Royal Moroccan Navy
Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية
Berber languages: ⴰⴷⵡⴰⵙ ⴰⴳⴻⵍⴷⴰⵏ ⵏ ⵢⵉⵍⴻⵍ
Flag of the Royal Moroccan Navy
Foundedactive since: 11th century
current form: 30 April 1960
Country Morocco
TypeNavy
Size7,800 personnel (includes 1,500 Marines)[1]
Part ofRoyal Moroccan Armed Forces
HeadquartersRabat
AnniversariesApril 1st (foundation)
Equipment121 vessels 17 aircraft
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefKing Mohammed VI
Inspector General of the NavyVice-Admiral Mostapha El Alami
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Aircraft flown
HelicopterAS565 Panther

The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية, Berber languages: ⴰⴷⵡⴰⵙ ⴰⴳⴻⵍⴷⴰⵏ ⵏ ⵢⵉⵍⴻⵍ) 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.

Mission

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.

History

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 much affected Morocco's naval capabilities.

Ranks

Officers

Rank group General/Flag/Air officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Royal Moroccan Navy[3]
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau-major Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe

Enlisted

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Royal Moroccan Navy[3]
 No insignia
Maître principal Premier maître Maître Second-maître
de 1ère classe		 Second-maître
de 2ème classe		 Quartier-maître
de 1ère classe		 Quartier-maître
de 2ème classe		 Matelot de
1ère classe		 Matelot

Bases

The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in:

Equipment

Warships

Class Photo No. Ship Origin Year
Commissioned		 Note
Frigates (6)
FREMM 701Mohammed VI  France/ Italy2014ASW version[4]
Floréal 611Mohammed V  France2002
612Hassan II  France2002
Sigma 613Tarik Ben Ziyad  Netherlands2011Sigma 10513 version

(Frigate)[5][6]

614Sultan Moulay Ismail  Netherlands2012Sigma 9813 version (multi mission frigate)
615Allal Ben Abdellah  Netherlands2012Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate)
Corvettes (1)
Descubierta Descubierta class Lieutenant Colonel Errahmani 501Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani Spain Spain1983Updated in 2014[7]
Missile boats (4)
Lazaga 304El Khattabi  Spain1981
305Commandant Boutouba  Spain1981
306Commandant El Harty  Spain1982
307Commandant Azouggarh  Spain1982
Patrol boats (18)
OPV-70 341 Bir Anzaran 341Bir Anzaran  France20114 under construction
OPV-64 322 Raïs Al Mounastiri. 318Raïs Bargach  France1995
319Raïs Britel  France1996
320Raïs Charkaoui  France1996
321Raïs Maaninou  France1997
322Raïs Al Mounastiri  France1997
Osprey 55 308El Lahiq  Denmark1987
309El Tawfiq  Denmark1988
316El Hamiss  Denmark1990
317El Karib  Denmark1990
Cormoran 310Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi f1988
311Errachiq 1988
312El Akid 1989
313El Maher 1989
314El Majid 1989
315El Bachir 1989
PR-72 302Okba  France1976
303Triki  France1977
Damen Interceptor 1503 1-5TBD  Netherlands20165 under construction for Coast Guard Duties, capable of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph)
Fearless 36 12

Amphibious and auxiliary vessels

Class Photo No. Ship Year
commissioned		 Note
Amphibious ships
BATRAL 402Daoud Ben Aicha1977
403Ahmed Es Sakali1977
404Abou Abdallah El Ayachi1978
LCT 409Sidi IfniLanding craft tank[8]
Support ships
Hydrographic and oceanographic boat 804Dar Al Beida2018Used to chart the underwater coastal area[9]
Ad Dakhla CLS 408Daoud Ben Aicha1997Cargo ship which has a displacement of 2100 tons[10]
Hydrographic research boat H-01H-012011Used to chart the underwater coastal area.
Damen Stan Tug 2208 A2Al Mounkid2015Coastal & harbour tug[11]
BBP 803BBPSubmariner training ship

Inshore patrol vessels

  • P-32
    • El Wacil (203)
    • El Jail (204)
    • El Mikdam (205)
    • El Khafir (206)
    • El Haris (207)
    • Essahir (208)
    • Erraid (209)
    • Erraced (210)
    • El Kaced (211)
    • Essaid (212)
  • VCSM/RPB 20 (107-116)
  • Rodman-101 (130-139)
  • Arcor-46 (D01-D18) In Service with Moroccan Customs
  • 15 Arcor-53 In Service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 2 Griffon 500TD hovercraft In service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 10 Rodman-55
  • 10 Arcor-17
      • No boats of this class have been built yet. Russia has offered the sub for sale to India, but in 2005, India ordered Scorpène-class submarines instead. On 4 July 2013, Rosoboronexport announced they will offer the Amur 1650 to the Moroccan Navy if they announce a tender for new submarines.[5]

Aircraft

Aircraft Photo Origin Mission In Service Note
Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Britten-Norman Defender United KingdomMaritime patrol aircraft14Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force
Beech King Air United StatesMaritime patrol aircraft4[12]Two more were delivered in 2020. They are all of the 350ER versions
Helicopters
Eurocopter AS565 MA FranceNaval Military utility3Operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy
Bell 412 MA United StatesAnti-submarine helicopter24Ordered 24 by the Royal Moroccan Navy

Notable sailors

Abdelkader Perez, Admiral and an ambassador to England in 1723.
  • Abdellah Ben Aïcha, admiral of Salé, ambassador to king Louis XIV of France in 1689.
  • Abdelkader Perez, ambassador to England in 1723 and again in 1737.
  • Abdellah Ben Soleïman, commander of the Almohad fleet under sultan [Abd al-Mu'min]
  • Abdellah Ben Taâ Allah, commander of the Almohad fleet under Muhammad an-Nasir and governor of Majorca
  • Corsair Triki of Salé, 17th century.
  • Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki of Safi, Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy from July 1991 to June 2005.

See also

References

  • Baker III, A. D. (1998). Combat Fleets of the World 1998-1999. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
  1. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. London: Routledge. p. 356. ISBN 9781032012278.
  2. ↑ André, Charles-André (1994). Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord. Paris: Payot. p. 866. ISBN 978-2-228-88789-2.
  3. 1 2 Ehrenreich, Frederich (1985). "National Security". In Nelson, Harold D. (ed.). Morocco: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American University. pp. 350–351. LCCN 85600265. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "DCNS delivers multimission frigate Mohammed VI to Royal Moroccan Navy". January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Shipbuilding Tribune - First Multi Mission Frigate for Royal Moroccan Navy Starts Sea Trials". 2011-08-11. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  6. ↑ "Shipbuilding Tribune - Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Delivers SIGMA Class Frigate to Royal Moroccan Navy". 2012-03-31. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  7. ↑ "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  8. ↑ "MAROC - Commande d'une barge LCT de 50m - Dossier de presse : l'Actualité - PIRIOU - Construction, réparation et ingénierie navale". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  9. ↑ "Piriou décroche la commande d'un bâtiment océanographique pour le Maroc". Archived from the original on 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  10. ↑ Colombaro, Mike (2012-03-05). "Combat Fleets Of The World: Future of the Royal Moroccan Navy". Combat Fleets Of The World. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  11. ↑ "Royal Moroccan Navy turns to Damen for first tug". Archived from the original on 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  12. ↑ "Morocco starts maritime patrols with newly delivered King Air 350ER aircraft". defenceWeb. 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
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