Albanian Naval Defense Forces
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Albanian Naval Defense Forces
| Albanian Naval Defense Forces Forcat e Mbrojtjes Detare Shqiptare |
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|---|---|
 The Iliria, the newest patrol vessel of the Albanian Navy |
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| Active | 1925 - today |
| Country |  Albania |
| Allegiance | Republic of Albania |
| Type | Navy |
| Part of | Albanian Armed Forces |
| Anniversaries | December 25 - Navy's Foundation Day |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Ensign |  |
| Naval Ensign (1958-1992) |  |
| Naval Ensign (1954-1958) |  |
| Naval Ensign (1946-1954) |  |
The Albanian Naval Defense Forces (Albanian: Forcat e Mbrojtjes Detare Shqiptare) are the naval branch of the Albanian military. Their name was changed from the Coastal Defense Command of the Albanian Army in 1996. With the new structure the naval forces are regrouped in the Albanian Navy Brigade under the Albanian Joint Forces Command. The Albanian Navy Brigade Headquarters is located in Durrës, and operates 2 bases: Kepi i Palit base in Durrës, and Pashaliman in Vlora.
The vessels of the Albanian Navy Brigade are mostly patrol craft and support craft, most of which were donated by Italy and the United States. Former Soviet or Chinese boats have been retired from service. Only 1 Soviet built minesweeper remain still in service, pending the arrival of 4 large Damen Stan Type 4207 patrol boats from the Netherlands.
The Navy performs mainly duties, based on the concept of "one Force, two Missions." The legal framework has been updated in order to facilitate these missions and EU-NATO integration. Turkey and Greece are also assisting Albania in a common effort to modernize the current Naval Academy and rebuild the repair facilities in the Pashaliman district. The Navy is also responsible for aids to navigation, including lighthouses.[1]
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Contents
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History
Until 1996 Albania had more than 145 vessels in service. 45 of them were small, fast Chinese Type 25 Huchuan Class PHT torpedo boats, carrying two/four 533 mm Torpedoes, and some Shanghai-class coastal ASW patrol craft. The glory of the fleet were 4 Soviet built Whiskey class submarines, a direct result of an Albanian-Soviet dispute over their ownership, after Albania withdrew from the Warsaw Pact (1961) and the Soviets abandoned the Pashaliman base. The submarines were put into full service thanks to Chinese assistance, but by the end of 80's their efficiency was in doubt due to Albanian isolation and the end of Chinese help. Officially, the submarines were retired in 1998.
Structure
Officer Ranks
In descending order the ranks of the officers of the Albanian Navy, along with their equivalent rank in English.
- Admiral (Admiral)
- Nenadmiral (Vice Admiral)
- Kunderadmiral (Rear Admiral)
- Kapiten / Rangut Te Pare (Captain)
- Kapiten / Rangut Te Dyte (Commander)
- Kapiten / Rangut Te Trete (Lieutenant Commander)
- Kapiten Leitenant / Pare (Senior Lieutenant)
- Kapiten Leitenant (Lieutenant)
- Leitenant (Sub Lieutenant)
- Nen Leitenant (Acting Sub Lieutenant)
Equipment
Patrol craft
| Class | Photo | No. | Ship | Year Commissioned |
Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal patrol vessels | |||||
| Iliria | |
P 131 | Iliria | 2008 | |
| P 133 | Oriku | 2011 | |||
| Lisus | 2012 | Ordered | |||
| Butrinti | 2013 | Ordered | |||
| T43 class |  |
M-111 | 1960 | To be retired | |
| Project 122bis |  |
P 207 | 1960 | ||
| Type 062 (Shanghai) | 2 ships | ||||
| Patrol boats | |||||
| Seaspectre Mk III |  |
R 215 | From the United States | ||
| 2 others reported | |||||
| Patrol Craft, Coastal |  |
R 117 | From Italy | ||
| R ? | From Italy | ||||
| Super Speranza |  |
4 boats | From Italy | ||
| 44' Archangel |  |
5 boats | Built by SAFE Boats | ||
| 44' Keith Nelson | 7 boats | Built by TT Boat Designs | |||
Service Craft
| Type | Class | In Service | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service repair vessel | Landing Craft, Tank, Mk 3 | 1 | Converted LCT |
| Diving support vessel | Project 522 Nyryat I | 1 | From the Soviet Union |
| Torpedo recovery vessel | Project 368 Poluchat | 1 | From the Soviet Union |
| Anti-pollution boat | 3 |
See also
References
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Albania". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/alb.htm.
Sources
- Wertheim, Eric. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 2005–2006; Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. US Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Maryland. 2005.
- Jane's Fighting Ships 2005-2006, Jane's Information Group, ISBN 0-7106-2692-4
- The Military Balance 2008, The International Institute for Strategic Studies, ISBN 978-1-85743-461-3
External links
- Official Website of the Albanian Naval Defense Forces
- Equipment
- World Navies
- 6° Seapower Symposium: The Albanian Naval Forces
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