Royal Bahraini Naval Force Explained

Unit Name:Royal Bahraini Naval Force
Native Name:سلاح البحرية الملكية البحرينية
Start Date:1979
Country: Bahrain
Allegiance:King of Bahrain
Type:Navy
Size:700 personnel
35 ships
2 aircraft
Command Structure:Bahrain Defense Force
Garrison:Mina Salman Naval Base
Nickname:RBNF
Battles:
Commander1:Rear Admiral Mohammed Ibrahim Al Binali[1]
Commander1 Label:Commander of the Navy
Identification Symbol Label:Naval Ensign
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Naval Flag and jack

The Royal Bahraini Naval Force (Arabic: 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. 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.

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 (and RBNS Khalid bin Ali) 2 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 1988–present 4 MM40 Exocets.[8] Being upgraded with new weapon control system.[9]
Offshore patrol vessel
River-class Offshore Patrol Vessel - Modified Batch 1b (RBNS Al-Zubara) 1 2020 - Present ex-HMS Clyde (P257).[10] [11] [12]
Patrol craft
5 2022–present [13]
Ahmed Al Fateh class Lürssen TNC 45 Guided-Missile Patrol Craft 4 1984–present 4 MM40 Exocets. Being upgraded with new weapon control system.
Al Riffa class Lürssen FPB 38 Patrol Craft 2 1982–present
Al Jarim Swiftships 65 Patrol Boat 2 1982–present
Swiftships 35 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV35s) 2 2021 [14]
7 5 during 2018–19
Vigor Response-Boat Mediums (RB-M) 2 2019 [15]
BMT Group 18m patrol boat 6 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    
VT Group VT-Halmatic 160 6    
4    
Amphibious warfare ship
Al Hamra class ADSB Steel Landing Craft 4 2009+ 2 42-meter and 2 16-meter.
4    
1    
Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company Landing craft 1 2016 34.5m in overall length.[17] 1 more could be ordered.
115Bahraini Navy 2021 [18]

Aircraft

Type Quantity Origin In service Details
Helicopter
2 The naval force operates a squadron of two Bo 105CBS-4 helicopters.[19]

Missiles & Torpedoes

Type Quantity Origin In service Details
Missiles & Torpedoes
67 Delivered between 1984 and 2010.
8 Delivered 1997–1998.
22 RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered 1997.
18 Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered 1997.

Ranks

Officer ranks
Enlisted and NCO ranks

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

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.bna.bh/en/CommanderinChiefreceivesnewlyappointedRoyalBahrainNavalForceActingCommander.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDnxZyMj%2FkzgRh6nVPkIfOeo%3D Commander-in-Chief receives newly appointed Royal Bahrain Naval Force Commander
  2. https://www.bdf.bh/en/copy-of-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9 Royal Bahraini Naval Force
  3. Book: IISS . International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2023 . 2023 . 318–319 .
  4. https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDvdHGdFWot2F5VnnkAMj6VE%3D ‘RBNS Khalid bin Ali’ ship arrives in Bahrain; joins RBNF
  5. United States Congress (1972). U.S. Interests in and Policy Toward the Persian Gulf. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  6. Katzman, Kenneth (2010). Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy. Diane Publishing Company. p. 6.
  7. Book: Wertheim, Eric. The Naval Institute guide to combat fleets of the world : their ships, aircraft, and systems. 2007. Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Md.. 9781591149552. 37–38. 15th.
  8. Web site: The Naval Balance of Power: The Persian Gulf. https://web.archive.org/web/20121030213552/http://gcreport.com/index.php/analysis/192-the-naval-balance-of-power-the-persian-gulf. dead. October 30, 2012.
  9. Web site: Leonardo delivers first upgraded Al Manama ship to Royal Bahrain Naval Force . Navyrecognition.com . 2018-01-24 . 2020-05-23.
  10. Web site: Bahrain receives patrol warship "RBNS Al-Zubara" . Steve . W . 7 August 2020 . Bahrain News Agency . (WHQ) . 7 August 2020 .
  11. Web site: HMS Clyde sold to Bahrain . Steve . W . 8 August 2020 . UK Defence Journal . (George Allison) . 8 August 2020 .
  12. Web site: "RBNS Al-Zubara" arrives in Bahrain . 26 November 2020 . Bahrain News Agency . (WHQ) . 4 May 2021 .
  13. Web site: Binnie. Jeremy. 2022-04-04. Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships. 29 March 2023. Janes. en-US.
  14. Web site: Bahrain commissions new naval vessels.
  15. Web site: Vigor Bahrain RB-M - BIDEC - Bahrain's Premier International Tri-Service Defence Show.
  16. Web site: BMT Partners with Ares Shipyard to Deliver Patrol Boats for Bahrain Coast Guard. Navyrecognition.com. 5 August 2018.
  17. Web site: ASRY construct new landing craft. Newsofbahrain.com. 5 August 2018.
  18. Web site: Swiftships Shipbuilders . Swiftships Shipbuilders.
  19. https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=75345 World Air Forces 2021
  20. Web site: Bahrain – 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats - The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Dsca.mil. 5 August 2018.
  21. Web site: CBO: Navy frigate sale to Bahrain has $80M price tag. 13 July 2018. Insidedefense.com. 5 August 2018.
  22. Web site: NAVDEX 2019 : Vigor showcases its Vigor Fast Interceptor . Navyrecognition.com . 2019-02-18 . 2020-05-23.
  23. Web site: 52-Year-Old Coast Guard Cutter Heads to Bahrain for Second Career .
  24. Web site: Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships .
  25. Web site: Bahrain Eyes French-Origin Egypt-Built Gowind Corvettes .

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