User:M Waleed/sandbox

My sandbox

June 2014 North west Pakistan airstrikes
On 10 June, Pakistani security forces carried out aerial strikes in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency in the northwestern tribal areas next to the Afghan border, during which nine militant hideouts were destroyed and at least 25 militants were killed. The aerial strikes were conducted in the wake of the attack, and were an extension of a campaign of military operations against militants being conducted since the past few months. The area was believed to be used as a shelter for several anti-state militant factions and foreign fighters from Central Asia.

On 11 June, the Army decided to intensify air strikes on militant hideouts following a conference between top military commanders at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi.

On the early hours of Thursday 12 June, the U.S. conducted two successive drone strikes near Miramshah in North Waziristan, after a nearly six-month break in US drone campaigns in the tribal areas of northwest Pakistan. The drone strikes killed 16 suspected militants. According to a Pakistani intelligence sources, the militants killed included four Uzbeks, a few key Afghan Taliban commanders and members, and two members of TTP Punjab.

On 15 June, Pakistan Air Force fighter jets bombed eight militant hideouts in North Waziristan, during which at least 105 militants (or up to 150 according to other official sources) were killed according to security officials. Most of those killed during the strikes were Uzbek fighters, as the targets were predominantly Uzbek hideouts, and the dead included insurgents linked to the airport attack. Military and intelligence sources confirmed the presence of foreign and local militants in the hideouts before the military operation. Abu Abdur Rehman Almani, a key Uzbek militant commander and a mastermind of the attack, was also reported killed. Some foreign militants from the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a Uyghur separatist group from western China, were also among the dead.

Houthis and Allies

 * 🇾🇪 Supreme Political Council
 * Yemeni Armed Forces (undefined)
 * Yemen Army(SPC)
 * Coastal Missile batteries
 * Air Defence systems
 * SAM batteries
 * (SPC)
 * Type 037 corvette
 * 37.5m Patrol vessels
 * USVs
 * UUVs
 * (SPC)
 * Mil Mi-17 helicopters
 * Shahed drones
 * KAS 04 drones
 * Houthi militia
 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * Artesh
 * NEDAJA
 * IRIS Albortz (Frigate)
 * IRGC
 * NEDSA
 * MV Behshad (Intel ship)
 * Quds Force
 * Hezbollah
 * Islamic Resistance in Iraq
 * Popular Mobilization Forces

Israel

 * INS Magen (Corvette)
 * Isnavhanit.jpg INS Hanit (Corvette)
 * C-Dome
 * Tag Hagana Avirit 2011.svg Air Defence Command
 * Arrow 3
 * F-35 Adir fighter jets
 * Combat helicopters
 * Arrow 3
 * F-35 Adir fighter jets
 * Combat helicopters
 * Combat helicopters

Prosperity Guardian

 * USS Dwight D Eisenhower CVN-69 Crest.png USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Aircraft carrier)
 * USS Philippine Sea COA.png USS Philippine Sea (Cruiser)
 * USS Carney DDG-64 Crest.png USS Carney (Destroyer)
 * USSGravelyDDG107coatofarms.png USS Gravely (Destroyer)
 * USS Laboon DDG-58 Crest.png USS Laboon (Destroyer)
 * USS Mason DDG-87 Crest.png USS Mason (Destroyer)
 * USS Thomas Hudner DDG-116 Crest.png USS Thomas Hudner (Destroyer)
 * USS Florida (SSGN-728) crest.png USS Florida (Submarine)
 * Commander, Naval Air Forces.png United States Naval Air Forces
 * 21 F/A-18 Super Hornets
 * One E-2C Hawkeye
 * SeaHawk helicopters
 * One KC-135 Stratotanker
 * MQ-9 Reapers
 * Seal of United States Central Command.svg CENTCOM
 * HMS Diamond (Destroyer)
 * HMS Richmond (Frigate)
 * HMS Lancaster (Frigate)
 * Four RAF Typhoon fighters
 * Two Voyager KC2s
 * SLNS Gajabahu (Armed patrol vessel)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (intelligence support)
 * SLNS Gajabahu (Armed patrol vessel)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (intelligence support)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (intelligence support)
 * (personnel only)
 * (intelligence support)
 * (intelligence support)

Aspides

 * LOGO MARINE NATIONALE 2021.svg French Navy
 * Languedoc (Frigate)
 * Alsace (Frigate)
 * Forbin (Frigate)
 * Roundel of the French Fleet Air Arm.svg French Naval Aviation
 * Eurocopter AS565 Panther helicopters
 * Logo de l'Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace.svg French Air and Space Force
 * Dassault Mirage 2000
 * Caio Duilio (Destroyer)
 * Virginio Fasan (Frigate)
 * Federico Martinengo (Frigate)
 * Hessen (Frigate)
 * COA_MFlgKdo.svg Marineflieger
 * One Westland Lynx
 * Louise-Marie (Frigate)
 * 40th Squadron
 * One NH90
 * (personnel only)
 * One Westland Lynx
 * Louise-Marie (Frigate)
 * 40th Squadron
 * One NH90
 * (personnel only)
 * 40th Squadron
 * One NH90
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)

Joint Operations (Prosperity Guardian + Aspides)

 * Hydra (Frigate)
 * Ship's badge for Iver Huitfeldt (F361).svg HDMS Iver Huitfeldt (Frigate)
 * Embleem Zr. Ms. Tromp (F803).jpg HNLMS Tromp (Frigate)
 * HLMS Karel Doorman (Joint support ship)
 * Roundel of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Naval Aviation Service
 * One NH90
 * One Eurocopter AS532 Cougar
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * HLMS Karel Doorman (Joint support ship)
 * Roundel of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Naval Aviation Service
 * One NH90
 * One Eurocopter AS532 Cougar
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)
 * (personnel only)

Independent deployments

 * INS Kolkata (D63) crest.jpg INS Kolkata (Destroyer)
 * INS Kochi (Destroyer)
 * INS Chennai (Destroyer)
 * INS Visakhapatnam badge.jpg INS Visakhapatnam (Destroyer)
 * INS Mormugao (Destroyer)
 * INS Tarkash.JPG INS Tarkash (Frigate)
 * INS Talwar (Frigate)
 * Roundel of India.svg Indian Naval Air Arm
 * HAL Dhruv helicopters
 * PNS Tughril (Frigate)
 * PNS Taimur (Frigate)
 * PNS Shamsheer (Frigate)
 * PNS Aslat (Frigate)
 * PNS Moawin (Replenishment oiler)
 * PNS Madadgar (Coastal tanker)
 * PMSS Zhob (Maritime Patrol Vessel)
 * Pakistan Naval Air Arm insignia.svg Pakistan Naval Air Arm
 * WS-61 Sea King helicopters
 * Jiaozuo (Destroyer)
 * Xuchang (Frigate)
 * Honghu (Replenishment oiler)
 * 🇨🇳 People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
 * Two Harbin Z-9 helicopters
 * Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces
 * 290th Patriot unit
 * Egyptian Air Defense Forces
 * Honghu (Replenishment oiler)
 * 🇨🇳 People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
 * Two Harbin Z-9 helicopters
 * Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces
 * 290th Patriot unit
 * Egyptian Air Defense Forces
 * Egyptian Air Defense Forces
 * Egyptian Air Defense Forces
 * Egyptian Air Defense Forces

Israel

 * PazanLogo.svg Northern Command
 * Logo-ugda-36.png Ga'ash division
 * Golani tree color.svg Golani Brigade
 * גדוד 12 ברק.jpg Lightning Battalion
 * גדוד 13 גדעון.png Gideon Battalion
 * גדוד 51 הבוקעים.png First Hatchlings Battalion
 * 7thArmoredBrigade.svg Saar me-Golan Brigade
 * Hativa188.PNG Barak Brigade
 * Carmeli.svg Carmeli Brigade
 * Logo-ugda-319.png Ha Mapatz Division
 * Kiryati.svg Kiryati Brigade
 * Logo hativa 228.png Alon Brigade
 * Battalion 5030
 * Logo-ugda-91.png Galilee Division
 * Logo-hativat-300.png Ba'ram Brigade
 * תג עוצבת הבשן.png Bashan division
 * PadamLogoFrom2019.svg Southern Command
 * Logo-ugdat-gaza new.png Gaza Division
 * Logo-hativat-gefen.png Gefen Brigade
 * Gadsar bedui.png Bedouin Battalion
 * Logo-hativat-katif.png Katif Brigade
 * Logo-ugda-162.png Ha-Plada Division
 * Nahal Brigade.svg Nahal Brigade
 * Gdoud Granite.jpg Granite Battalion
 * תג חטיבת גבעתי.svg Givati Brigade
 * תג יחידה 401.svg Iron Tracks Brigade
 * גדוד-52.jpg Ha Bokim Battalion
 * Edom 80th Division.svg Edom Division
 * Logo hativa Faran.svg Paran Brigade
 * Logo caracal.png Caracal Battalion
 * תג חטיבה 460.svg 406 Brigade
 * Sinai 252nd Division.svg Division
 * HarelBrigade.svg Harel Brigade
 * NegevBrigade.svg Negev Brigade
 * JerusalemBrigade.png Jerusalem Brigade
 * PakmazLogo.svg Central Command
 * 99th Ha'Bazak Division Tag (cropped).png Ha'Bazak Division
 * תג יחידת רפאים.png Multidimensional Unit
 * Logo hativa 900.png Kfir Brigade
 * Nezah_yehuda2.png Netzah Yehuda Battalion
 * Hativa 5.png Sharon Brigade
 * Hativa-646 New Logo.png Schualey Marom Brigade
 * YiftachBrigade.svg Yiftach Brigade
 * Utsbat ha'Esh - Ugda 98.png Ha'Esh Division
 * 35th Brigade IDF.svg 35 Paratroopers Brigade
 * IDF Brigade 55 Tag.svg Tip of Spear Brigade
 * 89th Oz Brigade.png Oz Brigade
 * סיכת דובדבן.png Duvdevan Unit
 * Magalan Unit.png Maglan Unit
 * Egoz Unit.png Egoz Unit
 * Logo hativa 551.png Hetzei HaEsch Brigade
 * OrefPikudLogo.svg Home Front Command
 * Logo hir.png Infantry Corps
 * תג יחידה - חטיבה 828 - ביסמל"ח.svg Bislamach Brigade
 * Bahad 1 Symbol.SVG 261st Infantry Brigade
 * Hativa-646 New Logo.png Hamarom Brigade
 * תג חיל ההנדסה.png Combat Engineering Corps
 * YahalomPin01.png Yahalom
 * HaMachatz Brigade
 * Gdud601logo.png Asaf Battalion
 * איסוף קרבי.png Combat Intel Collection Corps
 * Gdud Nesher 414 New Tag.svg Nesher Battalion
 * Shahaf.png Shahaf Battalion
 * Hatamnew.svg Artillery Corps
 * Utzbat Amud Haesh Eged 215 Tag.svg Amud ha-Esh Brigade
 * תג חיל השריון.svg Armoured Corps
 * Logo-hativa-37.png Ram Brigade
 * Logo hativa 8.png Hativa Shimoneh Brigade
 * Brigade 14 sign.svg Bison Brigade
 * Tag Hagana Avirit 2011.svg Air Defense Command
 * Shaldag.svg Shaldag Unit
 * IAF 669 Unit Patch.png Special Tactics Rescue Unit
 * IN Atlit Tag.svg Shayetet 13
 * Ashdod Patrol Squadron
 * 🇮🇱 Snapir unit
 * EmblemINSMagen.jpg INS Magen
 * Isnavhanit.jpg INS Hanit
 * Israel Police.
 * Southern District
 * Emblem of Magav.svg Magav
 * Magav darom new.jpg MGB Southern Command
 * Yamam
 * חטיבה טקטית.jpg Tactical Division
 * 🇮🇱 Shin Bet
 * 🇮🇱 Israeli armed citizens
 * Yamam
 * חטיבה טקטית.jpg Tactical Division
 * 🇮🇱 Shin Bet
 * 🇮🇱 Israeli armed citizens

