Algerian National Navy

The Algerian Naval Force played an important role in the western Mediterranean between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. It was a leading military force that ensured not only the defense of the Regency of Algiers, but also of international shipping traveling through the Mediterranean. Notable legendary leaders were the Barbarossa brothers, Kheir Edine and Hassan Agha.

The origins of the Algerian Naval Force (1147 - 1516)

At that time the Maghreb under the control of the Almohad dynasty which also ruled the current Spain "al-Andalus" and 1147 to 1269. The Naval Force was born with the installation by Abd El Moumen naval shipyards the Almohad empire in the ports of Oran and Honaine. But the reign of this great dynasty would soon be glazed at first by a few internal disagreements, mainly related to the difficulties of managing a vast territory. The situation worsened further when a part of the Iberian peninsula again passed under the control of Christian rulers in the wake of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, the decomposition of the kingdom accelerated with the formation of three states in North Africa. After the total destruction of the kingdom Almohad in 1269 a fierce battle began between Muslims and Christians for control of various ports in the Western Mediterranean, resulting in the occupation by the Spanish in several regions – Algcomme, the Peñon of Algiers, Oran and Bejaia, which led the indigenous peoples of these regions to call on pirates to free the Christian invaders, which was done through sending and Aroudj Hayreddin Barbarossa brothers in 1516, they managed to build a fleet.

Khayr ad-Din

The privateer Oruç Reis, eldest of Khayr ad-Din

Described by some historians as one of the greatest naval admirals in history, the Barbarossa brothers would probably be of Albanian origin, several hypotheses are cited in this regard but none of them have been confirmed definitively, however, the general trend that emerges from the various historical references tends to reinforce the former. In the description given to them, It is said that the youngest Kheire Edine was brighter and stronger corpulence as its big brother while Aroudj Kheir Edine was known for his knowledge in navigation and maritime battles, he was nicknamed Barbarossa . He engaged in piracy for the sole purpose of revenge crossed, especially following his imprisonment for several years in the jails of the Christian rulers, courage and great skill allowed him to escape, fleeing afterwards to Tunis where King Mohamed Ibn Hafss allowed him to build a naval base from which he managed to be the first steps of its military fleet. He moved later to head its fleet to Algeria to its liberation from the Spanish colonization. What he managed to do by releasing initially Algiers, which he conferred the status of capital of a new Algerian state, several years later, he reunites his fleet and left immediately to conquer the last bastion Spanish in Algeria Mers El Kebir, he managed to free.

Phase of construction and consolidation

After the liberation of all the regions that were under Spanish influence, it was therefore quite possible to consider the construction of the Algerian Naval Force, which was undertaken by building initially of four small ships war, over time, a real military industry was born through several shipyards (especially in Cherchell, Bejaia and Algiers) who provided the Algerian Naval Force a considerable number of warships equipped with cannons developed entirely by skills Algerian. From there a new page was opened for Algeria which through its Marine could impose its leadership in the Mediterranean for nearly three centuries.

This rule also allowed him to repel several attacks from a number of European countries, starting with the one that was led by Charles V in October 1541, the troops of the latter were severely defeated by the Algerian fleet which was then under the command Hassan Agha, other attacks were carried out by the Spaniards in the 16th and 17th centuries, but they were all rejected by the Algerian Naval Force.

Other attacks of importance, the American expedition of 1815 and one that led the British and Dutch Marines on Algiers in August 1816, the latter suffered great losses and were prevented from landing at Algiers. However the Algerian armada also lost a large number of vessels.

Ornate Ottoman cannon found in Algiers on 8 October 1581 by Ca'fer el-Mu'allim. Length: 385 cm, cal:178 mm, weight: 2910 kg, stone projectile. Seized by France during the invasion of Algiers in 1830. Musée de l'Armée, Paris.

The bombardment of Algiers by Lord Exmouth, August 1816, painted by Thomas Luny

Some Algerian squadrons took part to the Greek war of independence from 1821 on, as suppletive forces to the Ottoman fleet, and lost several ships in various engagements throughout the war.

In June 1827, Charles X launched a naval blockade on Algiers and three years later a military expedition which finally took the city in 1830. Algeria, endured for a century and 132 years of French rule until July 5, 1962, when the country regained its independence. The Algerian Navy was officially recreated in 1963 by the Ministry of National Defence, then located at Hotel St. Georges.[2]

Principal naval bases are located at Algiers, Annaba, Mers el-Kebir, Oran, Jijel and Tamentfoust. Mers el Kébir is home to the OMCN/CNE shipbuilding facilities where several Algerian vessels have been built. Algeria's naval academy at Tamentfoust provides officer training equivalent to that of the army and the air force academies. The naval force also operates a technical training school for its personnel at Tamentfoust.

The bulk of the Algerian Naval Force is still based on Cold War designs, although work is being done to both acquire new platforms as well as modernize existing equipment. The surface fleet is equipped with a mixture of smaller ships well suited to coastal and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol work. The fleet is led by three Koni class frigates which have been updated with more modern systems. These are due to be augmented in the coming years by a pair of MEKO A-200 frigates which will represent the most modern equipment of the naval force when they enter service, also, Algeria signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company for the construction of three light frigates about 2,800 tons full load. A mixture of six corvettes and off-shore patrol vessels complement the frigates, while a large number of smaller boats cover the role of coastal patrol. Algeria had maintained a relatively large fleet of Osa class fast attack craft by the end of the Cold War, but it is questionable whether any of these remain in operational use.

Algeria has had a small submarine presence in the Mediterranean with a pair of Kilo class patrol submarines, though the recent acquisition of an additional four upgraded boats will expand this presence significantly. Their amphibious warfare capacity has traditionally been limited with a small group of landing ships essentially for coastal transport roles. This capacity will be greatly upgraded with the planned acquisition of an amphibious transport dock capable of supporting more robust operations. In the area of civil support, the purchase of seagoing rescue tugs will mark the first ability of an African nation to provide valuable services to economic and commercial operators in the Western Mediterranean.

