Israeli Navy
The Israeli Navy oversees the formation of the IDF naval forces. The naval commander also defines the objectives of the navy: to protect the State of Israel from maritime threats, to give an alarm in the event of imminent conflict, and to fulfill specific missions during a conflict.
The need to create and develop a Jewish maritime force was formulated in January 1948. At that time, Jewish communities faced the threat of Arab countries. On March 17, 1948, an order was made to set up a naval branch under the command of Marine Captain Gershon Zak. His first recruits included sailors, fishermen, port workers, coastal residents, volunteers from the British Navy, etc.
The missions of the Israeli Navy are to:
- Protect and defend the State of Israel from maritime threats
- Secure the vital maritime operations of the State of Israel
- Assist the rest of the Israeli army in case of conflict
- Shoot enemy targets
- Produce and evaluate photographs of maritime space
- Transport equipment and soldiers
- Perform search-and-rescue missions at sea
- Train the naval forces of the IDF
- Execute certain ground missions within the framework of the instructions of the army
Bases:
- Instruction: The objective of the training base is to train Navy recruits for their future task in their unit
- Haifa: The missions of the Haifa base are: securing Israel’s sea routes, strengthening the operational capability of the navy, and deepening cooperation between the Israeli Navy and other IDF armed forces.
- Ashdod: Responsible for the southern part of the Mediterranean coast of the State of Israel and mainly deals with routine security operations in this maritime area.
- Atlit: Home to one of the IDF's elite units, Shayetet 13 (Navy Special Forces). The base is located south of Haifa and is not open to visitors.
- Eilat: The Navy's headquarters in the Red Sea since the final withdrawal of naval forces from Sharm el-Sheikh under the 1979 peace accords with Egypt.
- Shipyard: The Israeli Navy shipyard, located in Haifa, is the place where ship repair and improvement works are carried out. The shipyard is also responsible for weaponry development, marine coastal inspection systems, and the corps’ equipment.
- Equipment: The logistics base of the Navy. Its role is to provide for the logistical needs of the various units of the corps.
- Headquarters: Located in Tel Aviv in the Kirya, which houses the headquarters of the IDF’s different corps. The role of the headquarters is to manage the corp, to determine general policies, and to train the naval force.
Structure and principal units:
- Routine Security Company (Palgot Habatash): The regular security forces guard the maritime border of the State of Israel and prevent any threat to harm the security of Israel and its citizens.
- Missile boats (Shayetet 3): The mission of this squadron is to fight the enemy fleet in time of war, sink enemy ships, prevent Israel's enemies from blocking its sea routes, and and assist the ground forces with incursions into enemy territory.
- Submarines (Shayetet 7): This unit's missions are the destruction of enemy ships, controlling port entrances, the carrying out of secret espionage activities, and assisting other units during combat.
- Special Forces of the Navy (Shayetet 13): Shayetet 13 is the marine commando which operates at sea, on land, and in the air; its permanent base is at Atlit. It is one of the most daring units of the IDF.
- Naval control unit: This naval command unit is responsible for all military exercises and naval operations. This unit is divided into four companies: command, communication, electronics, and human resources. The unit is also responsible for the operations of naval combatants, both in emergency and routine situations. The mission of this unit is to inspect the operations of the units of the Israeli Navy.
