Ethiopian Navy

Ethiopian Navy
የኢትዮጵያ ባህር ኃይል
Active1955–1996
CountryEthiopia
TypeNavy
Size11,500 personnel (1991)
81 ships
Part ofMinistry of Defence
Ethiopian Armed Forces
HeadquartersMassawa (actual Eritrea) (1955–1990)
Addis Ababa (1990–1996)
EngagementsEthiopian Civil War
Eritrean War of Independence
Commanders
Commander in Chief (1955–1974)Emperor Haile Selassie
Deputy Commander (1958–1974)Rear Admiral Iskinder Desta
Insignia
Naval Ensign (During Empire)
(1955–1974)
Naval Ensign (Provisional Goverment)
(1974–1975)
Naval Ensign (Derg)
(1975–1996)
Aircraft flown
HelicopterUH-1 Iroquois
Mil Mi-8/Mil Mi-14

The Ethiopian Navy (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ባህር ኃይል, romanized: ye’ītiyop’iya baḥiri ḫayil), also known as the Imperial Ethiopian Navy (until 1974) was the navy of Ethiopia, was created in 1955 and was disbanded in 1996 after the Independence of Eritrea.

Seaplane carrier USS Orca (AVP-49), renamed Ethiopia and used as a training ship.

In June 2018, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed laid out plans to revive the navy,[1] which would be established in the neighboring nation of Djibouti, and in March 2019 he would sign an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron, where the French Army would help supply this new Ethiopian Navy.[2][3] The headquarters of this army would be located in the city of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.[4][5]

Commandants

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death) 		Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Deputy Commander of the Imperial Ethiopian Navy
1 Rear Admiral
Iskinder Desta
(1934–1974) 		1958 12 September 1974 15–16 years
Commander of the Ethiopian Navy (Derg)
? Rear Admiral
Tesfaye Berhanu 		? 1989 ? [6]
? Rear Admiral
Yehualashet Girma 		1989 1991 1–2 years [6]
Commander of the Ethiopian Navy
? Rear Admiral
Kindu Gezu 		19 January 2020 Incumbent 4 years, 342 days

References

  1. ↑ Maasho, Aaron (3 June 2016). "Landlocked Ethiopia plans new navy as part of military reforms". Reuters.
  2. ↑ "Ethiopia, France Sign Military, Navy Deal, Turn 'New Page' in Ties". Voice of America. Addis Ababa: Reuters. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 13 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  3. ↑ Forrester, Charles (13 March 2019). "France, Ethiopia sign defence accords to create navy". Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 13 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Ethiopia's navy will be based in Djibouti". 3 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "Ethiopia Navy to be based in Djibouti, command HQ in Bahir Dar (Report)". 3 December 2019.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Admiral Kindu Gezu to lead Ethiopia's new navy". awdinle.com. Capital Ethiopia. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.

Other websites

  • Blackman, Raymond, V.B., M.I., Mar. E, M.R.I.N.A. Jane's Fighting Ships 1962-1963. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1962. No ISBN.
  • Sharpe, Richard, Capt., OBE, RN. Jane's Fighting Ships 1991-1992. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group, 1991. ISBN 0-7106-0960-4.
  • Sharpe, Richard, Capt., OBE, RN. Jane's Fighting Ships 1992-1993. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group, 1992. ISBN 0-7106-0983-3.
  • Sharpe, Richard, Capt., OBE, RN. Jane's Fighting Ships 1993-1994. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1065-3.
  • Sharpe, Richard, Capt., OBE, RN. Jane's Fighting Ships 1996-1997. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group, 1996. ISBN 0-7106-1355-5.
  • Sharpe, Richard, Capt., OBE, RN. Jane's Fighting Ships 1997-1998. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group, 1997. ISBN 0-7106-1546-9.
  • Ethiopian Military: The Ethiopian Navy under Haile Selassie Archived 2016-10-22 at the Wayback Machine