| Unit Name: | Royal Moroccan Navy |
| Native Name: | Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية |
| Start Date: | active since: 11th century current form: 30 April 1960 |
| Country: |  Morocco |
| Type: | Navy |
| Size: | 7,800 personnel (includes 1,500 Marines)[1] |
| Command Structure: | Royal Moroccan Armed Forces |
| Garrison: | Rabat |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Equipment: | 121 vessels 17 aircraft |
| Anniversaries: | April 1st (foundation) |
| Commander1: | King Mohammed VI |
| Commander2: | Vice-Admiral Mostapha El Alami |
| Commander2 Label: | Inspector General of the Navy |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Naval Ensign |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Armed forces |
| Aircraft Helicopter: | AS565 Panther |
The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية) 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.
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.
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".[2] 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 significantly affected Morocco's naval capabilities.
See main article: Military ranks of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.
The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in:
| Class | Photo | No. | Ship | Origin | Year Commissioned | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frigates (6) | |||||||
| FREMM | 701 | Mohammed VI | / | 2014 | ASW version[3] | ||
| 611 | 2002 | ||||||
| 612 | 2002 | ||||||
| 613 | 2011 | Sigma 10513 version (Frigate)[4] [5] | |||||
| 614 | 2012 | Sigma 9813 version (multi mission frigate) | |||||
| 615 | 2012 | Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate) | |||||
| Corvettes (1) | |||||||
| 501 | Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani | Spain | 1983 | Updated in 2014[6] | |||
| Missile boats (4) | |||||||
| 304 | El Khattabi | 1981 | |||||
| 305 | Commandant Boutouba | 1981 | |||||
| 306 | Commandant El Harty | 1982 | |||||
| 307 | Commandant Azouggarh | 1982 | |||||
| Patrol boats (18) | |||||||
| OPV-70 | 341 | Bir Anzaran | 2011 | 4 under construction | |||
| OPV-64 | 318 | Raïs Bargach | 1995 | ||||
| 319 | Raïs Britel | 1996 | |||||
| 320 | Raïs Charkaoui | 1996 | |||||
| 321 | Raïs Maaninou | 1997 | |||||
| 322 | Raïs Al Mounastiri | 1997 | |||||
| 308 | El Lahiq | 1987 | |||||
| 309 | El Tawfiq | 1988 | |||||
| 316 | El Hamiss | 1990 | |||||
| 317 | El Karib | 1990 | |||||
| 310 | Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi | f | 1988 | ||||
| 311 | Errachiq | 1988 | |||||
| 312 | El Akid | 1989 | |||||
| 313 | El Maher | 1989 | |||||
| 314 | El Majid | 1989 | |||||
| 315 | El Bachir | 1989 | |||||
| 302 | Okba | 1976 | |||||
| 303 | Triki | 1977 | |||||
| Damen Interceptor 1503 | 1-5 | TBD | 2016 | 5 under construction for Coast Guard Duties, capable of 60kn | |||
| Fearless 36 | 12 Boats | ||||||
| Class | Photo | No. | Ship | Year commissioned | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amphibious ships | |||||
| 402 | Daoud Ben Aicha | 1977 | |||
| 403 | Ahmed Es Sakali | 1977 | |||
| 404 | Abou Abdallah El Ayachi | 1978 | |||
| LCT | 409 | Sidi Ifni | Landing craft tank[7] | ||
| Support ships | |||||
| Hydrographic and oceanographic boat | 804 | Dar Al Beida | 2018 | Used to chart the underwater coastal area[8] | |
| Ad Dakhla CLS | 408 | Daoud Ben Aicha | 1997 | Cargo ship which has a displacement of 2100 tons[9] | |
| Hydrographic research boat | H-01 | H-01 | 2011 | Used to chart the underwater coastal area. | |
| Damen Stan Tug 2208 | A2 | Al Mounkid | 2015 | Coastal & harbour tug[10] | |
| BBP | 803 | BBP | Submariner training ship | ||
See main article: List of active Moroccan military aircraft.
| Aircraft | Photo | Origin | Mission | In Service | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime Patrol Aircraft | ||||||
| 14 | Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force | |||||
| 4[11] | Two more were delivered in 2020. They are all of the 350ER versions | |||||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Eurocopter AS565 MA | Naval Military utility | 3 | Operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy | |||
| Bell 412 MA | Anti-submarine helicopter | 24 | Ordered 24 by the Royal Moroccan Navy | |||