Albanian Naval Force
The Albanian Naval Defence Forces (Template:Lang-sq) 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. One in Durrës (Kepi i Palit base) and one in Vlora, Pashaliman base. The vessels of the Albanian Navy Brigade are comprised mostly of patrol craft and support craft, most of which are donated from Italy and USA. Former Soviet or Chinese boats have been retired from service. Only 2 Soviet built minesweepers remain still in service, until the arrival of 4 big patrol boats Damen Stan Type 4207 from the Netherlands. The Navy performs mainly Coast Guard 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 actual Naval Academy and rebuild the repair facilities in Pashaliman district.
Fleet
- 1 Shanghai II (Type 062 class gunboat) patrol boats
- 2 PO-2 patrol boats
- 1 Project 254 (T-43)
- 1 LCT 3 service repair ship
Coast Guard
- 25 Patrol boats
On order
- 4 Damen Stan patrol boats - 205 tons full load
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The 2nd Flotillia Base at Pashaliman, Vlora.
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The 1st Flotillia of the Albanian Navy Brigade in Kepi i Palit Navy base.
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Side view of the Albanian minesweeper M-111
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Project 122bis, a Soviet made sub-hunter patrol craft, known by with NATO designation as Kronshtadt class, sole one still in use with the Albanian Navy Brigade
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Details of the main 37mm AA (Antiaircraft) guns of the M-111 minesweeper.
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R-215, an ex-US patrol boat, donated to the Albanian Navy Brigade -
US made boats, Sea Spectre PB MK III class, in use with Albanian Navy Brigade
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R-117,used by the Albanian Navy Brigade. -
The Italian made Type 227 Super Speranza boat in use with the Albanian Navy Brigade.
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 the Albanian abandon of the Warsaw Pact (1961) and the Soviet abandon of the Pashaliman base. The submarines were set in 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 assistance. Officially, the submarines were retired on 1998. One of the submarines completed a 22 day under water training trip in the surroundings of Malta on 1968.
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Once upon an Army. Albanian People's Navy. Soviet made P 4 class torpedo boat. Late 1950s. Note the men on the masts. This torpedo boat didn't have any radar capability, thus replaced by human eyesight.
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P 4 training.
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P 4 class torpedo boat on attack formation.
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Close Air Defence 14.5 mm Heavy Machine guns on P-4.
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P-4 14.5 mm machine gunner details.
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Chinese made Type 025 class torpedo boat used by the Albanian Navy. This picture is taken at Sazan Island, a former Navy base.
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Often communications between torpedo boats were flag based. Note the small 2 miles range radar Skin Head or China Type 753 I-Band Surface Search.
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A sailor stands by a 450 mm torpedo tube on a P-4 Torpedo boat.
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A Kronshtadt Class gunboat. The ship is still in use with the Albanian Navy Brigade.
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Early 60's. A soviet coastal Minesweeper used by the Albanian Navy. Type MT or known also as Project 253L.
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Once upon a time. The four Whiskey class submarines on their glory days.
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Late 1970s. No. 126 Whiskey on surface navigation.
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Radiolocation.
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The 50's. The first years of the Albanian Navy. 4 year conscription service.
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Classic Navy uniform of the communist era.
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See also
References
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.