Royal Saudi Navy
Encyclopedia
The Royal Saudi Navy is the Naval force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Royal Saudi Navy is sometimes referred to as the RSNF (Royal Saudi Naval Forces). The Navy has about 15,000 officers and men, including 3,000 Marines. The Naval headquarters is in Riyadh
. The Western Fleet is based in the Red Sea
with the main base at Jeddah
. The Eastern Fleet is based in the Persian Gulf
with the headquarters at Jubail
. Other naval facilities were located at Yanbu, Dammam
, and Ras al Mishab.
a further expansion programme was initiated with French assistance, this was the Sawari programme. Further vessels were purchased from Britain
and France
in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1980, U.S. defense contractor Science Applications International Corporation
began work with the Royal Saudi Navy to design and integrate the country's own command, control, and communications (C3) centers.
The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin or the larger AS 532 Cougar or NH90 helicopters.
It was believed the Saudis intended to order two new British-built Type 45 Destroyer
s, however production of the destroyers is now coming to an end and no order has been made. Another Destroyer that the Saudis are considering is the American built Arleigh Burke class destroyer
, having been briefed by the US Navy in May, 2011 on the acquisition of 2 Destroyer in a package that includes an unknown number of Littoral Combat Ship
s.
These replaced 4 Addiriyah (MSC322 or US Bluebird by Petersen Builders) class patrol minesweepers purchased in the late 1970s:
2 Danish built Royal yachts
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| AS532 U2 Cougar MkII
|
France
| Medium transport helicopter
|
| 12
|
|-----
| Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
| France
| SAR helicopter
|
| 24
|
|-----
Enlisted
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
. The Western Fleet is based in the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
with the main base at Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
. The Eastern Fleet is based in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
with the headquarters at Jubail
Jubail
Jubail , is a city in the Eastern province on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. It consists of the Old Town of Al Jubail, which was originally a small fishing village, up to 1975 and the new industrial area....
. Other naval facilities were located at Yanbu, Dammam
Dammam
Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
, and Ras al Mishab.
History
The Navy was founded in 1960 and began a significant expansion with US assistance in 1972 aiming to match the Imperial Iranian Navy. Following the Iranian RevolutionIranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
a further expansion programme was initiated with French assistance, this was the Sawari programme. Further vessels were purchased from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1980, U.S. defense contractor Science Applications International Corporation
Science Applications International Corporation
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500 scientific, engineering and technology applications company headquartered in the United States with numerous federal, state, and private sector clients...
began work with the Royal Saudi Navy to design and integrate the country's own command, control, and communications (C3) centers.
Ships
The navy is a modern force with foreign built ships:- French built frigates and support vessels
- US built corvettes and patrol boats
- British built Sandown class minehunterSandown class minehunterThe Sandown class is a class of minehunter originally built for the British Royal Navy). Sandown-class vessels also serve with the Royal Saudi Navy and the Estonian Navy...
s
Frigates
- 3 Al Riyadh class frigates are modified versions of the La Fayette class frigateLa Fayette class frigateThe La Fayette class units are light multi-mission frigates built by DCN and operated by French Marine Nationale...
(built by DCN, Lorient), have a fully loaded displacement of 4,725 tons, are armed with eight MBDA ExocetExocetThe Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
MM40 Block II surface-to-surface missiles, two eight-cell Sylver vertical launch systems for the Eurosam (MBDA and Thales) Aster 15 surface-to-air missile, the main gun is the Oto MelaraOto MelaraOto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni. During World War I, Vickers Terni produced many weapons with calibre 40 mm and upwards. In 1929 the company was renamed Odero Terni Orlando with the...
76/62 Super Rapid, there are four 533mm aft torpedo tubes. The ships are armed with the DCNS F17 heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo.
The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin or the larger AS 532 Cougar or NH90 helicopters.
- 4 Al Medinah class frigates ships based in the Red SeaRed SeaThe Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
, built in France (Arsenal de Marine, Lorient (French Government Dockyard) and CNIM, La Seyne) in mid 1980s, full load displacement of 2,610 tons,armed with 8 Otomat SSM, 1 8-cell Crotale SAM (26 missiles total), 1 100mm/44 DP, 2 40 mm AA, 4 torpedo tubes, aft helicopter deck and hangar; 1 Dauphin helicopter.
It was believed the Saudis intended to order two new British-built Type 45 Destroyer
Type 45 destroyer
The United Kingdom's Type 45 destroyer is an air defence destroyer programme of the Royal Navy which will replace its Type 42 destroyers. The first ship in the class, HMS Daring, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009. The ships are now built by BAE Systems Surface Ships...
s, however production of the destroyers is now coming to an end and no order has been made. Another Destroyer that the Saudis are considering is the American built Arleigh Burke class destroyer
Arleigh Burke class destroyer
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of...
, having been briefed by the US Navy in May, 2011 on the acquisition of 2 Destroyer in a package that includes an unknown number of Littoral Combat Ship
Littoral combat ship
A Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...
s.
