Royal Saudi Navy Explained

Unit Name:Royal Saudi Naval Force
Native Name:Arabic: البحرية السعودية
Country: Saudi Arabia
Type:Navy
Role:Naval warfare
Size:13,500 approx. (inc. 3,000 marines) [1] [2]
Command Structure:Royal Armed Forces
Garrison:Ministry Of Defense[4]
Garrison Label:Parent agency
Current Commander:V. Admiral Fahd al-Ghofaily
Notable Commanders:Abu al-A'war
Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami
Equipment:7 frigates (4 u/c)
4 corvettes (5 u/c)
39 patrol vessels
3 minehunters
2 support ships
2 royal yachts
Battles:List of wars involving RSNF
Decorations:


Naval Forces Medal - 1st Class
Naval Forces Medal - 2nd Class
Naval Forces Medal - 3rd Class

Start Date:1789 (historical)[5]
1960 (official)[6]
Colors: Blue white
Identification Symbol Label:Seal
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Ensign
Identification Symbol 3 Label:Jack
Identification Symbol 4 Label:Flag
Identification Symbol 5 Label:Pennant
Aircraft Helicopter:AS332 Super Puma
Aircraft Helicopter Utility:AS565 SA Dauphin
Sikorsky MH-60R

The Royal Saudi Navy (Arabic: البَحْريَّة الْمَلكيَّة السُّعُودِيَّة|Al-Quwwat al-Bahriyah al-Arabiyah as-Su'udiyah) or Royal Saudi Naval Forces (Arabic: القُوَّات البَحْريَّة الْمَلكيَّة السُّعُودِيَّة|Al-Quwwat al-Bahriyah al-Malakiyah as-Su'udiyah), is the maritime arm of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and one of the five service branches of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia. Its primary role is monitoring and defending the Saudi territorial waters against military or economic intrusion, and participating in international naval alliances.

The Navy operates from multiple bases along the Saudi coastline, with two fleets.

Each fleet has a full military capability including warships, support ships, administrative and technical support, naval aviation, marines and special security units.[7]

History

The Navy was founded in 1960[8] and began a significant expansion with United States assistance in 1972 aiming to match the Imperial Iranian Navy. Following the Iranian Revolution a further expansion programme, Sawari, was initiated with French assistance. Further vessels were purchased from Britain and France in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1980, U.S. defense contractor Science Applications International Corporation began work with the Royal Saudi Navy to design and integrate the country's own command, control, and communications (C3) centers.[9]

Ships

The navy is a modern force with foreign built ships:

Frigates

4 Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) ordered by Royal Saudi Navy in 2019. The ship is derived from the Freedom-class littoral combat ship but with upgraded features. The deliveries of the MMSC will begin in June 2023.[10]

Marinette MarineOn order
On order
On order
On order

3 Al Riyadh-class frigates are modified versions of the (built by DCN, Lorient).[11] Each has a fully loaded displacement of 4,725 tons, and is armed with eight MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II surface-to-surface missiles (SSM), two eight-cell Sylver vertical launch systems for the Eurosam (MBDA and Thales) Aster 15 surface-to-air missile (SAM), an Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Super Rapid gun, and four 533 mm aft torpedo tubes. The ships are armed with the DCNS F17 heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo. The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin or the larger AS 532 Cougar or NH90 helicopters.[11]

812DCN Lorient2002In active serviceRiyadh City
8142003In active serviceMakkah City
816Dammam2004In active serviceDammam City

4 Al Madinah-class frigates based in the Red Sea, built in France (Arsenal de Marine, Lorient (French Government Dockyard and CNIM, La Seyne) in the mid-1980s. Their full load displacement is 2,610 tons and they are armed with eight Otomat surface-to-surface missiles, one 8-cell Crotale surface-to-air missile launcher (26 missiles total), one 100 mm/44 dual-purpose gun, two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, four torpedo tubes, an aft helicopter deck and hangar; one Dauphin helicopter.

702 Al MadinahArsenal de Lorient4 January 1985In active service
704HofoufCNIM, La Seyne31 October 1985In active service
706Abha4 April 1986In active service
708Taif29 August 1986In active service
It was believed the Saudis intended to order two new British-built Type 45 destroyers,[12] however production of the destroyers came to an end with no order made. Another destroyer that the Saudis are considering is the American built, having been briefed by the US Navy in May 2011 on the acquisition of two destroyers in a package that also includes an unknown number of Littoral Combat Ships.[13]

Corvettes

5 Avante-class corvettes ordered by Royal Saudi Navy in 2018. The corvettes have been built by Spanish company Navantia.

828Al Jubail[14] Navantia2022In active serviceAl Jubail City
830Al Diriyah[15] 2022In active serviceAl Diriyah City
832Hail[16] 2022In active serviceHail City
834Jazan[17] 2023DeliveredJazan City
836Unaizah2024DeliveredUnaizah City

4 s built in the United States in 1981–83, based in the Persian Gulf, full load displacement of 1,038 tons, armament of eight Harpoon SSM, one 76 mm OTO Melara DP gun, one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, two 20 mm guns, one 81 mm mortar, two 40 mm grenade launchers, two triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes.

