Lebanese Navy
| Lebanese Navy القوات البحرية اللبنانية |
|
|---|---|
Flag of the Lebanese Navy
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|
| Active | 1950 - present |
| Country |  Lebanon |
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 5000 personnel 65 vessels |
| Part of | Lebanese Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Beirut Naval Base |
| Engagements |
|
| Website | lebarmy |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Rear-Admiral Nazih Jbaily[2] |
| Insignia | |
| Emblem |  |
The Lebanese Navy (Arabic: القوات البحرية اللبنانية Al-qūwātu al-Baḥriyya al-Lubnāniyya) is the Navy of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was formed in 1950 and based in Beirut Naval Base, Lebanon’s first naval base. The navy, which currently lacks the proper number of equipment, has a number of approximately 65 vessels of various sizes and roles; however, the navy is trying to modernize itself, and increase its size. The flag of the Lebanese navy depicts a Phoenician ship with the Lebanese Cedar tree, positioned on an anchor above the Arabic inscription of the navy's name.
The Lebanese government approved on January 16, 2009 a request by the Lebanese Ministry of Defense to build a new naval base on the shores of Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.[3]
Contents
The role in marine conservation
Main article: Marine environmental issues in Lebanon
In Lebanon, marine conservation, marine pollution response and implementation of the international maritime conventions such as the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships are the concern of the Lebanese navy, since it is the only state authority that can enforce the maritime law in both Lebanese exclusive economic zone and territorial waters.[4]
For the reason that:
- Lebanese navy do not recruit specialized officers with a high diploma in the maritime field. [5]
- The skills of the Lebanese Naval Forces are not incredibly diverse or necessarily advanced to the level of European countries due to their limited human resources and equipment.[6]
Lebanese Navy undergoes difficulties in accomplishing its enduring roles in maritime safety, security and marine environment stewardship.
Equipment and Systems
Current fleet list
| Type | Class | Country of Origin | Details | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol Boats | AMP 145[7] | United States | 44 - Tripoli (43 meters) | |
| Germany | 42 - Amchit - 34 meters (ex-Bremen 2) | |||
| Avel Gwalarn Class[8] | France | 43 - Al-Kalamoun - 30.35 meters (ex-DF 41) | ||
| Class 905 | Germany | 41 - Tabarja - 28 meters (ex-Y838 Bergen) | ||
| Fassmer FFPB 20 | Germany | 308 - Nakoura - 20 meters (ex-Bremen 9) | ||
| Attacker class | United Kingdom | 301 - Tripoli | ||
| 302 - Jounieh | ||||
| 303 - Batroun | ||||
| 304 - Jbeil | ||||
| 305 - Beirut | ||||
| 306 - Saida | ||||
| 307 - Sarafand | ||||
| Medium Yacht (Captured from a drug smuggler) [9] | 501 - Imanuella | |||
| Watercraft 45 ft | United Kingdom | 13.7 meters CPC | 4 | |
| Fast Intercept Boats | United Arab Emirates | 12 meters | 6 | |
| 16 meters | 4 | |||
| Phenix 55 FPB | Lebanon [10] | Sannine, 46 knots | 1 | |
| Amphibious | Engin de débarquement d'infanterie et de chars | France | 21 - Sour | |
| 22 - Damour | ||||
| Combat Support Boats | MK2 | United Kingdom | 8.24 Meters CSB/BEB | 27 |
| Gun Boats [11] | United States | 8 | ||
| Stealth Attack Craft | FS56 | France | 56 Meters | 3 TBD |
Lebanon intends to provide protection for the future natural gas installations and enforce the law and the State authority in Lebanese Territorial Waters. France will use the $3 billon Saudi Arabia military grant to equip the Lebanese navy by French Combattante FS56 fast attack craft.[12]
Coastal Radar Stations
| Organization | |||
| Ministry of National Defense | |||
| Lebanese Air Force | |||
| Lebanese Navy | |||
| Lebanese Special Forces | |||
| Lebanese Red Cross | |||
| Personnel | |||
| LAF Commanders | |||
| Lebanese Military Personnel | |||
| Topics of Lebanon | |||
| Culture - Geography | |||
| History - Politics | |||
The Lebanese Navy is in charge of the coastal radar stations, in 1992, three stations in all of Tripoli, Sidon, and Tyre were established, followed by upgrades and new stations in 1997. However, during the 2006 Lebanon War all of the stations were bombed by the Israeli Navy. After the war ended, Germany and Lebanon signed a bilateral agreement to establish The Coastal Radar Organization (CRO) which aimed to create and consolidate a chain of seven coastal radar stations with the ability to cover the entire Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. Three of these stations are older and were refurbished with new equipment and facilities; the four other are new installations.
Surveillance
In February, 2008, the Lebanese navy ordered six Pharos XLR3+ Long Range Multisensor Surveillance Platforms in order to equip their naval stations which lack 24/7 long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in all weather conditions.[13]
Training
The Lebanese Naval Forces send nearly all of their Navy officers for training abroad in a variety of European countries as well as the United States. Each country offers different training depending on the specializations of each officer. Officers sent to the United States have undergone schooling in surface warfare and experienced on job training with the US Coast Guard. Many Lebanese Naval Forces Engineers head to France where they receive education regarding detection, transmission, and artillery. Skills used in much of the domestic duties of the Lebanese Naval Forces from initial staff courses, amphibious training, and maritime drug enforcement are taught at British academies. The skills of the Lebanese Naval Forces are not incredibly diverse or necessarily advanced to the level of European countries due to their limited human resources and equipments.[6]
Cooperation with the UNIFIL MTF
The existence of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force is helping the Lebanese Navy to enhance the skills of its personnel through the periodical joint exercises and daily cooperation. Upon the arrival of the MTF to the region (after the 2006 Lebanon War), the Lebanese Navy began jointly working with the navy in lead, which at the time was the Italian Navy, in order to insure a successful outcome to the assigned peace operation.[7]
Figures
- Admiral Émile Lahoud who was elected the President of Lebanon in 1998.
See also
- Marine environmental issues in Lebanon
- Marine Commandos
- Lebanese Armed Forces
- Lebanese Army Naval Academy
- List of navies
References
- ↑ [1] United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] Peacekeeping in between the Blue Line
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Missions of the Lebanese navy
- ↑ List of specializations required in the Lebanese armed forces
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.msstampabay.com/LCSC42_JNI_Aug2012.pdf Cite error: Invalid
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External links
- French Minister of Defense delegate Secretary of Old Combatants and Memories Kader Arif visits President of Lebanon Michel Suleiman and Commander-in-Chief of Lebanese Armed Forces Jean Kahwaji and Chief of General Staff in a hommage ceremonie to pay tribute to the victims of Drakkar on 23 October 2013; while Lebanon was celebrating its 70th Independence Anniversary; assuring the President of Lebanon "France remains and hopes to remain a lead partner for Lebanon in the mobilization of the international community to ensure political stability"
