Algerian National Navy

Algerian Naval Force
Arabic: القوات البحرية الجزائرية
Algerian Naval badge
Active 1516–1827
1963–present
Country Algeria
Branch Navy
Role Naval warfare
Size 6,000
Part of Algerian People's National Army
Garrison/HQ L'AMIRAUTE, Algiers
Anniversaries February 2, 1967
Equipment 213 vessels, 30 helicopters, 3 MPA Aircraft
Commanders
Current
commander		 Mahfoud Benmeddah
Notable
commanders		 Chabane Ghodbane (1992 - 2000)
Insignia
Naval Ensign

The Algerian Naval Force (ANF; Arabic: القوات البحرية الجزائرية) is the naval branch of the Algerian military. The naval force operates from multiple bases along the country's nearly 1,440 km (890 mi) coastline, fulfilling its primary role of monitoring and defending Algeria's territorial waters against all foreign military or economic intrusion. Additional missions include coast guard and maritime safety missions as well a projection of marine forces (fusiliers marins). Algerian forces are an important player in the Western Mediterranean.

As with other Algerian military branches, the naval force was built and structured with assistance from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but has also relied on other sources for equipment in some areas. Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has remained an important partner, but Algeria has increasingly sought additional sources for equipment as well as building its own shipbuilding capacity.

Bases

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.

Equipment

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 In service Boat Year
Commissioned 		Note
Submarine (6)
Project 636 Russia 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.
Project 877EKM
Rais Hadj Mubarek
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. Refitted and upgraded in 1993 and 1996. 2 more on order to be delivered in mid 2021/22

Amphibious warfare vessels

Class Image Origin In service Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned 		Note
Amphibious transport dock (1)
San Giorgio class Italy 1 Kalaat Béni Abbès 9,000 tonnes 2015 Improved San Giorgio, Ordered in 2011(+1 in option)'
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 In service Ship Displacement Year
Commissioned 		Note
Frigates (8)
MEKO A200 Germany 2 Erradii
El Moudamir 		3,700 tonnes 2016-2018 Two in service with the option for two more.
Adhafer class 353 El Kirch China 3 Adhafer
El Fatih
Ezzadjer 		2,880 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.
Koni class Soviet Union 3 Mourad Rais
Rais Kellik
Rais Korfou 		2,000 tonnes 1980–1985 Modernized in Russia in 2011.
Corvettes (16)
Nanuchka class 802 Salah Rais 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 Algeria 4 Djebel Chenoua
El Chihab
El Kirch
Hassan Barbiear 		540 tonnes 2002 Built by OMCN / CNE in Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria.

Armed with 4 C802 ASM and AK630 CIWS.

Type 056 class China 1 or 6 El Moutassadi 1,500 tonnes 2023 Sources vary on whether one or six modified Type 056 class corvette were ordered.First ship delivered in 2023.
Steregushchiy class Russia 3 1,800 tonnes 2022 Three Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvettes on order. Reception in 2022.
Mine countermeasures (3)
Lerici class Italy 3 El-Kasseh 1
El-Kasseh 2
El-Kasseh 3 		600 tonnes 2016–2021 In service.
Patrol boats (75)
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 41 Denebi 2008-2021 Built by Ocea France.
Alusafe 2000 Spain
Algeria 		12 El Mounkid 2016 Produced locally.

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.
OSV-95 France 205 El Masseh 2021 Built by Ocea shipyards, France.
Training ship
Soummam Soummam China 937 Soummam 5,500 tonnes 2006 5,500 tons (full load).
EL Mellah Poland 938 El Mellah (the sailor) 2017 A three-masted 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

Aircraft Image Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
Westland Super Lynx United Kingdom ASW 130/140 10
AgustaWestland AW101 United Kingdom
Italy 		SAR / utility 5
AgustaWestland AW139 Italy light utility 3

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).

  • 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.
  • 31 units of the type FPB98 MKI Ocean Patrol Boat.
  • 12 units of Alusafe 2000 high speed rescue and patrol vessel.

Munitions

SAM

Anti-ship Missiles

Air to ground Missiles

  • Mokopa - the Algerian Navy's six new Super Lynx 300-series helicopters are conducting flight tests armed with Mokopa anti-armour missiles.
  • Raptor-2 Precision-Guided Glide Bomb series from South Africa

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of Algeria

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Algerian National Navy
فريق أول‎‎
Fariq 'awal 		فريق
Fariq 		لواء
Liwa 		عميد
Amid 		عقيد
Aqid 		مقدم
Muqaddam 		رائد
Ra'id 		نقيب
Naqib 		ملازم أول
Mulazim awwal 		ملازم
Mulazim
Général d'armée Général de corps d'armée Général de division Général de brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Algerian National Navy
 No insignia
مساعد أول
Mosa'id awwal 		مساعد
Mosa'id 		رقيب أول
Raqib awwal 		رقيب
Raqib 		عريف أول
Earif 'awal 		عريف
Earif 		جندي
Jundiun
Adjudant chef Adjudant Sergent chef Sergent Caporal chef Caporal Djoundi

See also