Royal Bahraini Naval Force
| Royal Bahraini Naval Force | |
|---|---|
| سلاح البحرية الملكية البحرينية | |
 Naval jack | |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Country |  Bahrain |
| Allegiance | King of Bahrain |
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 700 personnel 35 ships 2 aircraft |
| Part of | Bahrain Defense Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Mina Salman Naval Base |
| Nickname(s) | RBNF |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of the Navy | Rear AdmiralMohammed Ibrahim Al Binali[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Ensign |  |
TheRoyal Bahraini Naval Force(Arabic:القوات البحرية الملكية البحرينية,abbreviatedRBNF), also called theRoyal Bahraini Navy,[2]is the maritime branch of theBahrain 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-classRBNSSabha.[3]
The RBNF received the frigateSabhafrom the U.S., arriving in Bahrain on 9 July 1997.[2]On 18 January 2024, a secondOliver Hazard Perry-class frigate,RBNSKhalid bin Ali,reached Bahrain after being transferred from theU.S. Navy.[4]
History
[edit]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 theGovernment of Bahrainby the United Kingdom.[5]Bahrain's first warship entered the Royal Bahraini Naval Force on 20 March 1979, and it acquired the frigateRBNSSabhaon 9 July 1997.[2]
Bahrain deployed RBNSSabhawith U.S. ships during theinvasion of IraqandOperation Enduring Freedom.[6]
Fleet
[edit]Ships
[edit]| Type/Class | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| Frigate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate(RBNSSabhaandRBNSKhalid bin Ali) | 2 |  United States |
1997–present | 4Harpoon SSMs,1MBB BO-105shipboard helicopter, andSM-1MR SAMs.[7] |
| Corvette | ||||
| Al-ManamaclassLürssenFPB 62 Guided-Missile Corvette Combatants | 2 |  Germany |
1988–present | 4MM40 Exocets.[7][8]Being upgraded with new weapon control system.[9] |
| Offshore patrol vessel | ||||
| River-classOffshore Patrol Vessel- Modified Batch 1b (RBNS Al-Zubara) | 1 |  United Kingdom |
2020 -Present | ex-HMS Clyde (P257).[10][11][12] |
| Patrol craft | ||||
| Cyclone-class patrol ship | 5 | United States |
2022–present | [13] |
| Ahmed Al Fatehclass Lürssen TNC 45 Guided-Missile Patrol Craft | 4 | Germany |
1984–present | 4MM40 Exocets.[7]Being upgraded with new weapon control system.[9] |
| Al Riffaclass Lürssen FPB 38 Patrol Craft | 2 | Germany |
1982–present | [7] |
| Al JarimSwiftships 65 Patrol Boat | 2 | United States |
1982–present | [7] |
| Swiftships 35 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV35s) | 2 | United States |
2021 | [14] |
| Mark V Special Operations Craft | 7 | United States |
5 during 2018–19 | [14] |
| Vigor Response-Boat Mediums (RB-M) | 2 | United States |
2019 | [15] |
| BMT Group 18m patrol boat | 6 | United Kingdom |
2013–present | Built in Turkey, option for 6 more.[16] |
| Wasp-11 | 2 | |||
| Wasp-20 | 2 | |||
| Wasp-30 | 1 | |||
| VT GroupVT-Halmatic 20 | 4 |  Qatar |
||
| VT GroupVT-Halmatic 160 | 6 | Qatar |
||
| Fairey Marine Swordsman | 4 | United Kingdom |
||
| Amphibious warfare ship | ||||
| Al Hamraclass ADSB Steel Landing Craft | 4 |  United Arab Emirates |
2009+ | 2 42-meter and 2 16-meter. |
| LCU-1466 | 4 | United States |
||
| Fairey Marine LCU | 1 | United Kingdom |
||
| Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard CompanyLanding craft | 1 | Bahrain |
2016 | 34.5m in overall length.[17]1 more could be ordered. |
Aircraft
[edit]| Type | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| Helicopter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo 105CBS-4 | 2 | Germany |
The naval force operates a squadron of two Bo 105CBS-4 helicopters.[3][19] | |
Missiles & Torpedoes
[edit]| Type | Quantity | Origin | In service | Details |
| Missiles & Torpedoes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exocet MM-40 | 67 |  France |
Delivered between 1984 and 2010. | |
| Harpoon | 8 | United States |
Delivered 1997–1998. | |
| RIM-66 Standard | 22 | United States |
RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered 1997. | |
| Mark 46 torpedo | 18 | United States |
Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered 1997. | |
Ranks
[edit]- Officer ranks
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Bahrain Naval Force |
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| مشیر Mushir |
فريق أول Fariq 'awal |
فريق Fariq |
لواء Liwa |
عميد Amid |
عقيد Aqid |
مقدم Muqaddam |
رائد Ra'id |
نقيب Naqib |
ملازم أول Mulazim awwal |
ملازم Mulazim |
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- Enlisted and NCO ranks
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Bahrain Naval Force |
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| رقیب أول Raqib 'awal |
رقیب Raqib |
عريف Earif |
جندي أول Jundiun awwal |
جندي Jundiun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Future
[edit]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, theUSS 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
[edit]
- Mina Salman Naval Baseis a facility currently shared with theUnited States Navyand is used as a ship and submarine logistic support base for the entireUS Fifth Fleet.It was opened in the 1980s as cargo facility and is now solely used as a naval port.
