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Royal Bahraini Naval Force

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The Royal Bahraini Naval Force (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية البحرينية, abbreviated RBNF), also called the Royal Bahraini Navy,[2] is the maritime branch of the Bahrain Defence Force. The RBNF consists of 700 personnel, 35 ships, and two helicopters. The fleet includes one frigate, the former U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry-class RBNS Sabha.[3]

Royal Bahraini Naval Force
سلاح البحرية الملكية البحرينية
Naval jack
Founded1979
Country Bahrain
AllegianceKing of Bahrain
TypeNavy
Size700 personnel
35 ships
2 aircraft
Part ofBahrain Defense Force
Garrison/HQMina Salman Naval Base
Nickname(s)RBNF
Engagements
Commanders
Commander of the NavyRear Admiral Mohammed Ibrahim Al Binali[1]
Insignia
Naval Ensign

The RBNF received the frigate Sabha from the U.S., arriving in Bahrain on 9 July 1997.[2] On 18 January 2024, a second Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, RBNS Khalid bin Ali, reached Bahrain after being transferred from the U.S. Navy.[4]

History

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The United States and Bahrain signed an agreement on 23 December 1971 that allowed the U.S. Navy's Middle East Force to use the former British naval facilities in the country after they were given over to the Government of Bahrain by the United Kingdom.[5] Bahrain's first warship entered the Royal Bahraini Naval Force on 20 March 1979, and it acquired the frigate RBNS Sabha on 9 July 1997.[2]

Bahrain deployed RBNS Sabha with U.S. ships during the invasion of Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom.[6]

Fleet

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Ships

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Type/Class Quantity Origin In service Details
Frigate
Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate (RBNS Sabha and RBNS Khalid bin Ali) 2   United States 1997–present 4 Harpoon SSMs, 1 MBB BO-105 shipboard helicopter, and SM-1MR SAMs.[7]
Corvette
Al-Manama class Lürssen FPB 62 Guided-Missile Corvette Combatants 2   Germany 1988–present 4 MM40 Exocets.[7][8] Being upgraded with new weapon control system.[9]
Offshore patrol vessel
River-class Offshore Patrol Vessel - Modified Batch 1b (RBNS Al-Zubara) 1   United Kingdom 2020 - Present ex-HMS Clyde (P257).[10][11][12]
Patrol craft
Cyclone-class patrol ship 5   United States 2022–present [13]
Ahmed Al Fateh class Lürssen TNC 45 Guided-Missile Patrol Craft 4   Germany 1984–present 4 MM40 Exocets.[7] Being upgraded with new weapon control system.[9]
Al Riffa class Lürssen FPB 38 Patrol Craft 2   Germany 1982–present [7]
Al Jarim Swiftships 65 Patrol Boat 2   United States 1982–present [7]
Swiftships 35 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV35s) 2   United States 2021 [14]
Mark V Special Operations Craft 7   United States 5 during 2018–19 [14]
Vigor Response-Boat Mediums (RB-M) 2   United States 2019 [15]
BMT Group 18m patrol boat 6   United Kingdom 2013–present Built in Turkey, option for 6 more.[16]
Wasp-11 2      
Wasp-20 2      
Wasp-30 1      
VT Group VT-Halmatic 20 4   Qatar    
VT Group VT-Halmatic 160 6   Qatar    
Fairey Marine Swordsman 4   United Kingdom    
Amphibious warfare ship
Al Hamra class ADSB Steel Landing Craft 4   United Arab Emirates 2009+ 2 42-meter and 2 16-meter.
LCU-1466 4   United States    
Fairey Marine LCU 1   United Kingdom    
Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company Landing craft 1   Bahrain 2016 34.5m in overall length.[17] 1 more could be ordered.

Aircraft

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Type Quantity Origin In service Details
Helicopter
Bo 105CBS-4 2   Germany The naval force operates a squadron of two Bo 105CBS-4 helicopters.[3][19]

Missiles & Torpedoes

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Type Quantity Origin In service Details
Missiles & Torpedoes
Exocet MM-40 67   France Delivered between 1984 and 2010.
Harpoon 8   United States Delivered 1997–1998.
RIM-66 Standard 22   United States RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered 1997.
Mark 46 torpedo 18   United States Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered 1997.

