The Landing flotilla officially known as the Shayetet 11 is the Amphibious warfare fleet of the Israeli Navy. It is tasked with amphibious landings and logistics. The unit established during the 1948 Palestine war was abolished in 1993 and was re-established in 2022.
Roles The function of the unit is amphibious landings and naval encirclement. In preparation for the 1948 Palestine war, its role was defined as the creation of coastal bridgeheads and transport of supplies to isolated settlements. The flotilla took part and many operations in several wars until it was abolished in 1993. It was re-established in 2022 and was operational in 2024 during the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
Fleet The table below includes the vessels that were used by the flotilla. + Name Service NotesCommandersPhoto INS Hanna Senesh (Sh-29)1948–1951 In Operation Ben Ami, a force from the Carmeli Brigade landed in the captivity of Zion and evacuated the families of kibbutzim the Western Galilee to the Port of Haifa. Brought a force from the 22nd Battalion of the Carmeli Brigade to raid the Litani bridges - "Operation Kathriel" which was canceled due to the entry of the first ceasefire (June 11, 1948) Israel AverbuchShaul Avni2 British tank landing craftsLength 48 meters, width 9 meters, thrust 300 tons, 3 propellers, 10.5 knots. Charger: up to 5 tanks weighing 30 tons; or 3 tanks weighing 50 tons; or 9 trucks; or 250 tons. INS NeverthelessJuly 1948 – 1958Originally a missile boat LCT(r)-147 landing Battalion training, during the Tripartite Aggression. It was planned to land a force in the Gaza. The landing craft is on display at the Israeli Navy Museum INS Gush Etzion (F-39) July 1948 – 1957 Originally tank landing craft LCT-256, also known as "Perto". It practiced landings on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea (1949) during training exercises. 2 German tank landing crafts Length 36 meters, width 10 meters, thrust 300 tons, 3 propellers, 10 knots. INS Yad Mordechai (P-25)1948–1957 INS Beit Arava (P-33)1948–1957 2 American amphibious craftLength 48.5 meters, width 8.5 meters, displacement 387 tons, 2 propellers, 14 knots. INS Ramat Rachel (P-51)December 30, 1948 – 1960Collection of war booty from the Sinai coast and the capture of the MiG-15 from the Lake Bardawil and the Battle of the Chinese Farm. Hadar KimchiYehuda Ben-ZurMeir Lubochinsky INS Nitzanim (P-53) December 30, 1948 – 6 American Tank landing craftLength 15 meters, width 4.3 meters, thrust 60 tons, 2 propellers, 11 knots. They were used to transport AMX-13 tanks. INS Machs (32,38 & 40)Security patrols and Operation Kinneret 4 Amphibious Assault Ships1949–1967 Two ships assisted by providing cover from the during the battle of Taba. Four ships assisted the 9th Brigade's advance along the Sinai coast.Gad Asher3 36m Landing Crafts length 36 meters, width 6 meters, displacement 122 tons, 2 propellers, 10 knots and can carry two tanks or five BTR APCsINS Etzion Geber (P-51) March 1962 – 1982 Participated in Operation Raviv Was transferred to the Mediterranean Sea during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, was returned to Eilat for decommissioning, remained in Eilat and was used as a base for fish farming. It was transferred to Letron in October 2016 for conservation. Rabbi Chaval Yitzchak Aharonovich, Yosef Harari, Ehud Aral, Uri Sela, Israel Petchnik, Yigal Bar Yosef, Yaakov Abarshi, Shoki Bornstein, Mordechai Dekel, Moshe Miller INS Caesarea (P-53)October 15, 1964 – March 1983Operation Raviv was transferred to Ashdod by land, returned to Eilat via the Suez Canal and transferred again to the Mediterranean Sea during the 1982 Israeli invasion of LebanonYaakov Nitzan, Shmuel Shabach, Yosef Diamant, Shaul Horev, Yossi Levy, Hugo Shimron, Haim Markowitz, Gershon Neve, Yaron Goldstein, INS Shekmona (P-55)May 