612BadrTacoma Boatbuilding1981In active service
614Al Yarmook 1982In active service
616Hitteen1982In active service
618Tabuk1983In active service

Patrol boats

24 Al Sadiq-class patrol boats built in the United States (Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin) 1972–1980, full load displacement of 495 tons, armed with four Harpoon SSM, one 76 mm OTO gun, one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, two 20 mm guns, one 81 mm mortar, two 40 mm grenade launchers, two triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes.


511As-Siddiq (الصّدّيق)Peterson Builders1980In active service
513Al-Farouq (الفاروق)1981In active service
515Abdul-Aziz1981In active service
517Faisal 1981In active service
519Khalid1982In active service
521Amr1982In active service
523Tariq1982In active service
525Ouqbah 1982In active service
527Abu Obaidah1982In active service

Minesweepers

3 s (built by Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston), full load displacement of 480 tons:

420Al Jawf Vosper Thornycroft1991In active service
422Shaqra 1993In active service
424Al Kharj1994In active service

Support vessels

2 French built (modified replenishment ships built by CN La Ciotat, with a helicopter deck aft and hangars for 2 helicopters.

902BoraidaCN La Ciotat1984In active service
904 Yunbou1985In active service

Others

Many smaller patrol craft, two Danish-built royal yachts

Naval aviation

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk United StatesASW/ASuW HelicopterMH-60R10Ordered May 2015 – armed with Hellfire missiles
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma FranceASW helicopterB1, M1, F1S1, F1S220
AS565 SA Dauphin FranceSAR helicopterAS565 SA24

Marines

The Royal Saudi Navy maintains two, 10,000-man marine brigades consisting of three battalions each. The brigades are assigned to the Western Fleet headquartered in Jeddah and the Eastern Fleet headquartered in Jubail. The brigades are equipped with 500 Pegaso BMR AFVs and HMMWVs.

Future

Germany will supply 48 patrol boats to Saudi Arabia within the framework of its border security project, a cost of 1.5 billion euros has been noted for this deal. Lürssen has already started building 15 patrol vessels for the project's first phase. The patrol boats to be procured under the current contract come in two forms. The first are the 'TNC 35' models, which are 35-meter-long and are propelled by two diesel engines with a combined output of 7,800 kilowatts. The boat can reach speeds of up to 40 knots. The second models, 'FPB 38' are 38-meter-long and can reach speeds of up to 31 knots. As of November 2016 1 TNC 35 has been delivered to Saudi Arabia.[19]

Saudi Arabia wants to buy five German submarines for around €2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) and more than two dozen more in the future.[20]

In December 2014, the U.S. awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for a Foreign Military Sale of the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System to Saudi Arabia. With no surface ships compatible with the Mk 41 and no plans to acquire a land-based missile defense system, this indicates the country is close to purchasing a VLS-equipped surface combatant. Saudi Arabia has evaluated the and the Multi-mission Combat Ship version of the able to carry a VLS.[21] In October 2015, the US Congress was informed of a possible sale of Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships, a variant of the LCS.[22]

In July 2018 it was announced that Navantia had signed an agreement with the Royal Saudi Navy for the production of 5 Avante 2000 Corvettes with the last to be delivered by 2022 at a cost of approximately 2 billion Euros.[23]

Bases

Ranks

See main article: Saudi Arabian military ranks.

Officer ranks
Other ranksThe rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Incidents

On 30 January 2017 Al-Madinah was attacked by Houthi rebels using a suicide boat, killing 2 sailors and wounding 3 others.[25] The attack took place near the port city of Al Hudaydah, 150 kilometers southwest of the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