- 812 Arriyad (2002)
- 514 Makkah (2003)
- ? (2005)
- 702 Al Madinah (1985)
- 704 Hofouf (1985)
- 706 Abha (1986)
- 708 Taif (1986)
Corvettes
- 4 Badr class corvetteBadr class corvetteThe Badr class is a class of corvette built by the United States and operated by the Saudi Navy. The class has been relegated to a coastal defence role following the modernisation of the Saudi fleet. There are four vessels in service; the RSN Badr , RSN Al Yarmook , RSN Hitteen and the RSN Tabuk...
s built in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
built 1981-83, based in the Persian GulfPersian GulfThe Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, full load displacement of1,038 tons,armament of 8 Harpoon SSM, 1 76 mm OTO DP, 1 20 mm Phalanx CIWSPhalanx CIWSThe Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system. It is a close-in weapon system and was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division...
, 2 20 mm, 1 81 mm mortar, 2 40 mm grenade launchers, 2 triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes
- 612 Badr (1981)
- 614 Al-Yarmook (1982)
- 616 Hitteen (1982)
- 618 Tabuk (1983)
Patrol Boats
- 9 Al Sadiq class patrol boats built in the United States (Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, WisconsinSturgeon Bay, WisconsinSturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is...
) 1972-1980, full load displacement of 495 tons, armed with4 Harpoon SSM, 1 76 mm OTO, 1 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, 2 20 mm, 1 81 mm mortar, 2 40 mm grenade launchers, 2 triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes
- 511 As-Siddiq (1980)
- 513 Al-Faroug (1981)
- 515 Abdul-Aziz (1981)
- 517 Faisal (1981)
- 519 Khalid (1982)
- 521 Amr (1982)
- 523 Tariq (1982)
- 525 Oqbah (1982)
- 527 Abu Obaidah (1982)
Minesweepers
- 3 Sandown class minehunterSandown class minehunterThe Sandown class is a class of minehunter originally built for the British Royal Navy). Sandown-class vessels also serve with the Royal Saudi Navy and the Estonian Navy...
s (built by Vosper Thornycroft, WoolstonWoolston, SouthamptonWoolston is a suburb of Southampton, Hampshire, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire, Sholing, Peartree Green, Itchen and Weston.The area is rich in maritime and aviation history...
), full load displacement of 480 tons:
-
- 420 Al Jawf (1991)
- 422 Shaqra (1993)
- 424 Al Kharj (1994)
These replaced 4 Addiriyah (MSC322 or US Bluebird by Petersen Builders) class patrol minesweepers purchased in the late 1970s:
-
- 412 Addiriyah 1978
- 414 Al Quysumah 1978
- 416 Al Wadeeah 1978
- 418 Safwa 1978
Support Vessels
- 2 French built Boraida class small replishment oilers (modified DuranceDurance class tankerThe Durance class is a series of multi-product replenishment oilers, originally designed and built for service in the French Navy. Besides the five ships built for the French Navy, a sixth was built for the Royal Australian Navy, while the lead ship of the class currently serves with the Argentine...
type replenishment ships built by CN la Ciotat, Marseilles), with a helicopter deck aft and hangars for 2 helicopters.
-
- 902 Boraida (1984)
- 904 Yunbou (1985)
Others
Many smaller patrol craft,2 Danish built Royal yachts
- Prince Abdul Aziz (1983-84) - built by Helsingør Værft
- Al Yamana (Built for Iraq 1981; enter service in Saudi Arabia in 1988)
Naval Aviation
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| AS532 U2 Cougar MkII
|
France| Medium transport helicopter
|
| 12
|
|-----
| Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
|
France| SAR helicopter
|
| 24
|
|-----
Bases
- JeddahJeddahJeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
- Red Sea base home the navy's Western fleet for frigates and 2 missile boats, 1 replenishing ship and 1 patrol minesweeper; located north of the King Faisal Naval BaseKing Faisal Naval BaseKing Faisal Naval Base is a Royal Saudi Navy base....
air station and south of the container port area - JubailJubailJubail , is a city in the Eastern province on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. It consists of the Old Town of Al Jubail, which was originally a small fishing village, up to 1975 and the new industrial area....
- Persian Gulf base is home to the navy's Eastern fleet; smaller base home to corvettes, replenishing ship remaining missile boats and minesweepers - DammamDammamDammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
- Persian Gulf home port for the Saudi Royal family's two Royal Yachts
Ranks
Officers- Ensign (Arabic:ملازم)
- Lieutenant Junior Grade (Arabic:ملازم أول)
- Lieutenant (Arabic:نقيب)
- Lieutenant-Commander (Arabic:رائد)
- Commander (Arabic:مقدم)
- Captain (Arabic:عقيد)
- Commodore (Arabic:عميد)
- Rear-Admiral (Arabic:لواء)
- Vice-Admiral (Arabic:فريق)
- Admiral (Arabic:فريق أول)
Enlisted
- Private (Arabic:جندي)
- First Class Private (Arabic:جندي أول)
- Corporal (Arabic:عريف)
- Vice Sergeant (Arabic:وكيل رقيب)
- Sergeant (Arabic:رقيب)
- First Class Sergeant (Arabic:رقيب أول)
- Master Sergeant (Arabic:رئيس رقباء)