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
| |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Country |  Bahrain |
| Allegiance | King of Bahrain |
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 700 personnel 35 ships 2 aircraft |
| Part of | Bahrain Defense Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Mina Salman Naval Base |
| Nickname(s) | RBNF |
| Engagements |
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| Commanders | |
| Commander of the Navy | Rear 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]
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]
| 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 | 4Harpoon 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 | 4MM40 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 | 4MM40 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 |
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| VT Group VT-Halmatic 160 | 6 | Qatar |
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| Fairey Marine Swordsman | 4 | United Kingdom |
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| 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 |
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| 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. |
| 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] | |
| 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. | |
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Bahrain Naval Force |
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| 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 |
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| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Bahrain Naval Force |
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| رقیب أول Raqib 'awal |
رقیب Raqib |
عريف Earif |
جندي أول Jundiun awwal |
جندي Jundiun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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]
