Kuwaiti Navy
Encyclopedia
The Kuwaiti navy, or Kuwait Naval Force (Arabic
: القوة البحرية الكويتية), is the sea-based component of the Military of Kuwait
. The headquarters and sole naval base is Ras al-Qulayah Naval Base, located in the south of Kuwait, approximately 35 miles (56 km) south of Kuwait City
. The Kuwait Naval Force numbers consists of over 2,000 officers and enlisted personnel, including approximately 400 coast guard
.
During the Invasion of Kuwait
, part of the Persian Gulf War
, Kuwait's navy was almost completely destroyed. At the start of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Iraqi forces captured 6 Kuwait missile
boats armed with Exocet missiles and Kuwait lost 17 ships of other classes during the war.
The capture of the Exocets raised fears that Iraq might use them against coalition forces during the Gulf War. Iraq did not use them and the captured vessels were all heavily damaged or sunk by coalition forces. During the war, the two Lürssen's that evaded Iraqi capture helped retake Kuwaiti coastal islands and oil platforms.
On 11 November 2008, Kuwait Naval Base was the location of the historic signing of the non-legally binding maritime Khawr Abd Allah Protocols otherwise known as the KAA Protocols. The signing of the KAA Protocols by the respective heads of the Kuwaiti Naval Force and the Iraqi Navy was the first formal and successful maritime bilateral military agreement for the co-ordinated and de-conflicted use of the Khawr Abd Allah
waterway since before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The protocols were developed and mediated by the British Royal Navy in 2008 and subsequently ratified by the Kuwaiti and Iraqi governments before the 11 November 2008 signing. They were subsequently reported to the US Congress within the December 2008 'Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq' report.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: القوة البحرية الكويتية), is the sea-based component of the Military of Kuwait
Military of Kuwait
Under the constitution of Kuwait, the Emir of Kuwait is the supreme commander of the armed forces with a Minister of Defence who directs the Military of Kuwait through the Chief of the General Staff. The National Guard has its own commander, who reports directly to the minister of defence. Public...
. The headquarters and sole naval base is Ras al-Qulayah Naval Base, located in the south of Kuwait, approximately 35 miles (56 km) south of Kuwait City
Kuwait City
-Suburbs:Although the districts below are not usually recognized as suburbs, the following is a list of a few areas surrounding Kuwait city:Al-Salam ""السلام"" -Economy:...
. The Kuwait Naval Force numbers consists of over 2,000 officers and enlisted personnel, including approximately 400 coast guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
.
History
Kuwait's Navy was established in 1961 shortly after Britain ended the country's protectorate status and Kuwait became fully independent.During the Invasion of Kuwait
Invasion of Kuwait
The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...
, part of the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, Kuwait's navy was almost completely destroyed. At the start of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Iraqi forces captured 6 Kuwait missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
boats armed with Exocet missiles and Kuwait lost 17 ships of other classes during the war.
The capture of the Exocets raised fears that Iraq might use them against coalition forces during the Gulf War. Iraq did not use them and the captured vessels were all heavily damaged or sunk by coalition forces. During the war, the two Lürssen's that evaded Iraqi capture helped retake Kuwaiti coastal islands and oil platforms.
On 11 November 2008, Kuwait Naval Base was the location of the historic signing of the non-legally binding maritime Khawr Abd Allah Protocols otherwise known as the KAA Protocols. The signing of the KAA Protocols by the respective heads of the Kuwaiti Naval Force and the Iraqi Navy was the first formal and successful maritime bilateral military agreement for the co-ordinated and de-conflicted use of the Khawr Abd Allah
Khawr Abd Allah
The Khawr Abd Allah is today an estuary, but once was the point where the great Euphrates and Tigris rivers emptied into the Persian Gulf. Located in the south of Iraq, the Iraq-Kuwaiti border divides the lower portion of the estuary, but adjacent to the port of Umm Qasr the estuary becomes wholly...
waterway since before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The protocols were developed and mediated by the British Royal Navy in 2008 and subsequently ratified by the Kuwaiti and Iraqi governments before the 11 November 2008 signing. They were subsequently reported to the US Congress within the December 2008 'Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq' report.
Present fleet
Personnel year 2008: 2,700 (includes 500 coast guard)- 1 TNC-45 fast attack craft (AlSnbouk class) - 255 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1984
- 8 Combattante BR-42 fast attack craft (Umm AlMaradem class) - 245 tons full load - 4 Sea Skua SSM - commissioned 1999-2000
- 1 FPB 57 fast attack craft (AlEstqlaal class) - 410 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1983
- 1 support ship (Durrar class)
- 15 RHIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) Special Operations Patrol Boats 2 x .50 Cal, 10 meters.
- 10 Sea Ark Special Operations Patrol Boats 4 x .50cal. 11 meters. 5 additional boats on order.
Future ships
- 10 MK V interceptor craft - 54 tons
- 1 DSV (Diving Support Vessel)
- 1 HSV (Hydrographic Support Vessel)
- 1 Harbor Tug