Palestinian groups

 * Joint Operations Room
 * Al-Qassam Brigades
 * Al-Nukhba Commando Force
 * North Brigade
 * Beit Lahia Battalion
 * Beit Hanoun Battalion
 * Al Khalifa al Rashidun Battalion
 * Martyr Suhail Ziadeh Battalion
 * Jabalia al Balad Battalion
 * Imad Aql Battalion
 * Elite Battalion
 * Gaza Brigade
 * Sabra-Tal al Islam Battalion
 * Daraj wal Tuffah Battalion
 * Radwan Battalion
 * Shujaiya Battalion
 * Zaytoun Battalion
 * Shati Battalion
 * Possible Elite Battalion
 * Central Brigade
 * Deir al Balah Battalion
 * Al Bureij Battalion
 * Al Maghazi Battalion
 * Nusairat Battalion
 * Possible Elite Battalion
 * Khan Younis Brigade
 * Camp Battalion
 * North Khan Younis Battalion
 * South Khan Younis Battalion
 * Eastern Khan Younis Battalion
 * Qarara Battalion
 * Elite Battalion
 * Rafah Brigade
 * Eastern Battalion
 * Khalid bin al Walid Battalion
 * Shaboura Battalion
 * Unknown Fourth Battalion
 * Elite Battalion
 * West Bank Brigade
 * Qabatiya Battalion
 * Jenin Battalion
 * Hamas-Lebanon
 * Al-Aqsa Flood Vanguards
 * Palestinian Islamic Jihad
 * Al-Quds Brigades
 * Tulkarm Battalion
 * Jenin Battalion
 * Nablus Battalion
 * Tubas Battalion
 * Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
 * Ex-Fatah Groups
 * Hornets' Nest
 * Jenin Battalion
 * Qalqilya Battalion
 * Tulkarm Battalion
 * Rapid Response unit
 * Tulkarm Rapid Response Battalion
 * Nablus Battalion
 * Tubas Battalion
 * Special Unit
 * Ayman Jawda Squads
 * Abd al-Qadr al-Husseini Brigades
 * Al-Assefa Army
 * Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
 * Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades
 * Dheisheh camp guards
 * Popular Resistance Committees
 * Palestinian Freedom Movement
 * Al-Ansar Brigades
 * Palestinian Mujahideen Movement
 * Mujahideen Brigades
 * Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command
 * Lions' Den
 * Jenin Brigades
 * Biddya Brigades
 * Al-Ayyash Battalion
 * Lone wolf insurgents
 * Lions' Den
 * Jenin Brigades
 * Biddya Brigades
 * Al-Ayyash Battalion
 * Lone wolf insurgents

Axis of Resistance

 * Axis of Resistance
 * Hezbollah
 * Hezbollah Military Wing
 * Lebanese Resistance Brigades
 * Redwan Force
 * Imam Hussein Brigades
 * Islamic Azz Brigades
 * Syrian Hezbollah
 * Islamic Group
 * Fajr Forces
 * SSNP-L
 * Eagles of the Whirlwind
 * Amal Movement
 * Islamic Resistance in Iraq
 * Kata'ib Hezbollah
 * Popular Mobilization Forces
 * 🇾🇪 Supreme Political Council
 * Yemeni Armed Forces (undefined)
 * Yemen Army(SPC)
 * (SPC)
 * (SPC)
 * Houthi militia
 * Syrian Armed Forces
 * Syrian Army
 * Syrian Air Defense Force
 * Front for the Liberation of the Golan
 * General Staff
 * AJA
 * Iran Air Defense Force
 * NEDAJA
 * IRIS Albortz
 * IRGC
 * NEHSA
 * Quds Force
 * NEDSA
 * MV Behshad
 * NEDSA
 * MV Behshad

Scramble for Lacccadives
The Scramble of Lacccadives  was a military race between Pakistan Navy and Indian authorities in Travancore to reach the islands of Lakshadweep and annex the territory which took place in late August 1947. Both countries deployed naval vessels but the indian authorities were able to reach first annexing the islands.

Background
The Aminidivi islands under the rule of Tipu Sultan of Mysore Kingdom in 1787 were annexed to the British Raj in 1799 after the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. The rest of the islands remained under the suzerainty of the Arakkal family in return for a payment of annual tribute. The British took over the administration of those islands in 1908 for nonpayment of arrears and attached it to the Madras Presidency. As Lacccadives were not a separate entity so they weren't considered during the Partition of India and thus their status was unclear so Pakistan attempted to take hold of these islands.

Race for Lacccadives
At the end of August, 1947, Liaquat Ali Khan, came to realisation that Lacccadives, a region with Muslim majority didn't become a part of Pakistan and could be taken control of with ease. The Deputy Prime Minister of India, Vallabhbhai Patel, also started to think about Lacccadives.

So, the Royal Pakistan Navy sent a naval vessel towards Lacccadives from Karachi. In India Vallabhbhai Patel was informed about the plannings in Karachi. He immediately sent collector of Travancore to Lacccadives. He also sent a message to Mudaliar brothers to convey the collector of Travancore to order the police officials to go to Lacccadives with available weaponry. Vallabhbhai Patel stated “If the police forces no firearms with them, they can take lathis with them but somehow take possession of the area.” and the Flag of India was raised.

A few hours later, Pakistani warship reached and had to return on seeing the Indian flag flying.

Aftermath
The islands were annexed into the Dominion of India and became part of the Madras State under the Constitution of India in 1950. In 1956, the islands which were had been divided between the South Canara and Malabar districts of Madras state, was organized into a separate union territory administered by the Government of India, following the States Reorganisation Act. The territory which was known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands became Lakshadweep islands on 1 November 1973.

1967 Guadeloupe riots
fr:Émeutes de mai 1967 en Guadeloupe

The riots of May 1967 in Guadeloupe were clashes which occurred between gendarmes and demonstrators on the island during strikes following a racially motivated attack. The riots resulted in the deaths of 87 people (1985 estimate, 1967 estimate reported 7 deaths). Other sources estimate the number to be between 80 and 200.

Background
Guadeloupe, an island with a number of socio-economic inequalities between the peoples of European and African ancestry significantly increased by the social transformation policies relaunched by the French government to compensate for the damage caused by Hurricane Inez.

Moreover due to the Decolonisation movements taking place in other parts of the world, similar separatist movements also began to take form in Guadeloupe, such as GONG but the Gaullist movement in France was not willing to negotiate because of the strategic location of the island. So these movements came into direct conflict with the French authorities, police and paramilitaries.

Timeline
On March 20, 1967, Vladimir Snarsky, white owner of a large shoe store in Basse-Terre, unleashes his German shepherd to chase away Raphaël Balzinc, an old black and disabled shoemaker who set up his stall in front of the store. The white owner, was the local leader of the Gaullist UNR party, ironically asked his dog “Say hello to the nigger!” ". This racist incident sparked riots and strikes in Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre. Two squadrons of National Gendarmerie were deployed in Guadeloupe.

On May 24, 1967, construction workers in Guadeloupe went on strike to obtain a 2.5% salary increase and parity in social rights.

On May 26, at noon, a crowd gathered in front of the Pointe-à-Pitre Chamber of Commerce and waited while negotiations took place between union organizations and the employer representatives. Around 12:45 p.m., they learned from a representative that the negotiations had broken down and rumors began to spread.

The employers' representative, Georges Brizzard, reportedly said: " When the Negroes are hungry, they will go back to work!". The Demonstrators started chanting “ Djibouti, Djibouti” to recall the violence which had taken place there , with the French Army shooting separatist demonstrators on sight. .

The clashes began with tear gas grenades fired by the gendarmes against demonstrators who threw Lambi conch shells, stones and glass bottles. On the morning of May 26, Mobile Gendarmerie opened fire during violent demonstrations by strikers, causing several injuries. When a gendarme took off his helmet to wipe his forehead, he received a violent blow to his head severely injuring him, the Mobile Gendarmerie open fire in retaliation, causing the death of Jacques Nestor, a prominent activist of the Guadeloupe National Organization Group. . According to the authorities, the firefight was initiated by demonstrators who opened fire first.

The French authorities initially believed the insurrection to be fomented by the GONG but investigations revealed the riots to be spontaneous.

Some sources state that the opening of fire on demonstrators was knowingly approved by the French government.

Demonstrators
The official toll from the authorities at the time of the massacre was 7 to 8 dead. In 1985, the Secretary of State for the French Overseas Territories, Georges Lemoine, confirmed the death toll of atleast 87 victims, cross-checked from several administrative sources, including the General Intelligence. Most estimates put the death toll between 80 to 200, exact death toll was difficult to determine due to the destruction of archives. MP Christiane Taubira put the death toll around one hundred.

Law enforcement
More than 30 Gendarmes (some red kepis 'Mobile Gendarmerie" ) and members of the Republican Security Companies were reportedly injured by the demonstrators

Commemorations
A mural was painted in remembrance of the victims on May 26, 2007 in Pointe-à-Pitre.

Commemorations of the victims were held in 2017, demanding the opening of classified archives.

In Music

 * Biloute, a song by Mé swasannsèt , album Rékòlt, 2010

Bibliographies

 * Jacques Le Cornec, A West Indian kingdom: of stories and dreams and mixed peoples, L'Harmattan, 2005
 * Raymond Gama and Jean Pierre Sainton, Mé 67, Guadeloupean publishing and distribution company, 1985
 * Jean Plumasseau, In the name of the fatherland, Éditions Nestor, 2012

Television documentaries

 * “May 1967 in Guadeloupe, investigation into a forgotten massacre” on January 15, 2014 in 50 years of news stories on 13th street and on Planète+ Justice.
 * “May 1967, Police repression in Guadeloupe” broadcast by Fabrice Desplan, France Ô.
 * “May 67 – Don’t shoot the children of the republic” by Mike Horn, 2017, France Ô.
 * “The debate: May 67, the legacy of a revolt". Historical magazine presented by Fabrice d'Almeida in Histoire d'Outre-Mer, France Ô (broadcast on 01/31/2018)

Audio documentaries

 * Rendez with avec X, par Patrick Pesnot on France Inter, 7 March 2009: « May 1967 : The massacre at Pointe-à-Pitre.
 * Sensitive affairs, by Fabrice Drouelle on France Inter, broadcast on Thursday April 28, 2016: “When the blacks are hungry, they will return to work” Guadeloupe, May 67, a bloody repression.

Internet Documentaries

 * “Diable Positif: The massacre of May 67”, posted online on May 10, 2020.

Press articles

 * “50 years ago, the Guadeloupean demonstrations ended in massacre”, on Slate.
 * “From the forgotten massacres of May 1967 in Guadeloupe to the beginnings of the modern security order in the neighborhoods”, on Bastamag.