13, 1965 – March 1983 Operation RavivDavid Ezer, Aryeh Harel, Shmuel Sharig, Tsiki Hakhalai, Arie Amitai3 60m Landing Craft Length 60 meters, width 10 meters, displacement 730 tons, 3 propellers, 10.5 knots can carry 6 Centaurion tanks or 16 APCs Tamsah (SG 20) War of AttritionAn open barge consists of 20 floating units and is driven by two external engines.Combat Engineering Corps (Israel)INS Ashdod (P-61) March 23, 1967 – The June 1967 war and 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, sold for commercial useYaakov Nitzan, Yosef Harari, Avi Rothman, Moshe Levy, Nimrod Gilad, Michy Ringert, Danny Carmeli, Rafi Binyamin INS Ashkelon (P-63) May 19, 1967 – Six Day War, Shayetet 13 assault on Port Said in Operation Lady, sold to EritreaYaakov Nitzan, David Ezer, Gabi Shilo, Amnon Tadmor, Nati Motoki, Omer Levbi, Udi Yoshua INS Akziv (P-65)June 1967 – Operation Birds of Eden, participated in the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, later sold to Eritrea. Shmuel Shevah, Shamai Bar-On, Reuven Paamoni, Avi Shaf, Omer Levbi, Udi Yoshua, MS AMALIAJune 1967Temporarily leased from a Greek owner during Six Day WarR/H Rami ZolbergINS Bat Yam (T-83) 1968– Originally a Dutch merchant ship, displacement 1250 tons, speed 10 knots, shot down an Egyptian plane during the Yom Kippur War. Sailed to South Africa and refueled a pair of Saar 2 ships in Operation Beauty Rabbi Uzi Tzulof, Rabbi Aharon Marni, Mike Elder, David Atzmon, Moshe ben-Yashi, David ben Bashat, Yehoshua Marom, Raphael ZandbergINS Bat Galim (T-81)1968–1970 Originally a Dutch merchant ship, length 80 m, width 16 m, displacement 2500 tons, speed 9 knots, crew 35 people, sunk by Egyptian commandos in the port of EilatMajor Zeev Ariel 3 American LSM tank landing amphibious craft Length 60 meters, width 10 meters, displacement 1095 tons, 2 propellers, 12.5 knots. Capable of sailing in the open seas that saw use in the World War. The tank deck is above the waterline, a high ratio of engine power to thrust, powerful pumps for transferring water to the bow tanks, a sharp bow front door and a separate long drawbridge. INS Ofir (F-91)1970–1976Yom Kippur WarArie Marmari, Yigal Bar Yosef, Zev Goldatsky, Moti Michaeli Raphael ZandbergINS Sheba (P-93) 1970–1976 Uri SelaINS Tarshish (P-95) 1970–1973 Later used as a housing unit INS Bat Sheva (F-57)June 1969 – 1990Length 95 meters, width 11.5 meters, displacement 1892 tons, 4 propellers, 11 Nozaite connection. Carrying capacity of 12 tanks Centaurion tanks in the warehouse deck and 24 APCs M-113 in the upper deck. Transported many forces during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. After retirement it was sunk in a naval exercise Zvi Givati, Shaul Horev, Mike Elder, Chaim Geva, Aryeh Marmari, Yossi Levy, Marom Yehoshua, Mordechai Dekel, Danny Carmeli, Gershon Neve, Aharon Shapir, Yitzchak CremonaGal-Noa A\M Dan 1970 Exercises INS Bat Galim 2March 1978 – Made in Japan, 96 m, width 19 m, 12 knots. Engaged in Operation Moshe and landed an armored combat vehicle in the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon Major Aryeh Gabish, Major Ilan Bokhris, Major Uzi Tishel, Major Rafi BinyaminA/M Yasmin Participated in 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon for the landing of an artillery group in the port of BeirutLt. Col. Udi Aral, R/H Micha Zand, Eli YaffeINS Nachshon August 2023 – presentIsraeli invasion of Gaza INS Kommiat June 2024 – present
History Establishment Before the 1948 Palestine war the Palmach submitted a proposal to David Ben-Gurion in which the duties of the Israeli Navy were defined including amphibious assaults, reinforcement of operations, protection of coastal settlements, transportation of landing troops and vehicles, supply of fuel and equipment were included for which a specialised landing unit "Shayetet 11" was established.
