The Royal Moroccan Navy () 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 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". 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 marked the decline of the Moroccan state and consequently the navy that served it. The capture of major coastal cities and locations by Spain and Portugal significantly affected Morocco's naval capabilities. 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 service 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 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.

Ranks

Officers

Enlisted

Bases The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in: Casablanca Al Hoceima Dakhla Agadir Ksar Sghir Laayoune Tangier

Equipment

Warships

+ClassPhotoNo.ShipOriginYearCommissionedNote Frigates (6) FREMM 701 Mohammed VI / 2014 ASW version 611 2002 612 2002 613 2011 Sigma 10513 version (Frigate) 614 2012 Sigma 9813 version (multi mission frigate) 615 2012 Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate)Corvettes (1) 501 Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani Spain 1983 Updated in 2014 506 Moulay Hassan I Spain 2026 Updated in 2026 Missile boats (4) 304 El Khattabi 1981 305 Commandant Boutouba 1981 306 Commandant El Harty 1982 307 Commandant Azouggarh 1982 Patrol boats (18) OPV-70 341 Bir Anzaran 2011 4 under construction OPV-64 318 Raïs Bargach 1995 319 Raïs Britel 1996 320 Raïs Charkaoui 1996 321 Raïs Maaninou 1997 322 Raïs Al Mounastiri 1997 308 El Lahiq 1987 309 El Tawfiq 1988 316 El Hamiss 1990 317 El Karib 1990 310 Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi 1988 311 Errachiq 1988 312 El Akid 1989 313 El Maher 1989 314 El Majid 1989 315 El Bachir 1989 302 Okba 1976 303 Triki 1977 Damen Interceptor 1503 1-5 TBD 2016 5 under construction for Coast Guard Duties, capable of Fearless 3612 Boats { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [

"type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "LineString", "coordinates": [ [ -5.570927, 35.848563 ], [ -5.583544, 35.843065 ], [ -5.576935, 35.835131 ], [ -5.563116, 35.841256 ], [ -5.570154, 35.848702 ] ]

] }

Amphibious and auxiliary vessels ClassPhotoNo.ShipYearcommissionedNote Amphibious ships 402 Daoud Ben Aicha 1977 403 Ahmed Es Sakali 1977 404 Abou Abdallah El Ayachi 1978 LCT 409 Sidi Ifni Landing craft tank Support ships Hydrographic and oceanographic boat 804 Dar Al Beida 2018 Used to chart the underwater coastal area Ad Dakhla CLS 408 Daoud Ben Aicha 1997 Cargo ship which has a displacement of 2100 tons Hydrographic research boat H-01 H-01 2011 Used to chart the underwater coastal area. Damen Stan Tug 2208 A2 Al Mounkid 2015 Coastal & harbour tug BBP 803 BBP Submariner 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.

Aircraft

AircraftPhotoOriginMissionIn ServiceNote Maritime patrol aircraft Britten-Norman Defender Maritime patrol aircraft 14 Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force Beech King Air Maritime patrol aircraft 4 Two more were delivered in 2020. They are all of the 350ER versions Helicopters Eurocopter AS565 MA Naval Military utility 3 Operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy Bell 412 MA Anti-submarine helicopter 24 24 ordered by the Royal Moroccan Navy

Notable sailors

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 al-Nasir and governor of Mallorca. 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. 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.

Gallery

See also

Military of Morocco

References