Novels

 * May 67, by Thomas Cantaloube (Gallimard, the Black Series, 2023) (in French)
 * Where dogs bark by their tails, by Estelle-Sarah Bulle (Liana Levi, 2018) (in French)

Shayetet 11
he:שייטת הנחתות

Role
The function of the unit is amphibious landings and naval encirclement. In preparation for the Israeli War of Independence, it's role was defined as the creation of coastal bridgeheads and transport of supplies to isolated settlements. From then till 1990s, the flotilla took part in many wars and many operations when it was abolished. It was re-established in 2022 and became operational in 2024 amidst the backdrop of Israel Hamas war.

Fleet
The table below includes the vessels that were used by the flotilla.

Establishment
Before the Israeli War of Independence the Palmach submitted a proposal to David Ben-Gurion in which the duties of the Israeli Navy were defined including amphibious assaults, reinforcement of operations, protection of coastal settlements, transportation of landing troops and vehicles, supply of fuel and equipment were included for which a specialised landing unit "Shayetet 11" was established.

Supply missions
During the war, Nahariya was cut off from the rest of Israeli territory so the supply of troops and equipment to the isolated area was carried out by sea. On May 12-13, 1948, the 22nd Battalion of the Carmeli Brigade was transferred from the Port of Haifa to Nahariya. In addition, about 15 tons of supplies were transferred for the Hanita and Mitzva settlements, 3 tons of explosives and ammunition, 1000 gallons of gasoline and medical supplies. On May 14/15, 300 women and children, who were evacuated from the Western Galilee were evacuated to Haifa by the Flotilla.

Operation Ben Ami
Operation Ben-Ami began on the night of May 14, 1948 with the occupation of Tel Acre. This occupation allowed the passage of the convoy that left the Ein al-Faretz to the north. The naval force of the Flotilla (transporting 22nd battalion of Carmeli Brigade) landed at 02:30 on the beach of Shebi Zion and began to attack the village of Samaria from the north. In the morning the force arrived at Nahariya. From there the force continued to the village of Aziv which was captured.

Operation Kathreil
This operation was a planned naval landing on the coast of Lebanon. The operation was set to take place on June 9, 1948. On June 10, the troops boarded INS Hana Sanesh and set sail. When they were close to the target location in Lebanon, a cancellation order was received due to a truce about to take effect.

Operation Death to the Invader
During the Operation Death to the Invader Israel Defense Forces attacked Beit 'Affa by a company of the Flotilla and 54th battalion of the Givati Brigade. The naval unit advanced through a wadi from the north, hoping to surprise the Egyptians, but were in fact spotted while preparing to set up. At midnight, they emerged and attacked in two prongs, and despite heavy fire, managed to capture a frontal position and pushed ahead to the center of the village, setting up there and exchanging fire with the Egyptians.

Operation Horev
During Operation Horev a battalion of the Golani Brigade and personnel from Shayetet 11 launched a diversionary attack on positions near the Gaza-Rafah road, however the vessels of Shayetet 11 were not used and instead rubber boats were used due to convert nature of the operation.

Operation Olive Leaves
During Operation Olive Leaves, Aharon Davidi's 771 Reserve Paratrooper Battalion as well as units from the Nahal Brigade and Givati Brigade commenced their attack. The complex operation involved a two-column attack from the north and south, which included both infantry and armored vehicles, as well as an amphibious assault conducted by troops of the Flotilla who crossed the sea by boat.

Operation Kadesh
During Operation Kadesh, three amphibious vehicles were sent from Eilat to Sharm-e-Sheikh with AMX-13 tanks on them. Additional landings were took place on the Gaza and Sinai coasts for logistical purposes including the seizure of an Egyptian MiG-15 that landed in Lake Bardawil.

Battle of the Chinese Farm
During the Battle of the Chinese Farm Matt's brigade began moving to Tasa at 4:30 pm on October 15, before turning eastwards on Akavish. The paratrooper brigade faced problems in acquiring the boats and transports assigned to it. But they ultimately had to use the flotilla boats.

Construction of new vessels
Before the Six Day War, the Flotilla acquired new vessels from the budget allocated by the Finance ministry, following vessels were acquired


 * INS Etzion Gebr (P-51) on March 2, 1962. First Commander Captain Yitzhak (Ike) Aharonovich.
 * INS Caesarea (P-53) on October 15, 1964. First commander Yaakov Nitzan.
 * INS Shikmona (P-55) on May 13, 1965.
 * INS Ashdod (P-61) on March 23, 1967, its first commander was Major Yosef Harari, who was the commander of naval voyages.
 * INS Ashkelon (F-63) on May 19, 1967, its first commander was Ya'akov Nitzan.
 * INS Akziv (P-65) on August 1, 1967, its first commander was Major Shmuel Shabach.

Prelude to Six Day War
Before the Six Day War the AMX-13 tanks were placed on the south coast and moved to the north of the gulf. The Flotilla vessels were also brought ashore and hidden in a wadi behind the base.

Attack on Sharm el-Sheikh
During the Six Day War, the Flotilla in the Gulf of Eilat accompanied the Paratroopers Brigade on its way south, provided cover and even landed tanks in the Gulf of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Operation Raviv
During Operation Raviv "Pinko" Harel's small force of about a hundred men, six Tiran 5s and three BTR-50s, landed on the Egyptian coast at 03:37AM on the morning of September 9. Delivered by three vessels of the Flotilla to a beachhead secured by Shayetet 13, Harel's force landed at El Hafair, 40 km south of Suez and 20 km south of the anchorage at Ras Sadat. Laden with extra fuel and ammunition supplied by the Flotilla, the force headed south, wreaking havoc behind Egyptian lines and attacking installations along the way. The first of these was the Egyptian Army camp and radar site at Abu Darag, which by 07:17 had been secured.

Eilat raid
In 1970, Egyptian naval commando carried out a sabotage operation at Eilat Naval Base and damaged a vessel of the Flotilla INS Bat Sheva lander sank the INS Bat Galim.

Operation Lady
The Flotilla participated in the Operation Lady. On October 16, 1973, a group of Flotilla vessels led the Shayetet 13 to attack Port Said. The operation was carried out successfully and multiple Egyptian vessels were damaged or destroyed.

Operation Green light
The Flotilla participated in the Operation Green Light which was to carry out an amphibious landing on Egyptian Red Sea coast but the operation was aborted mid way.

Operation Abirey-Halev
During the Operation Abirey-Halev, On the night of 15 October, 750 personnel of Colonel Matt's 55th Paratroopers Brigade crossed the canal in rubber dinghies. They were soon joined by tanks and additional infantry transported via the vessels of the Flotilla. The force encountered no resistance initially and fanned out in raiding parties, attacking supply convoys, SAM sites, logistic centers and anything else of military value, with priority given to the SAMs. Attacks on SAM sites punched a hole in the Egyptian anti-aircraft screen and enabled the IAF to strike Egyptian ground targets more aggressively.

Operation Birds of Eden
Three vessels of the Flotilla were transferred from Ashdod Naval Base to Eilat Naval Base by circumnavigating around Africa, It was codenamed Operation Birds of Eden. The first vessel left on August 20, 1974 and the last arrived on October 30, 1974. .

Prelude to the first Lebanon War
The flotilla vessels participated in the Lebanese Civil War to supply weapons and ammunition to the Christian phalanges forces in Lebanon usually by landing to the port of Junia.

Operation Litani
The flotilla took part in 1978 South Lebanon conflict against militants on the northern shores of Lebanon, without landing troops. The vessels were used as carrier platform for helicopters that attacked targets on the Lebanese coast.

1982 Lebanon War
The flotilla participated in the 1982 Lebanon War. On 6 June 1982, Israeli forces under direction of Defense Minister Ariel Sharon launched a three-pronged invasion of southern Lebanon in "Operation Peace for Galilee". Roughly 60,000 troops and more than 800 tanks, heavily supported by aircraft, attack helicopters, artillery, and missile boats, crossed the Israel–Lebanon border in three areas. Simultaneously, Israeli armor, paratroopers, and naval commandos set sail in amphibious landing ships from Ashdod Naval Base towards the Lebanese coast north of Sidon. Israel's publicly stated objective was to push PLO forces back 40 km to the north. An Israeli amphibious operation was conducted north of Sidon, beginning with a diversionary bombardment of targets away from the landing zone by missile boats and aircraft. Two groups of commandos from the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit then came ashore to probe enemy defenses and secure the landing site, one of which swam to the mouth of the Awali River and another which came ashore on the landing beach in rubber dinghies. After a brief gunbattle with armed Palestinians, the main landings began, with paratroopers coming ashore in rubber dinghies to establish a beachhead followed by three landing craft that unloaded troops and armor. Over the following days, the three landing ships moved between Israel and Lebanon, shuttling more troops and armor onto the beachhead.

Specialised units
Givati Brigade and a battalion from Golani Brigade were specially trained to act along with flotilla in wartime situations. They were given necessary training to transfer armoured vehicles as well as to assist in transport of tanks.

Dismantling of flotilla
In August 1993 all of flotilla vessels were taken out of service as they were deemed vulnerable and State-of-the-art fast landing craft were not defined as an operational necessity. So, some were sold to Eritrea while rest were sunk in naval exercises.

Re-establishment
In May 2022 it was announced that the Navy decided to re-establish the amphibious fleet, following this the IDF purchased two LSV vessels which will be used by the Israeli Navy to conduct amphibious landings as well as to transport supplies.

The flotilla is operated from Ashdod Naval Base. The first amphibious vehicle, INS Nachshon, was delivered to the Navy in August 2023. The second landing vessel, INS Kommiat, arrived in Israel in June 2024. The squadron became fully operational in 2024 and participated in Israel Hamas war.

Commanders
It is usually commanded by a single commander but from 1967 to 1978, the command was distributed between two sectors, one housed at Ashdod Naval Base while second at Eilat Naval Base. The dual command was abolished in 1978.

Sources & References

 * נחתות On the website of the Navy Association (Israel)
 * 22nd Battalion Veterans Association, מבצע כתריאל והאניה חנה סנש, on the website of the battalion
 * Pinchas Pick, הנחתות בין עזה לאל עריש, "Marine Systems", LA, December 1956, p. 56
 * Benjamin Schiff הנחתות ירדו לשארם א שייך, 'Naval Systems' 37-38, The Decade File for the Navy, July 1958, p. 142
 * M. Ron, נחתות במערכה "Marine Systems" Booklet No. 85-86, July 1967, pp. 49-50
 * Uri Porat, נחתתי באל עריש "Marine Systems" Booklet No. 85-86, July 1967 pp. 51-52
 * Yehuda Ben-Zur, פינוי תחמושת שלל מאל - עריש, 'Marine Systems' 62, December 1962, p. 8
 * Yehuda Ben-Zur, שייטת הנחיתה במבצע קדש, "Marine Systems" 94, June 1969, pp. 25-22
 * אלבום תמונות נחתות 2012
 * Dear Jonah, נחתת הטנקים שלנו, 'Marine Systems' 62, December 1962, p. 28
 * Shahar Landau,	הימאים האמיתיים - מפקד נט"ק''', "Between Waves" February 1979, p. 5.
 * Merv Buschfen,	הגדול של הנט"קים - הנחיתה באוואלי''',	'Between Waves' Special Issue 1, June 8, 1982, p. 3
 * Shlomo Man, כהה - גבעתי בנחיתה''', between waves" 169 December 1986, p. 9.
 * Yehuda Ben-Zur, פלגת נמ"כים במפרץ אילת מערכת סיני 1956 On the Navy Association (Israel) website, May 2006
 * תרגיל נחיתה במפרץ אילת, אוגוסט 1973, Shaul Nagar, website Yad Leshryon, August 22, 2010
 * Gideon Raz, האיגוף הימי בקרב היבשה Israeli Institute for National Security Studies Army and Strategy, Volume 3, Issue 1, May 2011

Mount Carmel Naval Base
he:בסיס ציוד ותובלה

Mount Carmel Naval Base officially known as Betzat (formerly Yaschan) is the main logistical base of the Israeli Navy located near the Mount Carmel. It is responsible for all equipment and transport related activities of Israeli Navy.