Ranks

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Officer ranks
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Royal Bahrain Naval Force
                      
مشیر
Mushir 		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
Enlisted and NCO ranks
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Royal Bahrain Naval Force
         No insignia
رقیب أول
Raqib 'awal 		رقیب
Raqib 		عريف
Earif 		جندي أول
Jundiun awwal 		جندي
Jundiun‎‎‎‎

Future

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Sep. 8, 2017 - The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain for two 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats. The estimated cost is $60.25 million.[20] Now in service.

In 2019, Bahrain has purchased another frigate from the US, the USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49) which will join the fleet after completion of current refurbishment works.[21]

Bahrain has ordered 6 Vigor RB-M Fast Interceptor boats.[22] 3+ now in service.

1 Hamilton class cutter acquired from the United States in 2020 and 5 Cyclone patrol ships also acquired from the United States in 2022.[23][24]

Bahrain Eyes French-Origin Egypt-Built Gowind Corvettes[25]

Bases

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RBNS Sabha in April 2008.
  • Mina Salman Naval Base is a facility currently shared with the United States Navy and is used as a ship and submarine logistic support base for the entire US Fifth Fleet. It was opened in the 1980s as cargo facility and is now solely used as a naval port.
  • Manama Naval Base is another key US Navy installation and formerly home to HMS Juffair. It is not used by RBNF.
  • RBNF also operates a shipyard that is shared with several other neighbouring countries.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Commander-in-Chief receives newly appointed Royal Bahrain Naval Force Commander. Bahrain News Agency. Published 23 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Royal Bahraini Naval Force. Bahrain Defense Force. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b IISS (2023). The Military Balance 2023. pp. 318–319.
  4. ^ ‘RBNS Khalid bin Ali’ ship arrives in Bahrain; joins RBNF. Bahrain News Agency. Published 18 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  5. ^ United States Congress (1972). U.S. Interests in and Policy Toward the Persian Gulf. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  6. ^ Katzman, Kenneth (2010). Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy. Diane Publishing Company. p. 6.
  7. ^ a b c d e Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute guide to combat fleets of the world : their ships, aircraft, and systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. pp. 37–38. ISBN 9781591149552.
  8. ^ "The Naval Balance of Power: The Persian Gulf". Archived from the original on 30 October 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Leonardo delivers first upgraded Al Manama ship to Royal Bahrain Naval Force". Navyrecognition.com. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  10. ^ W, Steve (7 August 2020). "Bahrain receives patrol warship "RBNS Al-Zubara"". Bahrain News Agency. (WHQ). Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  11. ^ W, Steve (8 August 2020). "HMS Clyde sold to Bahrain". UK Defence Journal. (George Allison). Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  12. ^ ""RBNS Al-Zubara" arrives in Bahrain". Bahrain News Agency. (WHQ). 26 November 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  13. ^ Binnie, Jeremy (4 April 2022). "Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships". Janes. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Bahrain commissions new naval vessels".
  15. ^ "Vigor Bahrain RB-M - BIDEC - Bahrain's Premier International Tri-Service Defence Show".
  16. ^ "BMT Partners with Ares Shipyard to Deliver Patrol Boats for Bahrain Coast Guard". Navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  17. ^ "ASRY construct new landing craft". Newsofbahrain.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Swiftships Shipbuilders". Swiftships Shipbuilders.
  19. ^ World Air Forces 2021. Flightglobal.com.
  20. ^ "Bahrain – 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats - The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency". Dsca.mil. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  21. ^ "CBO: Navy frigate sale to Bahrain has $80M price tag". Insidedefense.com. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  22. ^ "NAVDEX 2019 : Vigor showcases its Vigor Fast Interceptor". Navyrecognition.com. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  23. ^ "52-Year-Old Coast Guard Cutter Heads to Bahrain for Second Career".
  24. ^ "Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships".
  25. ^ "Bahrain Eyes French-Origin Egypt-Built Gowind Corvettes".
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