Royal Moroccan Navy

The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية‎, Berber: Adwas Ageldan n Yilel, French: Marine royale) is a branch of the military of Morocco responsible for conducting naval operations. The Royal Moroccan Navy is administratively managed by the Administration of Defence, which is (de facto) commanded by King Mohammed VI, the commander-in-chief of the Moroccan Armed Forces.

Royal Moroccan Navy
Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية‎
Berber languages: Adwas Ageldan n Yilel
French: Marine royale
Moroccan Royal Navy Seal
Active11th century
Country Morocco
AllegianceKingdom of Morocco
BranchNavy
TypeNavy
Size7,800 personnel (includes 1,500 Marines)
Part ofAdministration of Defence إدارة الدفاع
HeadquartersRabat-Salé
AnniversariesApril 1st (foundation)
Equipment121 vessels 17 aircraft
Commanders
Inspector General of the NavyVice-Admiral Mostapha El Alami
Commander-in-ChiefKing Mohammed VI
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack
Aircraft flown
HelicopterAS565 Panther

Mission

The Royal Moroccan Navy is part of the Moroccan Armed Forces. Its mission includes the protection of Moroccan territory and sovereignty, as well as the control of Morocco's 81,000-square-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Given Morocco's significant coastline (2,952 km) and strategic position overseeing the Strait of Gibraltar, it (along with Spain and the United Kingdom) is deeply involved in the security of this important international waterway.

History

The history of the modern Royal Moroccan Navy began in 1960 with its foundation by King Mohammed V. The first admiral of the modern Moroccan Navy was Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki, who held the position as the Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy for 14 years from 1991 to 2005, and devoted 46 years of services to the Moroccan Navy. Vice Admiral Triki was awarded these decorations: (from Morocco) Legion of the Order of Commander, Knight of the Order of the Throne by his majesty King Hassan II; (from France) Legion of Honor by President Jacques Chirac; (from USA) Legion of Merit by President Bill Clinton; and (from Spain) Legion of Merit. Although the modern Royal Navy was structured following independence, the Moroccan naval military traces its roots back to the 11th century, with the rise of the Almoravid dynasty, and its ambition for naval hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea. Admiral Abdullah Ben Meimoun is credited for being the first commander of the Almoravid dynasty organized naval forces. With the Almohad dynasty taking over most of northern Africa, together with Al-Andalus, the Almohad dynasty navy soon became the "first fleet of the Mediterranean".[1] At its peak, the Almohad navy's military reputation was well known, inciting Ayyubid dynasty Egypt and Saladin to seek its help in preventing Crusades expeditions. The 16th century had the starting decline of the Moroccan state and consequently the navy that served it. The capture of major coastal cities and locations by Spain and Portugal much affected Morocco's naval capabilities.

Bases

The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in:

Equipment

Warships
Class Photo No. Ship Year
Commissioned		 Note
Frigates (6)
FREMM 701Mohammed VI2014ASW version[2]
Floréal 611Mohammed V2002
612Hassan II2002
Sigma 613Tarik Ben Ziyad2011Sigma 10513 version

(Frigate)[3][4]

614Sultan Moulay Ismail2012Sigma 9813 version (multi mission frigate)
615Allal Ben Abdellah2012Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate)
Corvettes (1)
Descubierta 501Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani1983Updated in 2014[5]
Missile boats (4)
Lazaga 304El Khattabi1981
305Commandant Boutouba1981
306Commandant El Harty1982
307Commandant Azouggarh1982
Patrol boats (18)
OPV-70 341Bir Anzaran20114 under construction
OPV-64 318Raïs Bargach1995
319Raïs Britel1996
320Raïs Charkaoui1996
321Raïs Maaninou1997
322Raïs Al Mounastiri1997
Osprey 55 308El Lahiq1987
309El Tawfiq1988
316El Hamiss1990
317El Karib1990
Cormoran 310Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi1988
311Errachiq1988
312El Akid1989
313El Maher1989
314El Majid1989
315El Bachir1989
PR-72 302Okba1976
303Triki1977
Damen Interceptor 1503 1-5TBD20165 under construction for Coast Guard Duties, capable of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph)