Location
The base was located in the Kishon camp from its early years, and on July 6 1999, its gradual transfer began to the "Hahotrim" camp south of Carmel Castle, which also houses the Navy's development center and the Haifa district headquarters of the Home Front Command.

Role
It allows the navy to fight continuously without shutdowns. The base is responsible for the procurement, maintenance and supply of equipment and materials, on an ongoing basis, and for operational functioning. It is also responsible for material arrangements necessary for Shipbuilding. It also serves in weaponry and ammunition accountancy.

Naval Shipyards (Israel)
he:מספנת חיל הים

Israeli Naval Shipyards is the institution within the Israeli Navy concerned with Shipbuilding and repairs. Three shipyards (Haifa, Eilat and Atlit) and several naval workshops are under the command of this institution.

Roles
The roles of the shipyards are
 * To maintain the vessels in operational conditions.
 * The upgrading of the operational capacity of the vessels by integration of more advanced technologies and changing body structure.
 * Mid-life overhaul of a submarines.
 * Reception of imported vessels.
 * Maintainence of the control system and the coast stations.

Establishment of British Shipyard
The professional infrastructure in naval engineering in Israel which was used by the navy in its establishment began in the British shipyard in Haifa which operated from the beginning of 1942 and served the British army in handling damaged vessels and adapting them to a military purpose in real time. At the height of its activity, the shipyard employed about 1000 people. Father Khushi expressed its future importance in writing in one of the memos that appear in his archives : "It may be possible after the war to purchase all the equipment and the workshops and it would be appropriate for this factory to be transferred to a trust . "

At that time, World War II was at its peak. Most of the coast of the Mediterranean, except for Turkey and Spain, is under the control of the Axis Powers. The Allies held Egypt, Mandatory Palestine and later Syria and Lebanon. At the end of 1942, within the Haifa Port area, the PWD Public Works Department under the management of the Jewish engineer Peretz Willard Etx erected three or four buildings, some of them made of concrete with tin roofs and some made of wood with tin roofs. The entire complex was surrounded by a high fence and the entrance to it was through a gate for pedestrians and a gate for vehicles identified as gate number 11. The area was highly classified and guarded. The British shipyard in Malta was responsible for the shipyard in Haifa. On December 25, 1942, the shipyard was registered under the company Shipwrights & Engineers ME LTD. The purpose of this company was to conduct marine engineering business in the repair, construction and maintenance of steamships. The senior workers at the shipyard were brought from Malta and their terms of employment were according to the contract in Malta. In Haifa, technical personnel were recruited through the labor office of the Haifa Workers' Council and the employment office of the Arab sector. The manpower was diverse and included carpenters, plumbers, engravers, solders and welders, metal workers, instrument makers, boiler makers, builders and general workers. In addition, manual workers were recruited for "beard scraping" jobs, etc., and most of them were day laborers. The payment to the simple day laborers was daily.

Inside the buildings that were erected for the shipyard were two halls where the maritime professionals worked and where they repaired parts of ships that were damaged. A floating probe was brought from Malta which was the only one in the port. From time to time, special work tools were brought from there to repair ships. The shipyard worked seven days a week on Saturdays and holidays and fully responded to the needs of the Royal Navy. In one case the shipyard converted a cargo ship into a passenger ship and the ship was the Tripolitania.

The shipyard's offices were located in Haifa at the offices of HAIFA SHIPPING AGENCY LTD on 82 Malkim Street in one of the Aziz Khayat buildings. One of the shipyard's employees was the engineer Levy, whose daughter Hana Levy worked in the shipyard's secretariat. The chief secretary of the shipyard was Rebecca Watson, the wife of Lionel Watson, the engineer of the city of Haifa. The engineer Aryeh Gutesman was the chief foreman. Aryeh Mehulel was the director of the labor department and his title was Chief Time Keeper, Aryeh who was a man of the Echelon was pulled from the shipyard by the CID, arrested at his home on March 2, 1944 and exiled to Eritrea.

On July 30, 1945, a notice was published in the official newspaper of the Palestine government (The Palestine Gazette in the English edition), issue number 1424, regarding the voluntary liquidation of the company and John Cuthbert Kochs was appointed liquidator. The floating test was returned to Malta.

Construction of Israeli Shipyard
The core of the professional workforce for the construction of the Israeli Navy shipyard infrastructure came from three professional bodies:
 * The two workshops of the shipyards in Israel during the days of the mandate: Shipwrights & Engineers and Kirstein & Greenspon, headed by Herzl Greenspon.
 * Yishuv volunteers for the British Royal Navy.
 * Navy personnel from the American Navy and the Royal Navy.

A company Shipwrights & Engineers operated in Mandatory Palestine to repair ships of the British military fleet and the commercial fleet. The company ceased its activities in Israel at the end of World War II. The company employed professionals from the settlement who in this way acquired their experience working in ship repair and workshop management.

A new company, "Haifa Engineering Factories"- Kirstein & Grinshpon started operating in Israel. Kirstein was a qualified engineer for marine engineering, who became the expert of the British Royal Navy in all naval ship repairs in the Middle East. When the Shipwrights & Engineers left, the Israeli workers,, moved to the Kirstein & Grinshpon company, which developed and took over most of the shipping work in Israel. A large workshop was opened at the intersection of Sderot, Ha-Histadrut and Kfar-Ata. Before that, the name of this intersection was "Pilar Locomotive". After the War of Independence, Kirstein & Grinshpon entered into a partnership with " Soll Bona ", and "Hima" was established. The "Hima" company was the precursor of "Israel Shipyards".

The Kirstein & Greensphon factory worked for the "Haganah", and its main work was in the production of mines, grenades , mortar bombs, mortars and armored vehicles. In addition, the factory built small naval vessels.

Ship Conversions
During the Israeli war of Independence, the workforce at the Kirstein & Greensphon factory worked under economic lockout orders. During the day they worked in the factory, and during the night the workers went on guard and security duties. At the same time, as part of the effort to occupy the Hebrew labor in the Port of Haifa, the members of the port company arrived with Yohai Ben Nun and a group of professionals was formed in preparation for the process of converting the civilian ships of the Shadow Fleet into the first naval ships. From intelligence reports that reached the "Hagana", they learned of the intention of the British, who were still in control of the port even though they had evacuated the country, to blow up the ships and close the port. This information reached Israel as early as 1946 but later proved to be false.

Amidst fears that British authorities would sink ships in the port of Haifa, the shipyard workers took them out of the harbor and dismantled everything essential to the operation of the ship. The equipment was hidden somewhere in the port. The 'Wedgwood' and the 'Hagana' were steamships, therefore all the pressure gauges, the rudder, everything that could be disassembled was disassembled from them so that it would be impossible to take the ships out independently, but only to tow them. In this way, the possibility of drowning in the middle of the sea was neutralized. When the British left the port the ships were reassembled and smuggled out of the port, of which three large ships were of Eilat (a -16) class ,named the " State of the Jews ", the " Regius" and the " Hagana ".

In 1957, Colonel Aryeh Kaplan "Kippi" saw that there was one old ship left in the port and it was the "Nevertheless". With the help of the anchor company and the naval shipyard, the ship was cut into 4 parts and was moved to its designated place as a museum.

The establishment of the shipyard
The initial recruitment for the Israeli Navy was conducted at 29 Jaffa Street by the head of personnel of the naval services, Shlomo Jacobson, from the Yishuv volunteers for the British Royal Navy. Jacobson referred the navy volunteers to the navy, many of the Royal Navy personnel were professionals and with a background of an organized war navy and the initial technical avenue in the navy was formed.

The naval shipyards were established at the initiative of Joe Novek, a Yishuv volunteer for the British Royal Navy. The beginning of the shipyard was at the intersection of Sderot al-Malikim and the German colony where the workshops of the British Public Works Department were situated. The first shipyard workers were Joe Novick and five Yishuv volunteers. The shipyard's initial equipment came from the collection of a variety of equipment from Arab workshops that were abandoned in Haifa during the Israeli War of Independence. The initial camp in the Haifa area was at Hoof Shemen and later he was located at the Haifa naval base in Bat Galim.

With the growth of the shipyard and the workshops, the need arose for a large and orderly building in the port. Warehouse building 4 was bombed by the Egyptians, therefore the Port Authority offered this destroyed building to the Israeli Navy as the shipyard site. The engineering personnel moved to the workshops in the Port of Haifa near the customs house in warehouse 4 near the entrance to the fuel dock. Most of the manpower was from civilian workshops and without an understanding of the professional organizational side of a shipyard as well as an understanding of the structure and requirements of a military shipyard. There was a shortage of manpower and Joe Novick realized that he would not accept soldiers for the shipyard, so he recruited civilians with relevant professions, who became civilian IDF workers at the shipyard.

Beyond that, there was a need to establish professional bodies such as electrical department, electronics department, ship hull workshop, damage control, carpentry, underwater work, instrumentation.

The following five officers from the Yishuv volunteers to the British Royal Navy came to fill these positions :
 * Benjamin Castle - mechanical engineer
 * Halperin - construction engineer
 * Lauterbach and Steuer - electrical engineers.
 * Levin - chemical engineer

In addition, following volunteers also came:
 * Shmuel Winterfeld - electrical trains for transport
 * Izzy Moser - Israeli Navy officer
 * Jacob Krauss - Ship Workshop

Dick Rosenberg came to the Electronics Division from the American Navy. He was trained as an artillery officer and was assigned to become a liaison officer later a professor at the Technion in the Faculty of Industry and Management on the subject of behavioral sciences and Rusk who returned to the United States.

The engineering and inspection officer headquarters came from the Yishuv volunteers to the British Royal Navy such as Luther an electrical engineer, Messinger a mechanical engineer, Edmond Wilhelm Brillant a mechanical engineer, Thorpe an electrical engineer.

With the arrival of Paul Shulman, other professionals arrived from the American Navy and received appointments in the Israeli Navy, for example Jonathan Lev an Annapolis graduate was entrusted with the naval gunnery. Philip Strauss with the inspection of the machinery departments of the ships at sea and the engineering division on the shore, Haim Gershoni was appointed supervisor of shipyard operations and the position of corrections officer. During the conversion of the qualifying ships into a makeshift war fleet, friction arose between Gershoni and Joe Novick. One of the cases that caused friction between Gershoni and Novik was the installation of cannons on the ships of the Shadow Fleet. Napoleonics were Italian cannons from 1912, these were the first cannons that were able to be bought in Italy at the end of 1948. and these were the cannons that were assembled. Four such guns arrived, and they had to be mounted on the corvettes, 'Wedgwood' and 'Hagana'. The cannons were assembled from improvised materials found in Israel, and a week later the cannons were assembled. Due to the circumstances Gershoni left and later described this period in his autobiographical book "The Way it Was".

