• Source: Angolan Navy

    • The Angolan Navy (Portuguese: Marinha de Guerra Angolana) or MGA is the naval branch of the Angolan Armed Forces and is tasked with protecting Angola's 1,600 km long coastline. The Angolan Navy has approximately 1,000 personnel.


    History


    The Angolan Navy was officially founded on 10 July 1976, though it traces its origins to 11 November 1975 when Angolans took over naval facilities abandoned by the Portuguese Navy. Angolan Navy forces participated in the Angolan Civil War.
    Training and maintenance were largely dependent of the Soviet Union and Cuba, with some officers receiving training in the USSR. After the independence of Angola, a small team of Portuguese instructors remained in the country, while a Nigerian team cooperated with the Cuban and Soviet advisors in the late 1980s.
    In 1991, the Angolan Navy had 1,250 personnel plus ten fast attack craft, seven patrol craft, two coastal minehunters, thirteen landing craft and three auxiliary ships, most of the fleet was non-operational. While Angola had some minor repair facilities in Luanda and Lobito, maintenance was still dependent on Soviet-trained technicians. In 1996, after the end of Soviet support, most ships were left in "various states of terminal decay" and as result, the fleet was reduced to four Spanish-built patrol boats, three French-built coastal patrol boats, and two ex-Soviet minehunters. The latter were only used for patrol duties. In 2004, the Angolan Navy had only 800 personnel and no operational ships.
    In 2023, the Angolan Navy took possession of a new Portuguese-built naval base at Soyo. The base is larger than the Angolan Navy's primary facilities in Luanda.


    Modernization



    Angola's oil wealth allowed it to rebuild its navy. It was reported in 2009 that Angola was hoping to sign a US$800m deal with Germany for 3 new border protection Fast Attack Craft, probably Lurssen PV80's. They were still trying to complete the deal in 2011 and there has been no word on it since.
    In December 2013 it was reported that Angola would be buying a package of old ships from the Spanish Navy. Príncipe de Asturias (R11) a small (16,000t) Harrier carrier, to be transferred along with Pizarro (L42) a Newport class landing ship, Diana (F32) a Descubierta class corvette converted to minesweeper support ship, Chilreu (P61) lead ship of its class of ocean patrol vessels, and Ízaro (P27) an Anaga class patrol ship. This deal never came to pass.


    Structure


    Naval War Institute (INSG)
    Naval Academy
    Naval Specialist School
    3 Coastal Surveillance Companies (CRTOC)
    1 Naval Infantry Unit - 1 Light Amphibious Battalion (4 Marine Companies, 1 Naval Police Unit, 1 Amphibious Operations Unit)
    Special Forces, heavy weapons, snipers, boarding units, and an armored section.


    Equipment




    = Current inventory

    =


    = Former inventory

    =
    Former ships operated by the Angolan Navy includes: six ex-Soviet Osa II-class missile boats, four ex-Soviet Shershen-class torpedo boats, five ex-Portuguese Argos-class patrol boats, one ex-Soviet Zhuk-class patrol boat, two ex-Portuguese Jupiter-class patrol boats, two ex-Soviet Poluchat I-class patrol boats, four ex-Portuguese Bellatrix-class patrol boats, three French-built Patrulheiro-class patrol boats, three ex-Soviet Polnocny B-class landing ships, one ex-Portuguese Alfange-class landing ship, and two ex-Soviet Yevgenya-class minesweepers.


    Ranks




    = Commissioned officer ranks

    =
    The rank insignia of commissioned officers.


    = Other ranks

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


    References




    Bibliography


    International Institute for Strategic Studies (12 February 2024). "Chapter Eight: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. 124 (1). Taylor & Francis: 458–531. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298597. ISSN 0459-7222. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
    Moore, Capt. John, ed. (1987). Jane's Fighting Ships 1987–88 (90th ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7106-0842-X.
    Sharpe, Capt. Richard, ed. (1991). Jane's Fighting Ships 1991–92 (94th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0960-4.
    Sharpe, Capt. Richard, ed. (1996). Jane's Fighting Ships 1996–97 (99th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-1355-5.
    Saunders, Commodore Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005 (107th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.

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