- Manama Naval Baseis another key US Navy installation and formerly home to HMS Juffair. It is not used by RBNF.
- RBNF also operates a shipyard that is shared with several other neighbouring countries.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Commander-in-Chief receives newly appointed Royal Bahrain Naval Force Commander.Bahrain News Agency. Published 23 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^abcRoyal Bahraini Naval Force.Bahrain Defense Force. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^abIISS(2023).The Military Balance 2023.pp. 318–319.
- ^‘RBNS Khalid bin Ali’ ship arrives in Bahrain; joins RBNF.Bahrain News Agency. Published 18 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^United States Congress (1972).U.S. Interests in and Policy Toward the Persian Gulf.U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^Katzman, Kenneth (2010).Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy.Diane Publishing Company. p. 6.
- ^abcdeWertheim, Eric (2007).The Naval Institute guide to combat fleets of the world: their ships, aircraft, and systems(15th ed.). Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. pp. 37–38.ISBN9781591149552.
- ^"The Naval Balance of Power: The Persian Gulf".Archived fromthe originalon 30 October 2012.
- ^ab"Leonardo delivers first upgraded Al Manama ship to Royal Bahrain Naval Force".Navyrecognition.com. 24 January 2018.Retrieved23 May2020.
- ^W, Steve (7 August 2020)."Bahrain receives patrol warship" RBNS Al-Zubara "".Bahrain News Agency.(WHQ).Retrieved7 August2020.
- ^W, Steve (8 August 2020)."HMS Clyde sold to Bahrain".UK Defence Journal.(George Allison).Retrieved8 August2020.
- ^""RBNS Al-Zubara" arrives in Bahrain ".Bahrain News Agency.(WHQ). 26 November 2020.Retrieved4 May2021.
- ^Binnie, Jeremy (4 April 2022)."Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships".Janes.Retrieved29 March2023.
- ^ab"Bahrain commissions new naval vessels".
- ^"Vigor Bahrain RB-M - BIDEC - Bahrain's Premier International Tri-Service Defence Show".
- ^"BMT Partners with Ares Shipyard to Deliver Patrol Boats for Bahrain Coast Guard".Navyrecognition.com.Retrieved5 August2018.
- ^"ASRY construct new landing craft".Newsofbahrain.com.Retrieved5 August2018.
- ^"Swiftships Shipbuilders".Swiftships Shipbuilders.
- ^World Air Forces 2021.Flightglobal.com.
- ^"Bahrain – 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats - The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency".Dsca.mil.Retrieved5 August2018.
- ^"CBO: Navy frigate sale to Bahrain has $80M price tag".Insidedefense.com.13 July 2018.Retrieved5 August2018.
- ^"NAVDEX 2019: Vigor showcases its Vigor Fast Interceptor".Navyrecognition.com. 18 February 2019.Retrieved23 May2020.
- ^"52-Year-Old Coast Guard Cutter Heads to Bahrain for Second Career".
- ^"Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships".
- ^"Bahrain Eyes French-Origin Egypt-Built Gowind Corvettes".
External links
[edit]
- Haze Gray Bahrain Navy[permanent dead link]
- INSS Bahrain Navy
- Yết kỳ bản インターネット nhật hàn văn hóa giao lưu - KJCLUB - KJLAND: Photos of surface vessels of the RBNF(in Japanese)