Qualified engineers who were officers of the American Navy came from the American Navy. Among them Robert Allen who was a ship engineer certified by WEBB institute and MIT in New York, decided to stay in Israel. He settled in Haifa with his wife and son and received Israeli citizenship. Alan advanced to the position of head of the naval architecture branch in the Ministry of Defense (Israel) at the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1956 the family decided to leave Israel.

Establishment of Hall
In 1950, the Navy wanted to invite Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to the graduation ceremony of the recruits. The Prime Minister expressed his willingness to come but the security, ruled out the Palace Cinema for security reasons emphasizing arrangements in a Naval installation. So the shipyard built a hall measuring one hundred and twenty meters by thirty meters. The hall where the ceremony took place was called "David" barracks after the prime minister in whose honor it was built.

Suez Crisis
During the Suez Crisis, a major operations of the shipyard was the transfer of torpedo ships on carriers from Haifa to Eilat. Moreover an Egyptian destroyer,Ibrahim Al Awwal was captured and towed to the Port of Haifa and was restored by the navy's shipyard and its name was K-38 AHI Haifa.

Six Day War
On the eve of the Six Day War, the shipyard very quickly finished the renovations of the destroyer Eilat which returned to service after the INS Haifa K-38 had ceased to be active.

Establishment
The branch of the shipyard in Eilat was established to serve the vessels in the Eilat Naval Base during the War of Attrition. In order to establish it, Lt. Col. Chaim Shtoyer was sent there.

Ammunition Truck disaster
On January 24, 1970, a disaster hit the Port of Eilat and the navy shipyard known as the ammunition truck disaster after the raid on Shadoan Island. In this disaster, 24 soldiers were killed, including 5 civilian shipyard workers.

Synchrolift
Lt. Col. Moshe Omen Oxman was appointed as the first shipyard commander in 1973 and established Mesha Synchrolift.

Gaesh Rescue mission
In 1981, the shipyard repaired the hull of INS Geash, after the unwanted beaching on the Saudi Arabian coast. The activity included salvage and flooding from the Saudi coast, towing to the Eilat Naval Base, shipping and repair to an operational condition.

Atlit Shipyard
After the establishment of Shayetet 13, the research and planning division of the Weapons Development Authority, began a project based on sabotage boats that were manufactured in Italy and which were used to sink Emir Farooq. A new model passed the tests in Shipyard until March 1954 and in April of that year it was tested by the Navy and its production began. In 1956 the boats entered operational use in the Navy.

After the integration of Shayetet 13 into the Navy, the Shayetet 13 shipyard was subordinated to the Naval Shipyard. In 1958, bodies of pigs were developed by Lt. Col. Haim Shachel. The design was outsourced to the Orlight plant in Ness Ziona and in 1963 a molded fiberglass model was launched as a unified body and not composed of separate parts.

Covert repairs and operations were also carried out in this shipyard.

Sources & References

 * Joshua, דע את המספנה Navy 8th Shebat 579, p. 20.
 * להיות או לחדול - דיון על עתיד המספנה, Navy 8th Shebat 579, p. 21.
 * Gershoni, המספנה / בשולי הדיון The Navy, 9 Adar 579, p. 37.
 * על תרומת מתנדבי מח"ל מארצות הברית לחיל הים מאת דייוויד הנוביץ' מח"ל קצין מכונה מהצי האמריקאי
 * God. tour, צי הצללים קם לתחיה, "Naval Systems" 37-38, The Decade File for the Navy, July 1958, p. 51.
 * Grape Adam, כך שיפצנו אוניות, "Naval Systems" 37-38, The Decade File for the Navy, July 1958, p. 53.
 * Haim Levy, מספנת חיל הים, "Marine Systems" n.d., July 1961, p. 26.
 * Orly Azoulai, "מנועים מלא קדימה", 'Marine Systems' 110, November 1972, p. 40.
 * Julie Falterer,	פרס עובד צהל מצטיין לאיש מספנה,	'Between Waves' March 1976, p. 5.
 * A. Lish, חיל הים שיפץ לראשונה צוללת, 'Marine Systems' 61, September 1962 p. 3.
 * על חברת אימקו תעשיות בע"מ
 * רשימת מקבלי אות יקיר התעשייה ע"ש אריה שנקר
 * Avraham Maron, המחוגים חזרו לאחור - מספנת חיל הים, "Marine Systems" Booklet No. 85-86 July 1967, pp. 14 - 19.
 * Meir Shapir, במספנה, "Marine Systems" 95, August 1969, p. 18.
 * Meir Shapir and Aryeh Doblin מספנת חיל הים 'Marine Systems' 102–103, March 1971, p. 46.
 * על מספנות SwiftShip בארצות הברית
 * הטיל גבריאל הקדים את תפיסת הסטי"ל סיקור באתר פרש
 * Sharon Harpaz,	חיל הים חוגגת 36 שנה להיווסדה''',	'Between Waves' 162 July 1984 p. 38.
 * Raanan Czerbinski,מספרה לחיילות המספנה וגם אומנות הציור של ינינה פטליצקי, 'Between Waves' 167 April 1986 pp. 17 and 55.
 * Raanan Charbinski and Ruthie Rodner,	של האין מנוע" - הע"צים של מספנת חיל הים''',	'Between Waves' 173 March 1988 p. 23.
 * Father Obel,	בנין הידרו מכני וקורס מנהלי מחסנים''',	'Between Waves' 177 April 1989 p. 11.
 * Hana Yanai, מספנת חיל הים לדורותיה, Navy Publishing House, 1998.
 * Aryeh Kiesel,	אף ספינה לא שטה''',	"Bin Galim" celebratory jubilee issue October 1998, p. 54.
 * Father Obel,	,	"Between Waves" issue October 1, 2001 p. 20.
 * Shimon Alterman,	ההיי טק ממספנות חיל הים''' - אעצ בני כהן תכנת בכיר, "Between Waves" issue October 1, 2001 p. 86.
 * Yitzhak Aviel and Lior Nagar,	הכוח של מספנת חיל הים''',	"Between Waves", January 2014, p. 58.
 * David Bar Yosef,	לעניין אנשי המספנה בעת חירום''',	"Between Waves", October 2014, p. 87.
 * Shaked Tobis, תג משקף DNA למספנת חיל הים, The IDF recruits website, December 12, 2021.

157 Squadron
he:משתמש:Yar/טייסת 157

Squadron 157, also known as Squadron in the valley  is a squadron in the Israeli Air Force at the Ramat David Airbase, specialised in Electronic Warfare.

Second Lebanon War
The unit was established in 2006, at the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, from the merger of Squadron 153 and Squadron 557. The squadron participated in the Second Lebanon War.

Space mission
In May 2010, as part of the STS-132 mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, the warrior pin of Tal Ramon (son of Col. Ilan Ramon) who served in the unit was flown to the International Space Station and released into space in his name and in memory of his father, who perished as part of Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. .The pin was photographed against the background of outer space. A copy of the pin and a certificate of authenticity were given to the commander of the unit, in the commemorative corner of the squadron, at the Ramat David Airbase.



2010 Mount Carmel forest fire
In December 2010, during the 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire, the squadron played a key role in coordinating ground units as well as Aerial firefighting.

Adoption program
As a combat operational unit, the squadron and its soldiers are frequently adopted by various bodies in Israel and around the world, as part of the "Adopt a Battalion" project so it was adopted in 2014 by the CFO Forum, and in 2015 by the Friends of the IDF organization.

At present
The squadron is currently stationed at the Ramat David Airbase and is a specialised squadron for electronic warfare utilising Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Notable Commanders

 * Lt. Col. Eran Giladi (2006-2009).
 * Lt. Col. Assaf (2010-2013).
 * Lt. Col. R. (full name redacted) (2013-).
 * Rest of the names are redacted due to security concerns

Motto
The motto of the squadron is "And today I will fuse the city with a fortress and an iron pillar for copper walls throughout the land", which refers to verse 18 of chapter 1 of the Book of Jeremiah.

Sources & References

 * מיקום היחידה, שמה וסמלה - Amir Segev, founder and editor of the airport website
 * מרקיע שחקים
 * אתר nrg
 * The Air Force website, in the "Army and Security" forum on Fresh website.

Firefighting Squadron
he:יחידת הכיבוי האווירי

249 Squadron is an Aerial firefighting unit of the Israel Fire and Rescue Services operated by Israeli Police. It was established in 2011 as an Israeli Air Force squadron. It is nicknamed "Elad Squadron" after a late 16 year old firefighter of the Israel Fire and Rescue Services.

Background
In 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire took place, which was a turning point that led to a change in the face of the firefighting system in Israel. Until this fire, the firefighting system was built in a decentralized manner under local authorities and city associations under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior. Despite many complaints about a continuous shortage of equipment and personnel and despite advices that indicated that the firefighting system should be nationalized, the advices were not implemented and the main firefighting and rescue body in Israel continued to become obsolete and accumulate gaps.

In the field of aerial firefighting, the firefighting services until 2000 were based on the Israeli Air Force, which operated Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion Yassor helicopters for firefighting purposes using portable water tanks. After it was found that this form of work causes damage to the rotor and chassis of the helicopter, the Israeli Air Force's activity was stopped and transferred to private companies that provide agricultural spraying services (first the Chem-Nir company and then the Talm company) who provided this service in a contract under the command of the fire services.

After the fire in Carmel, as part of the lessons learned from the disaster, a decision was made to establish a firefighting squadron in the Israeli Air Force.

On December 7, 2010, even before the formation of the squadron, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the firefighting squadron that the State of Israel will establish will be called the "Elad" squadron, after Elad Rivan, a 16-year-old firefighter from Haifa, who perished in the disaster while together with the fire team he worked.

In early 2011, the Israeli government approved the transfer of the firefighting system from the Ministry of the Interior to the Ministry of Defense and the establishment of an aerial firefighting squadron.

Establishment
In January 2011, the Government of Israel decided to establish an aerial firefighting squadron for the State of Israel. Since the Israeli Air Force was the only body that had the knowledge and experience to establish a squadron out of nowhere, the task was assigned to it. In a tender published by the Ministry of Defense, Elbit Systems won, so the government purchased firefighting planes and hired the Chem-Nir company to carry out the task.

Air Force Squadron
The Israeli Air Force, which was the guiding professional body, established the 249 Squadron - Firebirds which had a belief in building combat theory for firefighting from the air and directing the firefighting pilots from the ground. The firefighting pilots of the Chem-Nir company carried out the actual firefighting operations, in accordance with the instructions and procedures of the Israeli Air Force.

The base of the firefighting squadron was determined in Sde Dov Airport. Also, two main airstrips were determined from which the firefighting planes took off. The Megiddo runway in the north and the Kedama runway in the south. In just four months, 8 firefighting planes were purchased and the foundation stones for a firefighting squadron in the State of Israel were laid.

Expansion
On January 5, 2015, Elbit Systems Company, which received from the Ministry of Defense the contract for the purchase of the planes and the operation of the firefighting squadron, announced the signing of a contract that will be spread over eight years and will also include payment for flight hours, infrastructure upgrades, maintenance, operation of runways, treatment of flame retardant materials and other aspects of Activation of the squadron. As part of this contract, Elbit Systems purchased 6 more firefighting planes, thus increasing the total number of the squadron planes to 14.

