Somali Navy

The Somali Navy (Somali: Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliyeed, Arabic: القوات البحرية الصومالية‎) is the naval warfare service branch of the Somali Armed Forces. Before independence in 1960, the Somali Navy was established in conjunction with the Italian Navy, the latter of which also helped maintain security in Somali waters. During the post-independence period, the Somali Navy mostly did maritime patrols so as to prevent ships illegally infringing on the nation's maritime borders. The Somali Navy and Somali Air Force also regularly collaborated. In addition, the Somali Navy carried out Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. It currently has a few land and amphibious battalions and the PMPF is under the naval jurisdiction.

Somali Navy
Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliya
Emblem of the Somali Navy
Founded	1965
Country	Somalia
Allegiance	Somalia
Branch	Navy
Type	Blue-water navy (1965-1991) Green-water navy (2009-present)
Role	Naval Warfare and Coast Guard
Part of	Somali Armed Forces
Naval Garrisons	Camp TURKSOM, Mogadishu Kismayo Berbera Merca
Motto(s)	Soomaaali: Isku Tiirsada! English: Support each other!
Colors of the Navy	Blue, Gold          Black (beret colour)
Anniversaries	1 July (Independence Day) 26 October (Armed Forces Day)
Commanders
Chief of the Navy	Rear Admiral Cabaas Amiin Cali
Chief of Armed Forces	Brigadier General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh
Notable commanders	Rear Admiral Mohammed Omar Osman Colonel Mohamed Isse Lacle Rear Admiral Farah Qare
Insignia
Naval ensign

History

The Somali Navy was founded in 1965 with the help of Soviet military advisers. Its mandate was the protection of Somali waters, including its economic exclusive zone. It had its bases in Berbera, on the Gulf of Aden and Kismayo on the Indian Ocean near the border with Kenya. It also operated a radar facility in Merca.[1] Its inventory consisted of Soviet-made patrol craft.[1] In 1977, Siad Barre terminated the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Moscow and expelled all Soviet military advisers from Somalia due to their intervention in the Ogaden War.[2]

In 1990 the naval inventory included two Soviet Osa-II missile-armed fast attack craft, four Soviet Mol PFT torpedo-armed fast attack craft, and several patrol craft.[3] The navy also possessed a Soviet Polnocny-class landing ship capable of carrying five tanks and 120 soldiers, and four smaller landing craft.

The Navy dissolved as Barre's regime fell in 1990-91; there are reports that some vessels took refuge in Aden.[4]

Re-establishment

Announcements that the navy would be rebuilt date from the first decade of the 21st century.[5]

In June 2009, the Somali navy was re-established with a new commander appointed: Admiral Farah Omar Ahmed. Up to 500 marines were training in Mogadishu, with their training expected to finish in December 2009. They were reported as the first batch of a 5000 strong navy force.[6] Admiral Farrah Ahmed Omaar told a New Yorker reporter in December 2009 that the navy was 'practically nothing' at the time, though five hundred new recruits were in training.[7]

A Somali delegation visiting Turkey in 2011 tabled a request for two search-and-rescue ships and six coast guard boats. Worth some 250 million euros, if approved, the request might have turned the new Somali navy into a stronger naval force, capable of curbing piracy and protecting its coastline.[8] It is said by Admiral Omar that the recruits are being paid $60 per month.[9]

In August 2011 a Transitional Federal Government-Puntland cooperative agreement called for the creation of a Somali Marine Force.[10]

On 30 June 2012, the United Arab Emirates announced a contribution of $1 million toward enhancing Somalia's naval security. Boats, equipment and communication gear necessary for the rebuilding of the coast guard would be bought. A central operations naval command was also planned to be set up in Mogadishu.[11]

On 23 January 2020, it was announced that the Turkish Naval Forces donated several patrol vessels and amphibious vessels to the Somali Navy as a form of military aid to Somalia and to carry on its commitment to the nations joint task force.[12]

Ships and equipment

Two Somali Navy missile boats in August 1983.

Current equipment

Type	Description	Country of Manufacture	Inventory
Patrol boat
ONUK MRTP Class 16	Patrol boat	Turkey	11
Rigid Inflatable Boat
Grand RIB	Rigid inflatable boat	Ukraine	8

Inventory circa 1970s

The following was the Somali Navy's major equipment:[13]

Type	Description	Country of Manufacture	Inventory
Missile boat
Osa-II missile-armed fast attack craft	Missile boat	Soviet Union	2
Mol PFT torpedo-armed fast attack craft			4
Patrol boats
Poluchat-class patrol boats	Patrol torpedo boat	Soviet Union	5

Ranks and uniform

Somali Navy personnel wear camouflage uniforms but with black shoulder boards to identify them as Navy men. They also wear black berets to identify them as such, their service uniform is white, and they traditionally wear black ties alongside a white blazer, shirt, trousers, belts and if their rank allows, golden laces on their dress uniforms and black laces on their regular service dress and black collar (or lapel) patches with more golden ornate design for flag officers and black formal shoes, however in more recent years, a high collar variant is worn by more junior officers who graduate from Camp TURKSOM's Navy Academy, also Rear Admirals and Commodore Admirals may have a red stripe at the bottom of their shoulder boards (similarly to those in the Yemeni Navy) to identify them as high ranking navy officers[14], also the Navy also utilises sleeve rank insignia.[15] There is also khaki uniforms utilised by the Navy with them retaining the black shoulder boards, lace and berets, although officers may wear a peaked cap.[16]

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of Somalia

Officers

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
Somalia (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
							Rear Admiral		Commodore Admiral		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant Commander		Lieutenant		Sub Lieutenant			Ensign

Enlisted

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Somalia (Edit)																	No equivalent												No insignia
	Chief Warrant Officer			Warrant Officer Class 3			Warrant Officer Class 2		Warrant Officer Class 1		Petty officer, first class												Petty officer, second class				Leading seaman		Seaman

References

1. Lehr, ed. by Peter (2007). Violence at sea : piracy in the age of global terrorism. New York [u.a.]: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415953207.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
2. "Country Data - Somalia". Retrieved 22 June 2015.
3. Helen Metz, A Country Study, 206.
4. History of the Somali Navy, February 10, 2018.
5. "Somalia to Make Task Marine Forces to Secure Its Coast". Shabelle Media Network. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
6. "Somalia gets new navy force after years of absence". English.people.com.cn. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
7. Anderson, Jon Lee (7 December 2009). "The Most Failed State". New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
8. "TURKEY - Starving Somalia asks for coast guard ships". hurriyetdailynews.com.
9. "BBC News - Somali navy chief: World's worst job?". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
10. "Somalia: Puntland President Speech at Constitutional Conference in Garowe". Maritimesecurity.asia. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
11. "UAE committed to contribute US$1 million to support Somali naval security capabilities, says Gargash". UAE Interact. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
12. Turkiga oo Doomo Dagaal ku wareejiyay Ciidamada Badda ee Soomaaliya, retrieved 31 January 2020
13. Polmar, Norman (1991). The Naval Institute guide to the Soviet Navy. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9780870212413.
14. Khadar (11 June 2017). "Image of Rear Admiral Farah Qare in Service Uniform". Goobjoog Education. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
15. "Taliyaha Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliya oo shaaciyay inaysan difaaci doonin Doomaha iyo kalluumeysata aan Sharciyeysnayn (SAWIRRO)". www.hiiraan.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
16. "Xarunta Ciidanka Badda Soomaaliya Oo La Dhagax-dhigay (Stone Laying of the Somali Naval Forces Headquarters) (Video is in Somali)". YouTube. Waafi Films. 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.