Amphibious and auxiliary vessels
Class Photo No. Ship Year
commissioned		 Note
Amphibious ships
BATRAL 402Daoud Ben Aicha1977
403Ahmed Es Sakali1977
404Abou Abdallah El Ayachi1978
LCT 409Sidi Ifnilanding craft tank[6]
Support ships
Hydrographic and oceanographic boat 804Dar Al Beida2018Used to chart the underwater coastal area[7]
Ad Dakhla CLS 408Daoud Ben Aicha1997coastal logistics ship
Hydrographic research boat H-01H-012011Used to chart the underwater coastal area.
Damen Stan Tug 2208 A2Al Mounkid2015Coastal & harbour tug[8]
BBP 803BBPSubmariner training ship
Marrakech transport ship ro-ro xxxro-roTransport ship ro-ro

Inshore patrol vessels
  • P-32
    • El Wacil ( 203 )
    • El Jail ( 204 )
    • El Mikdam ( 205 )
    • El Khafir ( 206 )
    • El Haris ( 207 )
    • Essahir ( 208 )
    • Erraid ( 209 )
    • Erraced ( 210 )
    • El Kaced ( 211 )
    • Essaid ( 212 )
  • VCSM/RPB 20 (107-116)
  • Rodman-101 (130-139)
  • Arcor-46 (D01-D18) In Service with Moroccan Customs
  • 15 Arcor-53 In Service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 2 Griffon 500TD hovercraft In service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 10 Rodman-55
  • 10 Arcor-17
      • No boats of this class have been built yet. Russia has offered the sub for sale to India, but in 2005, India ordered Scorpène-class submarines instead. On 4 July 2013, Rosoboronexport announced they will offer the Amur 1650 to the Moroccan Navy if they announce a tender for new submarines.[5]

Aircraft
Aircraft Photo Origin Mission In Service Note
Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Britten-Norman Defender United KingdomMaritime patrol aircraft14Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force
Beech King Air United StatesMaritime patrol aircraft2
Helicopters
Eurocopter AS565 MA FranceNaval Military utility3Operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy
Bell 412EP ASW MA United StatesAnti-submarine helicopter2Ordered two by the Royal Moroccan Navy

Notable sailors
Abdelkader Perez, Admiral and an ambassador to England in 1723.
  • Abdellah Ben Aïcha, admiral of Salé, ambassador to king Louis XIV of France in 1689.
  • Abdelkader Perez, ambassador to England in 1723 and again in 1737.
  • Abdellah Ben Soleïman, commander of the Almohad fleet under sultan [Abd al-Mu'min]
  • Abdellah Ben Taâ Allah, commander of the Almohad fleet under Muhammad an-Nasir and governor of Majorca
  • Corsair Triki of Salé, 17th century.
  • Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki of Safi, Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy from July 1991 to June 2005.
  • Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
  • Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
  • Descubierta class Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani
  • Floréal class Mohammed V
  • OPV-64 Raïs Al Mounastiri
  • OPV-64 Rais Charkaoui
  • AS565 MA Panther of the RMN
  • Eurocopter AS565 MA Panther of the RMN
  • Lazaga class Commandant Azouggarh
  • BATRAL LST Abou Abdallah El Ayachi
  • Newport class Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah (inactive)
  • Moroccan Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) team during multi-national exercise Phoenix Express 2007.
  • Marines from Morocco during exercise Phoenix Express 2009.
  • Moroccan sailors conduct boarding exercises.
  • Moroccan maritime interdiction operations team on basic close quarter battle training in Exercise Phoenix Express 2010.
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See also
  • Military of Morocco

References
  • Baker III, A. D. (1998). Combat Fleets of the World 1998-1999. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
  1. André, Charles-André (1994). Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord. Paris: Payot. p. 866. ISBN 978-2-228-88789-2.
  2. "DCNS delivers multimission frigate Mohammed VI to Royal Moroccan Navy". January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  3. "Shipbuilding Tribune - First Multi Mission Frigate for Royal Moroccan Navy Starts Sea Trials". web.archive.org. 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  4. "Shipbuilding Tribune - Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Delivers SIGMA Class Frigate to Royal Moroccan Navy". web.archive.org. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  5. "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2016-05-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-05-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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