Transfer
After the formation of the squadron and the laying of the foundations for its operational work it was decided to transfer it to Israeli Police (to provide services to Israel Fire and Rescue Services)

On November 1, 2016, responsibility for operating the squadron was transferred to the Israeli Police.

2016 Israel fires
The squadron participated in the firefighting operations during the November 2016 Israel fires.

Transfer ceremony
On January 19, 2017, at the end of five and a half years of operational activity in the Air Force, the Air Fire Unit moved to operate under the Israel Police Air Unit officially, in a solemn ceremony held at the Megiddo Airstrip.

2018 Gaza conflict
During the 2018 Gaza conflict, the squadron was deployed to put up the fires near the perimeter fence around the Gaza Strip as a result of sending incendiary kites.

2019 Israel fires
During 2019, the unit's personnel made 200 sorties and dumped 700,000 liters of water and flame retardants to put out fires. In addition to the extinguishing operations, the members of the unit assisted the ground forces in directing and mapping burn areas.

2020 Israel fires
Firefighting planes from the squadron helped put out fires that broke out in various locations in Israel due to heavy heat in May 2020, carrying out more than a hundred sorties.

2021 Firefighting missions
Firefighting planes from the Elad squadron assisted in putting out fires in Cyprus in July 2021 and in Greece in August 2021. Firefighting planes and several helicopters were involved in putting out the 2021 Israel wildfires.

Structure
The operation of the unit is determined in the following configuration:
 * The "Elbit Systems" company, which won the tender with the Ministry of Defense, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the aerial firefighting planes
 * Chem Nir, a subcontractor of Elbit Systems, is responsible for providing pilots, mechanics and civilian ground crews.
 * Israeli Police - responsible for air management.
 * Israel Fire and Rescue Services - the operational activities are coordinated under the Israel Fire and Rescue Services

Equipment
The squadron operates:
 * 14 Air Tractor AT-802F firefighting planes
 * 4 Airbus H-125 Aquarail helicopters
 * 2 Airbus H-145 helicopters

Sources & References

 * יחידת הכיבוי האווירי, on the website of the Israel Fire and Rescue Services

Red Baron Squadron
he:טייסת הברון האדום

The Red Baron Squadron is a squadron in the Israeli Air Force, which operates " Eitan " type UAVs from the Tel Nof Airbase. The squadron was established on January 28, 2019 as part of an agreement between the Israeli government, the aerospace industry and the German Army. The squadron's role is to train Israeli and German pilots as operators of the Eitan UAV, until the end of the development of the UAV of the German Air Force (variant of the "Eitan"), and then to train them directly on the German UAV.

The value of the agreement between the countries is estimated at approximately 900 million Euros, under which the German Air Force will lease seven UAVs for a period of nine years. Five of the UAVs will be used for operational purposes and two more for training and training In addition to the lease agreement, a contract in the amount of 170 million euros was decided on for the use of the airport and airspace.

The squadron is named after Manfred von Richthofen, a German fighter pilot and fighter pilot during World War I. Manfred, who was identified with a red " Fokker Dr.I " three-wing plane, in addition to being Freiherr (the German equivalent of the title " Baron "), was nicknamed "The Red Baron". The name of the squadron was proposed by the Israeli side of the agreement, marking the legacy of the battle of the Red Baron.

In November 2020, Germany's military attaché in Israel, Colonel Jürgen Hefner, awarded the Cross of Honor to the first squadron commander, Lt. Col. Y (name kept secret).

Others
he:טייסות חיל האוויר הישראלי

193 squadron
he:טייסת 193 193 Squadron (Israel)

113 Squadron
he:טייסת 113 113 Squadron (Israel)

US military support to Israel
On October 7 2023, hours after the start of the Israel–Hamas war, the United States started sending warships and warplanes into the region, prepared to give Israel whatever it needs. Israel asked the United States for Iron Dome interceptors, and President Joe Biden said Washington would quickly provide additional equipment and resources, including ammunition, which are going to reach Israel within days. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington would provide its "full support" to Israel, with guided missile launchers and F-35 fighter jets among the equipment being sent. On October 12, Biden administration started preparing an aid package of about $2 billion in additional funding to support Israel. On October 14, the Pentagon had dispatched a small team of Special Operations personnel to Israel for intelligence gathering. On October 15, the White House declared that it would attempt to get congressional approval of a fresh $2 billion weaponry aid package for Israel and Ukraine. By October 17, five shipments of American weapons and equipment had arrived in Israel. On October 20, Biden announced that the additional funds he asked Congress to authorize would come to a total of $14 billion, as part of a $105 billion military aid package that addressed Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel as well as US border security.

In November, a Republican plan was approved by the United States House of Representatives that allocated $14.5 billion in military aid for Israel.

By December US had supplied 15,000 bombs and 57,000 155mm artillery shells, mostly carried on C-17 military cargo planes. U.S. has also sent more than 5,000 unguided Mk82 bombs, more than 5,400 Mk84 bombs, about 1,000 small diameter GBU-39 bombs. On December 8, Biden used emergency authority to skip congressional review to sell ~14,000 tank shells worth $106.5 million for immediate delivery to Israel. On December 29, the United States government again used emergency authority to sell Israel artillery shells and related weapons worth 147.5 million dollars in order to replenish Israeli weapons stockpiles.

In February the Senate passed a $14 billion USD aid package for Israel.

By March US had approved more than 100 arms sales to Israel. On 30 March, the White House authorized $2.5 billion in weapons transfers to Israel.

In April, Biden signed a $95bn security package which included around $17bn in military aid for Israel.

On 16 May, Biden notified Congress about a $1 billion arms sale to Israel. On 21 May, the U.S. House passed legislation that would slash the U.S. military budget unless Biden sent 3,500 heavy-duty bombs to Israel.

In June, the United States officially signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance, allowing Israel to purchase 25 additional Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets for $3 billion dollars. Also in June, Rep. Gregory Meeks and Sen. Ben Cardin signed off to an arms sale to Israel totaling $18 billion, after pressure from the Biden administration.

Shafqat Baloch
On 6 September 1965, at 1 A.M , Major Shafqat Baloch was moving towards the assigned position along with 90 of his troops. The troops were moving carefully amidst reports of Indian incursions. All of a sudden there was a loud burst of a machine gun coming from a military post of the Pakistan Rangers. The Major issued orders to move towards the post and on the way, he met a Rangers troop who broke the news of Indian assault and the death of many from his unit including the Major. The Ranger was going to inform the higher command but their telephone was damaged.

Major order the troops to entrench themselves near the Ichhogil Canal. They heard the noises of Indian infantry and Tank regiments. Through outnumbered, the Pakistanis were determined to put up a resistance.

The Major climbed to a position from where he could observe the Indians, while waiting for the indian troops to come closer, an Indian sniper shot the Major injuring his left arm.

Major requested artillery support but the Battalion headquarters was hesitant over fears of Friendly Fire.

The Major told the coordinates to his CO Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim and requested artillery fire.

Major directed the artillery precisely at the indian troops inflicting heavy casualties as they had no idea about Pakistani presence. Then the Pakistani Anti tank crews destroyed two indian tanks followed by a rigorous infantry assault. The Indians had no choice but to retreat.

Pakistani troops were able to establish a definite frontline halting the Indian offensive. On September 7, Major and his comrades were ordered to come back and partake in the Battle of Barki while Major Aziz Bhatti was dispatched to the BRB front.

Major was taken to the GOC Major General Sarfraz Khan and asked about the casualties to which he responded with 2 killed and few wounded.

General was surprised and not believing, so he asked the major to rest, to which major responded by politely replying "Sir you can count my men".

Major's actions stalled the front for 17 days till the ceasefire agreement was reached. For his act of valor, he was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat.

Ashdod Naval Base
he:בסיס אשדוד

Ashdod Naval Base also known as Southern Arena of the Israeli Navy is a naval base located in the port city of Ashdod near the Port of Ashdod and plays an important role in the surveillance and blockade of Gaza strip as well as protecting the Port of Ashdod.

Establishment
The construction of the permanent camp in the south of the port began in 1965. A temporary base was established in the port within a day. Lt. Col. Yekutiel Netz was appointed as the commander of the base.

Six Day War
Amphibious cruiser ships in preparation for the landing operation at El Arish beach were stationed there. During the Six Day War and after it, ships from the 914th Torpedo Squadron were attached to floats and received fuel and supplies from the base.

War of Attrition
During the War of Attrition, the Israeli warships engaged with an Egyptian destroyer sinking the destroyer in about 25 minutes, this incident came to be known as Battle of Romani. The Israeli warships were directed from this base.

Inauguration
The inauguration of the permanent camp of the Navy base in Ashdod was held on August 12, 1968. The commander of the navy stated "the new base of the navy in Ashdod is a key to maintaining the ongoing security and sovereignty of Israel along the southern coasts from North Sinai to the entrances of Port Said".

Yom Kippur War
The Battle of Baltim was fought between the Israeli Navy and the Egyptian Navy on 8–9 October, 1973, during the Yom Kippur War between Baltim and Damietta. The Israeli warships that participated in the battle were stationed and co-ordinated from this base.

Relocation attempts
In the early 1980s, Defense Minister Ariel Sharon wanted to bring the Navy closer to Gaza to save sailing time by moving the base to the city of Ashkelon. The mayor of Ashdod, Zvi Zilkar, strongly opposed this, partly and the plan was ultimately cancelled.

Aftermath of the First Intifada
After the First Intifada and the creation of a Palestinian Authority in Gaza strip, five patrols boats were organised for regular patrols which number grew to be seven patrol boats.

Disengagement from Gaza
During the Israeli disengagement from Gaza, the base served as a major evacuation and transport hub for the evacuation of Israel Defense Forces personnel from Gaza strip.

2006 Gaza–Israel conflict
During the Operation Summer Rains on June 26, the Israeli Navy imposed a naval closure of the Gaza Strip, to prevent Shalit being smuggled out by sea. The navy increased patrols of naval vessels along the Gaza coastline, and prepared for an attempt to smuggle Shalit out by boat, sending instructions to captains. Palestinian fast boats were banned from operating in the area, and only small Palestinian fishing boats were allowed on the sea. These patrols were organised from this base.

Blockade of the Gaza Strip
The Blockade of the Gaza Strip starting in 2007 was organised from this base.

Operation Cast Lead
During the Gaza War (2008–2009) the Israeli Navy attacked Hamas' rocket launchers and outposts, command and control centers, a Hamas patrol boat, and the office of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, using the Typhoon Weapon System and Surface to surface missiles. The navy coordinated with other Israeli forces and used powerful shipboard sensors to acquire and shell targets on land. Records of the attacks published by the navy indicate that for the first time vessels were equipped with Spike ER electro-optically guided anti-armor missiles. Videos of an attack showed precision hits from a Typhoon stabilizing gun despite a rolling sea. Versions of the Spike were also used by ground units and possibly by helicopters or unmanned aerial vehicles. Shayetet 13 naval commandos were also deployed to attack targets on land, and reportedly attacked an Iranian ship loaded with arms for Hamas, which was docking in Sudan. On 28 December, Naval vessels shelled the Port of Gaza.

On 29 December, the Free Gaza Movement relief boat Dignity carrying volunteer doctors with 3.5 tons of medical supplies, human rights activists (Among them Caoimhe Butterly and former US Representative Cynthia McKinney), and a CNN reporter was involved in an altercation with Israeli patrol boats. The captain of the Free Gaza vessel said that their vessel had been rammed intentionally and that there had been no warning before it had been rammed. An Israeli spokesman disputed this, and said the collision was caused by the Dignity attempting to outmaneuver the patrol boats after disobeying Israeli orders to turn back.

