Israeli Sea Corps

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Main operational areas of the Israeli Sea Corps as seen from Space Shuttle STS-40: Mediterranean Sea (north), Gulf of Aqaba (east), Red Sea (south), and Gulf of Suez (west).

The Israeli Sea Corps (Hebrew: חיל הים הישראלי; Tzva Haganah L'Yisrael Heyl Ha'Yam, literally "Israeli Defense Force Sea Corps") is the naval branch of the Israel Defense Forces of Israel, operating primarily in the Mediterranean Sea in the west and to the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, and Gulf of Suez in the south. The Israeli Navy's motto is: "Vayerd MeYam Ad Yam, Uminahar Ad Afsey Aretz, Lefanav Yichreu Tziyim" (וירד מים עד ים ומנהר עד אפסי ארץ, לפניו יכרעו ציים." - "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Navies shall bow before him; Psalm 72:8,9). The current Commander is Major General David Ben Ba'ashat.

Bases

The emblem of the Israeli navy

• Haifa base - The Missile Boats Flotilla, The Submarine Flotilla, Patrol Boats Unit 914.

The symbol of the Haifa base is two arrows - one signifying the missile-boats flotilla and the other the submarine flotilla [Symbol].

Forces

The Missile Boats Flotilla

Unit's objectives

• Protecting Israeli commerce at sea against foreign fleets.
• Preventing a possible naval blockade of Israeli ports during wartime.
• Blockading enemy ports at wartime.

The Submarine Flotilla

Unit's objectives

Map of Israel

Israel's underwater attack force.

• Attacking enemy craft in their home ports.
• Covert information gathering.
• Acting as support units for other units.

Naval vessels

• Three advanced 1925-ton diesel-electric Dolphin-class submarines commissioned in 1998 and allegedly capable of carrying nuclear-armed Popeye Turbo cruise missiles.
• On order from Germany are two additional submarines, similar in design to the advanced Type 214 submarines.

The 13th Flotilla (Naval Commando Unit)

See main article - Shayetet 13

Intelligence

The Corps' relies on its Naval Intelligence Department for sea intelligence.

Fleet

Attack Craft

• Aliya Class (Saar 4.5) (fast attack craft)
• * INS Aliya
• * INS Geoula

• Geoula Class large missile boat
• * INS Geoula 1980

• Hetz Class (Saar 4.5 class missile boats) (fast attack craft-missile)
• * INS Romat
• * INS Keshet
• * INS Hetz

• Mivtach (Saar 2) Class (fast attack craft-missile)
• * 311 Mivtach
• * 312 Miznag
• * 313 Mifgav
• * 321 Eilath
• * 322 Haifa
• * 323 Akko

• Reshef (Saar 4 class missile boats) (fast attack craft-missile)
• * INS Atzmaut 1979
• * INS Moledet 1979
• * INS Komemiyut 1980

• Super Dvora Class (fast attack craft-gun)
• * 810-821

Patrol Boats

• Dabur Class (coastal patrol craft)

• Eilat Saar 5 class missile boats
• * 501 INS Eilat 1994
• * 502 INS Lahav 1994
• * 503 INS Hanit 1995

Submarines

• S-Class submarines
• * INS Tanin
• * INS Rahav

• T-Class submarines
• * INS Leviathan

• Gal Class - German 206A type submarine
• * INS Gal
• * INS Tanin
• * INS Rahav

• Dolphin Class - Type 800 coatal submarines
• * INS Dolphin 1999
• * INS Leviathan 1999
• * INS Tekumah 2000

Large Missile Boats

• Hetz class large missile boats
• * INS Hetz 1991
• * INS Kidon 1974-1995
• * INS Nitzahon 1975-1998
• * INS Yafo 1975-1998
• * INS Romat 1981
• * INS Keshet 1982

• Reshef-Saar IB Class large missile boat
• * INS Atzmaut
• * INS Moledet
• * INS Komeniyut

Support Ships

• Qeshet Class training ship
• * INS Qeshet 1976-1991

• Sufa Class tug
• * INS Sufa

See also

• Military equipment of Israel

External links

• [Official website] (in Hebrew)
• [The Israeli Navy Special Forces Units at isayeret.com]
• [World Navies Today: Israel]

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