1948 Palestine war Supply missions During the war, Nahariya was cut off from the rest of Israeli territory so the supply of troops and equipment to the isolated area was carried out by sea. On May 12–13, 1948, the 22nd Battalion of the Carmeli Brigade was transferred from the Port of Haifa to Nahariya. In addition, about 15 tons of supplies were transferred for the Hanita and Mitzva settlements, 3 tons of explosives and ammunition, 1000 gallons of gasoline and medical supplies. On May 14/15, 300 women and children, who were evacuated from the Western Galilee were evacuated to Haifa by the Flotilla.
Operation Ben Ami Operation Ben-Ami began on the night of May 14, 1948 with the occupation of Tel Acre. This occupation allowed the passage of the convoy that left the Ein al-Faretz to the north. The naval force of the Flotilla (transporting 22nd battalion of Carmeli Brigade) landed at 02:30 on the beach of Shebi Zion and began to attack the village of Samaria from the north. In the morning the force arrived at Nahariya. From there the force continued to the village of Aziv which was captured.
Operation Kathreil This operation was a planned naval landing on the coast of Lebanon. The operation was set to take place on June 9, 1948. On June 10, the troops boarded INS Hana Sanesh and set sail. When they were close to the target location in Lebanon, a cancellation order was received due to a truce about to take effect.
Operation Death to the Invader During the Operation Death to the Invader Israel Defense Forces attacked Beit 'Affa by a company of the Flotilla and 54th battalion of the Givati Brigade. The naval unit advanced through a wadi from the north, hoping to surprise the Egyptians, but were in fact spotted while preparing to set up. At midnight, they emerged and attacked in two prongs, and despite heavy fire, managed to capture a frontal position and pushed ahead to the center of the village, setting up there and exchanging fire with the Egyptians.
Operation Horev During Operation Horev a battalion of the Golani Brigade and personnel from Shayetet 11 launched a diversionary attack on positions near Gaza City-Rafah road, however the vessels of Shayetet 11 were not used and instead rubber boats were used due to convert nature of the operation.Hertzog, p. 100. Maps pp. 99, 101.
Operation Olive Leaves During Operation Olive Leaves, Aharon Davidi's 771 Reserve Paratrooper Battalion as well as units from the Nahal Brigade and Givati Brigade commenced their attack. The complex operation involved a two-column attack from the north and south, which included both infantry and armored vehicles, as well as an amphibious assault conducted by troops of the Flotilla who crossed the sea by boat.Almog, Orna: Britain, Israel and the United States, 1955-1958: Beyond SuezP. R. Kumaraswamy, The A to Z of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Scarcrow Press, Inc. (2006) p. 146Tyler, Patrick: Fortress Israel: The Inside Story of the Military Elite Who Run the Country--and Why They Can't Make Peace
Tripartite Aggression Operation Kadesh During Operation Kadesh, three amphibious vehicles were sent from Eilat to Sharm-e-Sheikh with AMX-13 tanks on them . Additional landings took place on the coasts of Gaza and Sinai for logistical purposes including the seizure of an Egyptian MiG-15 that landed in Lake Bardawil.
Battle of the Chinese Farm During the Battle of the Chinese Farm Matt's brigade began moving to Tasa at 4:30 pm on October 15, before turning eastwards on Akavish. The paratrooper brigade faced problems in acquiring the boats and transports assigned to it. But they ultimately had to use the flotilla boats.Hammad (2002), pp.301–302
Construction of new vessels Before the Six Day War, the Flotilla acquired new vessels from the budget allocated by the Finance ministry, following vessels were acquired
INS Etzion Gebr (P-51) on March 2, 1962. First Commander Captain Yitzhak (Ike) Aharonovich . INS Caesarea (P-53) on October 15, 1964. First commander Yaakov Nitzan. INS Shikmona (P-55) on May 13, 1965. INS Ashdod (P-61) on March 23, 1967, its first commander was Major Yosef Harari, who was the commander of naval voyages. INS Ashkelon (F-63) on May 19, 1967, its first commander was Ya'akov Nitzan . INS Akziv (P-65) on August 1, 1967, its first commander was Major Shmuel Shabach.
Prelude to Six Day War