On 4 January the Israeli Navy extended its blockade of the Gaza Strip to 20 nautical miles.

Naval squadrons during the Operation Warm Winter were also coordinated from here.

Throughout the war, the Israeli Navy employed Sa'ar 4.5 class missile boats of the Flotilla in addition to Super Dvora Mk III class patrol boats which were coordinated from this base.

May 2010 Gaza flotilla raid
On 31 May 2010, the Israeli Navy seized an aid convoy of six ships known as the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla". aiming to break through the blockade, carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials. The flotilla had declined an Israeli request to change course to the Ashdod base, where the Israeli government had said it would inspect the aid and deliver (or let humanitarian organizations deliver) Israeli-approved items to Gaza.

Israeli Shayetet 13 naval commandos boarded the ships from speedboats and helicopters launched from three missile ships, while the flotilla was still in international waters. On the MV Mavi Marmara, the main ship of the convoy, passengers attacked and managed to capture three soldiers. Israeli soldiers responded with rubber bullets and live ammunition from soldiers in helicopters and on the ship. Several of the activists were shot in the head by Israeli forces, some from behind and at close range. Israel was accused of using disproportionate force. On other ships, soldiers were met with passive resistance which was easily suppressed with non-lethal techniques. Nine passengers were killed and dozens wounded. Nine soldiers were also injured, two of them seriously. All of the ships were seized and towed to Ashdod, while passengers were imprisoned in Israel and then deported to their home countries. The MV Rachel Corrie, a seventh ship that had been delayed, set sail from Malta on the same day of the flotilla's interception. Israeli naval vessels shadowed the Rachel Corrie, and after it ignored three warnings, Israeli commandos boarded the ship from speedboats, arrested the crew, and forced it to sail to Ashdod.

Freedom Flotilla II
Following the Gaza flotilla raid, a coalition of 22 NGOs assembled in July 2011 a flotilla of 10 vessels and 1,000 activists to breach the blockade.

The vessels docked in Greece in preparation for the journey to Gaza. However, the Greek government announced that it would not allow the vessels to leave for Gaza, and the Hellenic Coast Guard stopped three vessels attempting to evade the travel ban and leave port. On 7 July, most activists left for home, leaving only a few dozen to continue the initiative. On 16 July, the French yacht Dignite Al Karama was allowed to leave port after informing Greek authorities that its destination was Alexandria, Egypt. Instead, the yacht headed directly for Gaza. The Israeli Navy stopped the Dignite Al Karama about 65 kilometers off Gaza. After the boat was warned and refused to turn back, it was surrounded by three Israeli naval vessels and boarded by Shayetet 13 commandos, who took it over. The boat was then taken to Ashdod base. Ultimately, the Freedom Flotilla sailing did not take place.

Third Gaza Flotilla
On 4 November 2011, the Israeli Navy intercepted two vessels heading towards Gaza in a private initiative to break the blockade. Shayetet 13 commandos boarded the vessels from speedboats and took them over with no resistance. The vessels were then taken to Ashdod base.

Operation Iron Law
During the Victoria Affair, the ship Victoria was seized about 200 nautical miles from the Israeli coast, while on its way from Turkey to El-Arish port in Egypt (other sources give the destination as Alexandria, Egypt). According to the IDF, the ship picked up the cargo in the Port of Latakia in Syria and sailed to Mersin, Turkey. The ship was intercepted by Israeli Navy missile ships, which radioed the captain and questioned him about his point of origin and planned destination, then informed him that his ship was suspected of carrying illegal cargo, and requested permission to board for an inspection. The captain agreed, and ordered the vessel stopped. Several minutes later, speedboats carrying commandos from Israel's elite naval unit, Shayetet 13, pulled alongside the ship. A ladder was dropped for them to climb aboard. The commandos boarded with their weapons at the ready out of concern that there could be Iranian or Hamas operatives on board. The commandos ordered the crew to assemble on the bridge, and then began inspecting the cargo. The IDF said the ship's crew was unaware it was carrying concealed weapons. The ship was redirected to the Ashdod base for further inspection. After the contraband was unloaded, Israel announced it would release the Victoria and allowed it to continue its journey to the Egyptian port of Alexandria.

Operation Protective Edge
During the 2014 Gaza War, Shayetet 3 off-shore fleet fired 3,494 naval shells, into the Gaza Strip which was coordinated from this base.

Israel-Hamas war
During the Israel Hamas war, an estimated 35 fighters of Hamas' Nukhba unit were observed crossing into Israeli waters from the Gaza fishing zone during the Zikim attack. Col. Eitan Paz, commander of the Ashdod naval base, having been forewarned of the invasion by Gaza Division commander Avi Rosenfeld earlier in the morning, immediately ordered the forces under his command to defend the Israeli maritime border and prevent raids on the coast.

Israeli sources stated that three of the boats were destroyed by patrol boats of the Israeli Navy's 916th Patrol Squadron from Ashdod naval base before they reached the shore, and sailors of the Snapir unit, the Israeli Navy's protection and harbor security unit, subsequently moved in on Defender-class boats and killed the survivors as well as Hamas divers they discovered with gunfire and depth charges. However, the remaining boat soon made it to Zikim beach.

916th Patrol Squadron


Patrol Squadron 916 is based in Ashdod base and its role is to provide mutual security - to continuously protect the country's maritime borders.Thw squadron operates Super Dvora Mk II-class patrol boats, Shaldag-class patrol boats and Unmanned surface vehicles.

The ships of the voyage are divided between four cruises, the Bezeq cruise, the Kasif cruise , the Trigon cruise , and the Shark cruise. Each cruise is commanded by naval officers with the rank of captain/major, a qualified vessel commander.

It has a subunit called the 'Snapir unit' with the task of ensuring the security of the base.

References & Sources

 * Batia Shem-El, בסיס חיל הים באשדוד, 'Between Waves' October 1975, p. 22.
 * Shay Bandman, "'Time goes by fast here,'" on the control posts Erez and Tel Ridan, "Between Waves" July 1984, pp. 41-43.
 * "'Ashdod 18 years'" - the story of the Ashdod base, between the waves, April 1986.
 * Annie El Roei, Raviv Hadar and David Bar-בסיס לנוכח האויב - הקמת בסיס אשדוד, "Marine Systems" 86-85, July 1967, pp. 24-25.
 * Uri Porat, בסיס אשדוד, 'Marine Systems' 104, July 1971, pp. 32–33.
 * P. courage, על אנשים, ספינות ומלח – בסיס עין גדי, 'Marine Systems' 107–108, March 1972, p. 36.
 * Orly Azoulai, חיל הים באגם המר, 'Between Waves' December 1973, p. 8.
 * Orly Azoulai, על אנשים ספינות ומלח, 'Between Waves' April 1975, p. 18.
 * Shlomo Man, סימן חיים בים המוות - בסיס עין גדי, 'Between Waves' March 159, 1983, p. 22.
 * Shay Bandman, הזמן עובר פה מהר - יומיים בתחנות המכם הדרומיות, 'Between Waves' 162 July 1984 p. 41.
 * Shlomo Man, מוסף מיוחד - ח"י לאשדוד, 'Between Waves' 167 April 1986 p. 25.
 * Ruthie Rodner, נחה עליהם הרוח וגרמה להן להתקשר למצוף באשדוד, ' Galim. 170-171 June 1987, p. 23.
 * Ruthie Rodner and Sigal Buchris, מ' על המים - מ' שנים לחיל הים - עצרת יום חיל הים תשמ"ח בקיסריה וגם יום החיל באשדוד, "Between Waves" 176 October 1988 pp. 1 and 4
 * Sigal Buchris, ימי קרב בסיס אשדוד, 'Between Waves' 177 April 1989 p. 11.
 * Sigal Buchris, בסיס אשדוד, 'Between Waves' 180 April 1990 p. 6.
 * Ido Laur, הגבול הכי חם של ישראל, "Between Waves", 10, July 2006, p. 44.
 * Nir Kosti, מח"ט הים מפקד בסיס אשדוד ירון בעופרת יצוקה, "Between Waves", May 2009, p. 42
 * Tal Hefer and Rose Barel, חדשות חיל ים: מועדון חיילים חדש בבסיס אשדוד, Contributed by the Goldberg family of Toronto "Between Waves", December 2009, p. 12
 * Raz Sharga, Ari Shabiv, Nateel Bandel and Rose Barel, "'Quiet takeover of the "provocation flotilla" and also "'Trends of dealing with maritime terrorism' and also "'Talking about the flotilla'", "Bin Galim", October 2010, pp. 36, 37 and 40
 * Dario Nitzan יחידת הברטרמים באשדוד ובים המלח July 15, 2015 at the website of the Maritime Heritage Conservancy
 * Annie Elroy, מבצע צוק איתן: עזה באחריותנו 24/7, וגם העיניים היפות של הגזרה, "Between Waves", October 2014, p. 33
 * Dawn as a window, בסיס חיל הים אירח תלמידי ישיבות ההסדר Article in Ashdodent December 27, 2016

Shayetet 7
he:שייטת הצוללות

Shayetet 7 or Submarine Flotilla is the only submarine flotilla of the Israeli Navy. It is based in Haifa naval base and operates Dolphin-class submarines. It was established in 1959.

Nature of Service
The service in the submarine fleet is difficult, challenging and often far from the country's borders, so the submarine crews have to be very cohesive. Another derivative of the great distance from the country's borders is that the submarine crew is operationally competent and ready for war at any time.

Every operational mission of the submarine has a military doctor and a medic on board who have undergone special training to treat the wounded, including dealing with a multi-casualty incidents, deep under the surface of the water. In the absence of an emergency, the doctor who joins any operational mission also carries an intelligence role for everything, in which he is engaged throughout the mission as one of the combatants.

Establishment
Two used S model submarines were purchased from the Royal Navy. These submarines were built in World War II, and refurbished in England for the Israeli Navy. An Israeli team that went through a training period in France and United kingdom was the crew for the first submarine and went through training under British supervision. The Flotilla was established on December 16, 1959, when INS Tanin (C-71) entered the port of Haifa. The second submarine, INS Rahav (C-73), arrived at the shores of Israel in July 1960.

Six Day War
During the Six Day War, the Flotilla participated in the Operation Alexandria in which INS Tanin (C-71) led six fighters from Shayetet 13 into action in the port of Alexandria. While waiting to collect the divers, the submarine was attacked by an Egyptian vessel and damaged. The next day she returned to the meeting place to collect but the divers had already been captured by the Egyptians. Multiple civilian ships were destroyed in this operation.

Arrival of T Submarines
In 1965, Israel purchased 3 T submarines from the British Navy - Leviathan, Decker , and Dolphin. The T submarines were larger and more sophisticated than the S submarines, but they were also outdated submarines from the Second World War period that had undergone a process of Upgrade and renovation. The submarines arrived after the Six Day War.

Sinking of INS Dakkar
A submarine of the Flotilla INS Dakkar sunk on January 25, 1968, on its way from Britain to Israel and all 69 members of its crew perished. The remains of the submarine and the place where it sank were only discovered in 1999.

Yom Kippur War
The Flotilla did not take part in the Yom Kippur War due to maintainence issues.