The Algerian military has long maintained a strong veil of secrecy over its organization and equipment, making an exact accounting of operational vessels difficult to ascertain. Open sources are known to vary widely in their reports of several aspects of Algerian equipment.

Submarines

Class	Image	Origin	No.	Ship	Year Commissioned	Note
Submarine (6)
Project 636		Russia	4[3][4]	Messali el Hadj (021) Akram Pacha (022) El Ouarsenis (031) El Hoggar (032)	2010–2019	Two project 636M in service since 2010. Two project 636.1 ordered in 2014, commissioned in early 2019.[5][6][7][8]
Project 877EKM	Rais Hadj Mubarek	Soviet Union	2	Rais Hadj Mubarek (012) El Hadj Slimane (013)	1987–1988	Two original Kilo-class submarines in service, delivered in 1987 and 1988.[5] Refitted and upgraded in 1993 and 1996. 2 more on order to be delivered in mid 2021/22[9]

Amphibious warfare vessels

Class	Image	Origin	No.	Ship	Displacement	Year Commissioned	Note
Amphibious transport dock (1)
San Giorgio-class amphibious assault ship		Italy	1	Kalaat Béni Abbès	9,000 tonnes	2015	Improved San Giorgio, Ordered in 2011(+1 in option)[10][11][12]'
Landing Ships (2)
Kalaat Beni Hammed		United Kingdom	2	Kalaat Beni Hammed	2,450 tonnes	1984	Built by Brooke Marine in Lowestoft, UK
				Kalaat Beni Rached			Built by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, UK

Surface combatants

Class	Image	Origin	No.	Ship	Displacement	Year Commissioned	Note
Frigates (8)
MEKO A200		Germany	2	Erradi (910) El-Moudamir (911)	3,700 tonnes	2016-2018	Two in service with the option for two more.[13]
Adhafer-class frigate		China	3	Adhafer El Fatih Ezzadjer	2880 tonnes	2015-2016	Armed with NG-16-1(76 mm) main gun, 2 Seven-barrel 30 mm Type 730 CIWS, 2 Quad C-802 missiles[14]
Koni-class frigate		Soviet Union	3	Mourad Rais Rais Kellik Rais Korfo	2000 tonnes	1985	Modernized in Russia in 2011.[15]
Corvettes (10)
Nanuchka-class corvette[16]		Soviet Union	3	Ras Hamidou Salah Reis Reis Ali	660 tonnes	1982	In service, Project 1234E built by Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk, modernized in 2012.
Djebel Chenoua Class corvette		Algeria	4	Djebel Chenoua El Chihab El Kirch Hassan Barbiear	540 tonnes	2002	Built by OMCN / CNE in Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria. Armed with 4C802 ASM and AK630 CIWS.
Steregushchiy-class corvette		Russia	3		1800 tonnes	2021	3 Project 20380 Steregushchiy Class corvettes. Reception in 2021[17][18]
Patrol Boats (65)
Osa II class missile boat		Soviet Union	8			1978
Kebir class patrol boat		United Kingdom	14	El Yadekh	250 tonnes	1982	The first two units built by Brooke Marine.
FPB98 MKI Ocea class patrol boat		France	31[19]	Denebi		2008-2019	Built by Ocea France[20][21]
Alusafe 2000		Spain  Algeria	12[22]	El Mounkid		2016	Produced locally[23]
Mine countermeasures (2)
Lerici-class minehunter		Italy	2	El-Kasseh 1 El-Kasseh 2	600 tonnes	2016-2018	In service[24]

Fleet auxiliaries

Class	Image	Origin	No.	Ship	Displacement	Year Commissioned	Note
Survey ship
El Idrissi		Japan	673	El Idrissi	540 tonnes	1980	Built by Matsukara Zosen in Hirao, Japan.
Training ship
Soummam		China	937	Soummam	5,500 tonnes	2006	5,500 tons (full load).
EL Mellah		Poland	938	El Mellah (the sailor)		2017	A three mast tall ship constructed in Gdańsk, Poland.
Salvage ship
El Mourafik		China	261	El Mourafik	600 tonnes	1990	Built in China
High Seas Tow Vessel
El Mounjid		Norway	701	El Mounjid	3,200 tonnes	2012	Type UT 515 CD built in Norway and Motorization by Rolls-Royce.
			702	El Moussif
			703	El Moussanid

Aircraft

An Algerian Navy AW101

Aircraft	Image	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Helicopters
Westland Super Lynx		United Kingdom	ASW	130/140	10	[25]
AgustaWestland AW101		United Kingdom  Italy	SAR / utility		6	[26]
AgustaWestland AW139		Italy	light utility		3	[26]
Kamov Ka-27		Russia	SAR / utility	Ka-32T	3	[27]
Super King Air		United States	maritime patrol	350	3	[27]

Modernization

Algerian Sailors conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO).

The Naval force is currently being upgraded with the following technological developments: the existing units are being modernized, with the submarine force strengthened by two new Kilo class submarines (last generation).[28]

• One LPD from Italy in 2014.
• Two MEKO A200 frigates from Germany.
• TYPE 054A frigates
• AIP Submarines
• Three corvettes C28A with option of three more produced locally. Radar and electronic equipment will be supplied by Thales, and mounted in Algeria. They will be built at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard.[29][30][31]
• 31 units of the type FPB98 MKI Ocean Patrol Boat.[32][33]
• 12 units of Alusafe 2000 high speed rescue and patrol vessel.[34]

• List of Algerian ships

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Algerian Navy ships and equipment