See also

Sources

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Book: IISS . The Military Balance 2021. 2021 . Routledge . 978-1-032-01227-8 . 364.
  2. Book: CIA . The CIA World Factbook 2021-2022. 2021 . Skyhorse Publishing . 978-1-5107-6381-4 . 842.
  3. Book: Gray. Matthew. Global Security Watch—Saudi Arabia. 2014. ABC-CLIO. 9780313387005. 41. en. 11 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20181103213040/https://books.google.com/books?id=dxvFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA41&dq=Royal+Saudi+Navy+founded+1960&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBgcfQ4IvVAhUHqY8KHXQyDq0Q6AEILDAC#v=onepage&q=Royal%20Saudi%20Navy%20founded%201960&f=false. 3 November 2018. live. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: Bahrain – McGill School of Computer Science. 21 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009151712/http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/link-suggestion/wpcd_2008-09_augmented/wp/b/Bahrain.htm. 9 October 2016. live. dmy-all.
  5. Book: George Snavely Rentz . The Beginnings of Unitarian Empire in Arabia . 1948 . University of California, Berkeley. 213 .
  6. Web site: Royal Saudi Naval Force . 20 May 2020 . 28 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200628194905/https://www.mod.gov.sa/en/Sectors/Navy/Pages/about.aspx . dead .
  7. Web site: sdarabia. sdarabia.com. 2017-08-03. 24 December 2019. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803093025/http://sdarabia.com/?p=43957. live.
  8. Book: Zuhur. Sherifa. Saudi Arabia. 2011. ABC-CLIO. 9781598845716. 434. en. 11 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20181103213040/https://books.google.com/books?id=5Ww68vqzQhoC&pg=PA434&dq=Royal+Saudi+Navy+founded&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwji_ICg34vVAhUKPo8KHS1rCsUQ6AEILDAC#v=onepage&q=Royal%20Saudi%20Navy%20founded&f=false. 3 November 2018. live. dmy-all.
  9. Dr. J. Robert Beyster with Peter Economy, The SAIC Solution: How We Built an $8 Billion Employee-Owned Technology Company, John Wiley & Sons (2007) p. 49
  10. Web site: Lockheed Inks 2 Billion Contract For Saudi Frigate. 20 December 2019. 16 May 2021. 14 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230214213150/https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/12/20/lockheed-inks-2-billion-contract-for-saudi-frigate/. live.
  11. Web site: Al Riyadh (F3000S Sawari II) Class, Saudi Arabia. www.naval-technology.com. 30 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151008094103/http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/al_riyadh/. 8 October 2015. live. dmy-all.
  12. The Independent , "UK seeks £2bn Saudi destroyer contract" By Michael Harrison, 9 March 2007
  13. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6799195&c=SEA&s=MID/ Defense News
  14. Web site: 20 July 2018. Saudi Arabia signs deal with Spanish firm for five warships. 11 September 2018. Arabian Business. 22 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200722200154/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/401147-saudi-arabia-signs-deal-with-spanish-firm-for-five-warships. live.
  15. Web site: Writer. DP Staff. Navantia Launches Second Avante 2200 Corvette Al Diriyah For Royal Saudi Naval Forces. 2020-11-29. DefPost. en-GB. 22 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122084104/https://defpost.com/navantia-launches-second-avante-2200-corvette-al-diriyah-for-royal-saudi-naval-forces/. dead.
  16. Web site: Navantia Launched 3rd Avante 2200 Corvette For Royal Saudi Navy. 29 March 2021. 16 May 2021. 30 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210730195555/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/03/navantia-launched-3rd-avante-2200-corvette-for-royal-saudi-navy/. live.
  17. Web site: RSNF Commander Patronizes Ceremonial Launching of His Majesty's Ship "Jazan". 25 July 2021. 14 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230214213158/https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2263552. live.
  18. Web site: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Mark V Patrol Boats. 24 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141224164819/http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/146429/saudi-to-buy-30-patrol-boats-for-%241.2bn.html. 24 December 2014. live. dmy-all.
  19. News: Ghazanfar Ali Khan . KSA set to get 48 German patrol boats . Arab News . 4 August 2016 . 20 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161120151844/http://www.arabnews.com/node/964456/saudi-arabia . 20 November 2016 . live . dmy-all .
  20. Web site: Report: Saudi Arabia Eyes Buying German Submarines. https://archive.today/20131104104434/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131103/DEFREG04/311030007/Report-Saudi-Arabia-Eyes-Buying-German-Submarines. dead. 4 November 2013. Defense News. 24 December 2014.
  21. http://navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2274 FMS of MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems May Indicate Purchase of LCS or DDG by Saudi Arabia
  22. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships . 20 October 2015 . Defense Security Cooperation Agency . 20 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222103914/http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/kingdom-saudi-arabia-multi-mission-surface-combatant-mmsc-ships . 22 December 2015 . live . dmy-all .
  23. Web site: Saudi Arabia signs deal with Spanish firm for five warships. Arabian Business. 20 July 2018. 11 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180911114423/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/401147-saudi-arabia-signs-deal-with-spanish-firm-for-five-warships. 11 September 2018. live. dmy-all.
  24. Book: Cordesman, Anthony H.. Saudi Arabia: Guarding The Desert Kingdom. 2019-05-20. Routledge. 978-0-429-96600-2. en. 20 November 2020. 14 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230214213157/https://books.google.com/books?id=Xf_EDwAAQBAJ&q=Ras+Al-Ghar+naval+base&pg=PA145. live.
  25. News: Gibbons-Neff. Thomas. Video emerges of suicide boat ramming Saudi frigate. The Washington Post. 6 February 2017. 7 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170206213824/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/02/06/video-emerges-of-suicide-boat-ramming-saudi-frigate/. 6 February 2017. live. dmy-all.