatives in Latvia.

The warships of the Latvian Naval Forces Southern Region have participated in numerous international exercises (U.S. BALTOPS, COOPERATIVE JAGUAR, AMBER SEA, OPEN SPIRIT, etc.). These exercises have been conducted to NATO standards, which Latvian ships have successfully met.

The main tasks of Naval Forces are to:

• Ensure the defense of the territorial sea and internal waters of the State (except rivers and lakes);
• Perform a guarding of the coast and control the territorial sea and internal waters, as well as the exclusive economic zone;
• Ensure the readiness of units for mobilization and combat;
• Participate in ecological surveillance and search and rescue operations at sea, as well as take part in elimination of consequences of emergencies occurring at sea;
• Search for explosives at sea and destroy them;
• Secure for the State Border Guard according to the procedures specified by the Cabinet, with the technical means and vessels for the performance of their functions at sea.

Structure of the Naval Forces

• Naval Forces
  • Naval Forces Headquarters
  • Mine Ship Squadron
    • A-53 Virsaitis
    • M-04 Imanta
    • M-05 Viesturs
    • M-06 Tālivaldis
    • M-07 Visvaldis
    • M-08 Rūsiņš
    • Naval Squadron Diver Team
  • Patrol Boat Squadron
    • A-90 Varonis
    • P-05 Skrunda
    • P-06 Cēsis
    • P-07 Viesīte
    • P-08 Jelgava
    • P-09 Rēzekne
  • Coast Guard Service
    • KA-01 Kristaps
    • KA-06 Gaisma
    • KA-07 Ausma
    • KA-08 Saule
    • KA-09 Klints
    • KA-14 Astra
  • Marine Observation and Communication Service
  • Baltic Mine Equipment Workshop

Ships in the Naval Forces

Current

Name	Picture	Origin	Class	Type	Built	Entered service (LNF)	Notes
Staff and support (Auxiliary)
A-53 Virsaitis		Norway	Vidar-class minelayer	Minelayer	1978	2003	[2]
A-90 Varonis		Netherlands	Buyskes class	Hydrographic survey vessel	1973	2004	[3]
Mine Warfare
M-04 Imanta		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2007	[4]
M-05 Viesturs		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2007	[5]
M-06 Tālivaldis		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2008	[6]
M-07 Visvaldis		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2008	[7]
M-08 Rūsiņš		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2011	[8]
Patrol
P-05 Skrunda		Germany	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2011	2011	[9]
P-06 Cēsis		Germany	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2011	2011	[10]
P-07 Viesīte		Latvia	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2011	2012	[11]
P-08 Jelgava		Latvia	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2013	2013	[12]
P-09 Rēzekne		Latvia	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2013	2014	[13]
Coast guard
KA-01 Kristaps		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1964	1993	[14]
KA-06 Gaisma		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994	[15]
KA-07 Ausma		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994	[16]
KA-08 Saule		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994	[17]
KA-09 Klints		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994	[18]
KA-14 Astra		Finland	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1996	2001	[19]

Retired

Name	Picture	Origin	Class	Type	Built	Entered service (LNF)	Left service (LNF)	Notes
Staff and support (Auxiliary)
A-18 Pērkons		Poland	Goliat	Tugboat	1960	1993	2011	Sold to civilian buyers.
Mine Warfare
M-01 Viesturs		GDR	Kondor II	Minesweeper	1971	1994	2008	Scrapped in 2016.
M-02 Imanta		GDR	Kondor II	Minesweeper	1971	1994	2008	Scrapped in 2013.
M-03 Namejs		FRG	Lindau	Minehunter	1959	1999	2008	Received from Germany in 1999. Handed over to Liepaja Maritime College in 2008.[20]
Patrol
P-03 Linga		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1968		2012	Awaiting deconstruction in scrapyard.
P-04 Bulta		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1967		2011	Scrapped in 2016
P-01 Zibens		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1967		2013	Scrapped in 2016
P-02 Lode		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1967		2013	Scrapped in 2018
Coast guard
KA-02 Spulga		Soviet Union	Ribnadzor	Coastal patrol boat	1964	1992	2000	Crashed at Swedish coast, scrapped in 2005.
KA-03 Komēta		Soviet Union	Ribnadzor	Coastal patrol boat	1964	1992	2007	Sold to independent researchers in 2011.
KA-04 Sams		Soviet Union	728A Selga	Coastal patrol boat	1974	1992	1998	Scrapped in 2009.

Ranks and insignia

Officers of the Latvian Navy[21][22]
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Latvia (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
					Viceadmirālis Vice Admiral		Kontradmirālis Counter Admiral		Flotiles admirālis Rear Admiral		Jūras kapteinis Navy Captain		Komandkapteinis Commander Senior Grade		Komandleitnants Commander Junior Grade		Kapteiņleitnants Lieutenant Commander		Virsleitnants First Lieutenant			Leitnants Lieutenant

Non-Commissioned Officers of the Latvian Navy[21][22]
NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Latvia (Edit)																													No insignia						No equivalent
	Vecākais virsniekvietnieks Master Chief Petty Officer						Virsniekvietnieks Senior Chief Petty Officer		Vecākais bocmanis Chief Petty Officer		Bocmanis Boatswain						Seržants Sergeant						Kaprālis Corporal				Dižmatrozis First Seaman		Matrozis Seaman

References

1. "Jūras spēki". mil.lv (in Latvian).
2. "A-53 "VIRSAITIS"".
3. "A-90 „Varonis"".
4. "M-04 "IMANTA"".
5. "M-05 "VIESTURS"".
6. "M-06 "Tālivaldis"".
7. "M-07 "Visvaldis"".
8. "M-08 "Rūsiņš"".
9. "P-05 „Skrunda"".
10. "P-06 „Cēsis"".
11. "P-07 „Viesīte"".
12. "P-08 „Jelgava"".
13. "P-09 „Rēzekne"".
14. "KA-01 „Kristaps"".
15. "KA-06 „Gaisma"".
16. "KA-07 „Ausma"".
17. "KA-08 „Saule"".
18. "KA-09 „Klints"".
19. "KA-14 „Astra"".
20. Jākobsone, Gunta (16 June 2008). "Karakuģi "Namejs" plānots izmantot topošo jūrnieku apmācībai". www.liepajniekiem.lv (in Latvian).
21. "Pakāpju iedalījums".
22. "Dienesta pakāpju un uzvārda atšķirības zīmes" (PDF) (in Latvian). 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.

External links

• Latvian Ministry of Defense site
• Latvian Naval Forces Site