Introduction of Gal submarines
Gal-class submarine entered the service in the Flotilla in the late 1970s, these small but agile and sophisticated submarines were continuously upgraded with newer systems to maintain their technological edge. They were somewhat unusual in that all boats of the class were at equipped with six-tube retractable Blowpipe surface-to-air missile launchers controlled from inside the boat, though these were later removed.

1982 Lebanon War
The Flotilla participated in the 1982 Lebanon War and carried out Operation Dreyfus which was a military operation to locate and identify enemy ships using submarines. In June 1982, during the operation, a Navy submarine hit a civilian ship carrying refugees , due to the suspicion that they were terrorists. 25 people were killed in the incident.

Introduction of Dolphin Submarines
Starting from 1999, the Dolphin-class submarines have continued to serve the Israeli Navy as a part of the Flotilla and are expected to continue their service till 2030.

Sudan airstrikes
In November-December 2011 two Israeli air raids against Gaza-bound weapon smugglers in Sudan were accompanied by Israeli submarine activity off the Sudanese coast.

Syrian Civil War
On July 5 2013, during the Syrian Civil War Israeli missile strike against the Syrian port of Latakia, was made in coordination with the United States, and long range missiles were launched from a Dolphin-class submarine. The attack targeted newly unloaded Russian-made Yakhont long range high performance anti-ship missiles and associated radars.

Sources & References

 * אתר שייטת הצוללות An unofficial website of the history of submarines in Israel.
 * אגף שייטת הצוללות On the unit website - the IDF units website.
 * Shamuel Tankos, עם רכישת הצוללות, "Marine Systems" 39-N, March 1959, pp. 4-5.
 * Shmuel Tankos, פקודת יום לבוא אחי תנין, תפילת הדרך לצוות הצוללת, מעמקי התנין, "Marine Systems" MD, December 1959 p. 3.
 * Zev Schiff, מדוע כדאי לשרת בצוללת, "Marine Systems" NA, January 1961, p. 10.
 * Yosef Dror, דבר מפקד שייטת הצוללות, "Marine Systems" n.d., July 1961, p. 3.
 * Uri Dan, עם תנין ורהב במצולות, "Marine Systems" n.d., July 1961, p. 4.
 * Yohai ben Nun, בהנפת נס שירות פעיל על אח"י תנין, 'Marine Systems' 61, September 1962, p. 2.
 * Yosef Dror, מפקד השייטת לאנשיו, 'Marine Systems' 61, September 1962 p. 2.
 * Yosef Dror, מפקד צוללת לאנשיו, 'Marine Systems' 63, March 1963 p. 2.
 * Eli Shaf הצוללות שבדרך, 'Marine Systems' 76, February 1966, p. 16
 * That. Yosef, הצוללות - חלום שנתגשם. 'Marine Systems' 111 March 1973, p. 12.
 * Shlomo Man, על ההרגשה האישית והחיים בצוללת המפליגה מתחת לפני המים, 'Between Waves' January 1981 p. 31.
 * Remy Antian, בצוללת כאן הטבח הוא המפקד, 'Between Waves' June 1981 p. 10.
 * Shlomo Man, הדור אשר לא ידע את דקר, 'Between Waves' March 159, 1983, p. 6.
 * Aryeh Kiesel, זה לא לאנשים נורמלים צוללת, 'Between Waves' 162 July 1984 p. 16.
 * Naama Toren, רק גמרו את הקורס נקלטים בשייטת הצוללות, 'Between Waves' 166 November 1985, p. 12.
 * מנהגים ומסורת בשייטת הצוללות, "Between Waves" 181 August 1990, p. 51.
 * Dror Gat, שייטת 7 בעידן החדש, "Between Waves", May 2009, p. 4.
 * Raz Sharga, יובל להגעת אח"י תנין לישראל, "Between Waves", December 2009, p. 13
 * Jordan Gore, שייטת הצוללות חוגגת 55 שנה ומתכוננת לאח"י תנין, 'Between Waves' May 2014, p. 28.
 * Brith Almog, החלפת פיקוד בשייטת הצוללות - מדורון לאסף באוגוסט 2016 וגם נס שירות פעיל לאח"י רהב, "Between Waves", October 2016, p. 14.
 * Gadi Yampel and Avital Rahavit, חשיפה תת-מימית - צוללות בחופי לבנון, "Between Waves", October 2016, p. 43.
 * Oral Elhadad and Brit Almog טקס פרס הרמטכ"ל לשנת 2016 וגם סונאר חדש בצוללות חיל הים, "Between Waves", May 2017, pp. 9-10.
 * Hi. Sutton, היסטוריה של הצוללות הישראליות On the Historian website May 20, 2017.
 * שייטת הצוללות Lecture at Alfredo Forum September 2018.
 * Adir Yizrif, טקס החלפת פיקוד שייטת הצוללות, the 'Hai Fe' website, July 19, 2019.
 * Yitzhak Noy, על שייטת הצוללת בתוכנית שבת עולמית, Broadcast interviews with Hadar Kimchi, Shaul Horev and David Rotenberg, April 17, 2021.
 * Amnon Gonen and others, הדבורים של שייטת הצוללות, October 2021
 * שייטת 7 - סיפורו של צי הצוללות בחיל הים, in the framework of a global discussion with Yitzhak Noy, Israel Broadcasting Corporation, April 17, 2021
 * Dan Arkin, הצוללת אח"י דרקון צולמה במספנה בקיל שבגרמניה, אמורה להגיע לחיל הים עוד השנה, Israel Defense, August 6, 2023.
 * Ronit Zilberstein, מים שקטים חודרים עמוק: הצטרפנו למסע המסכם של חניכי שייטת 7, Israel today, August 17, 2023.
 * תיעוד בלעדי: לוחמי הצוללות בפעילות מבצעית במרחב הצפון, October 14, 2023.

12th Operational Brigade
12th Operational Brigade (Ukraine)

12th brigade of operational assignment (12 BrOP — military unit 3057) was military formation of the National Guard of Ukraine. It was part of the Eastern operational territorial association. Location — Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast.

Establishment
On January 18, 1990, the 129th special motorized militia battalion of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR (military unit 5509) was formed in Mariupol.

On January 2, 1992, on the basis of the 129th special motorized police battalion, the 10th separate battalion of the NGU (military unit 1041) was formed, which was part of the 4th Northern Division. In 1995, the battalion was transferred to the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and renamed the 17th separate special motorized battalion (military unit 3057).

Battle of Mariupol
In April 2014, the situation in the city of Mariupol became significantly complicated. Supporters of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic held systematic unauthorized rallies with attempts to seize state authorities, including the seizure of the Mariupol City Hall building. In the period from April 10 to 14, 2014, supporters of the DPR led by the so-called "people's mayor" Denis Kuzmenko and representatives of the force block of their security service repeatedly arrived at the checkpoint of military unit 3057 in order to persuade the command to submit to the leadership of the DPR and transfer weapons for their use. But after receiving a refusal, saboteurs blocked the checkpoint with wheels, sandbags and other objects. By the next morning, the remains of the barricade were removed with the assistance of the police. On April 16, 2014, servicemen of the 17th separate battalion under the command of Serhiy Sovinskyi repelled an attempt to capture the HQ of the military unit. At 20:00, a group of female protestors started an unauthorized rally at the gate of the unit. In this way, they distracted the attention of military personnel. The attack on the military unit began at 20:30. Protesters started throwing Molotov cocktails and tearing down gates. They demanded that the personnel hand over their weapons. Realizing that this would not bring success, they began to request reinforcements over the radio. The minibuses arrived in twenty minutes. Armed men in uniforms and balaclavas disembarked from them. A total of about 200 people started shooting with firearms in the direction of the unit. The shelling was carried out along the entire perimeter from nearby houses. The servicemen of the 17th battalion opened fire first in the air, and then at the targets. The personnel of the unit held the defense until midnight. At 24:00, all units of the Mariupol police arrived to help, and the cleaning of the adjacent part of the territory began. At least 19 attackers were wounded, 3 of them fatally.

Restructuring
In December 2014, unit 3057 was reformed into the 18th operational regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, during the next four months, its ranks were replenished with servicemen from the "Azov" and "Donbas" special forces battalions.

Thus, in 2015, the regiment included:


 * A patrol battalion
 * Emblem of the Donbas Battalion.svg Donbas Battalion
 * Emblem of the Azov Battalion.svg Azov Battalion
 * A Special patrol company
 * A Rifle company (reserve)

On September 9, 2016, the "Donbas" battalion was transferred to the 15th regiment, which was stationed in the city of Sloviansk.

In October 2019, the regiment was reorganised as 12th separate operational brigade.

Siege of Mariupol
The brigade took part in the Siege of Mariupol. After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the brigade took up the defense in the city of Mariupol. On 16 April 2022, Russian forces captured the base of the unit, in western Mariupol. Together with other units, the brigade defended the city until May 2022, until the final blockade of the Ukrainian troops at the Azovstal plant. On May 3, the brigade commanders reported on the catastrophic situation at the plant and called on the military-political leadership of Ukraine and the International community to evacuate all troops from the territory of "Azovstal".

Reformation into Azov Brigade
During the Siege of Mariupol, most of the troops of the Azov Regiment were captured, the remaining troops and the 12th Brigade were then reorganised into the 12th Special Purpose "Azov" Brigade.

Honours
On March 24, 2018, by decree of the President of Ukraine, with the 18th operational regiment was awarded the honorary title "name of Dmytro Vyshnevetsky" after Dmytro Vyshnevetsky.

On October 27, 2022, the unit received the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery" by the decree of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

Commanders

 * Colonel Serhii Yevhenovich Sovinskyi (2014)
 * Colonel Oleksandr Ivanovych Kryachko (2014-2021)
 * Colonel Denis Oleksiyovych Shlega (2021—2022).

Eilat Naval Base
he:בסיס אילת

Eilat Naval Base is a major Israeli naval base situated in the Israeli coastal city of Eilat. It was established in 1949 and serves to be the sole Israeli Navy Base on the coast of Red Sea.

Roles
The main task of the base in Eilat is to maintain the security and peace of Eilat. The main activity in the city of Eilat is based on recreation and tourism, which include, among other things, about two hundred vessels moving in a relatively small maritime region.

In the past this area was a meeting area between four conflicting countries: Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. However, today all the 4 countries are at peace.

At the base operates the Patrol Squadron 915, which operates  the Dvora-class fast patrol boats and Super Dvora Mk III-class patrol boats.

Establishment
The base was established in 1949 after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war to serve as a naval base at the point of junction with three hostile states.

Six Day War
During the Six Day War, the base played a vital role in the capture and occupation of Sharm El Sheikh.On 7 June, Israel began its attack on Sharm el-Sheikh. The Israeli Navy started the operation with a probe of Egyptian naval defences. An aerial reconnaissance flight found that the area was less defended than originally thought. At about 4:30 am, three Israeli missile boats opened fire on Egyptian shore batteries, while paratroopers and commandos boarded helicopters and Nord Noratlas transport planes for an assault on Al-Tur, as Chief of Staff Rabin was convinced it was too risky to land them directly in Sharm el-Sheikh. However, the city had been largely abandoned the day before, and reports from air and naval forces finally convinced Rabin to divert the aircraft to Sharm el-Sheikh. There, the Israelis engaged in a pitched battle with the Egyptians and took the city, killing 20 Egyptian soldiers and taking eight more prisoners. At 12:15 pm, Defense Minister Dayan announced that the Straits of Tiran constituted an international waterway open to all ships without restriction.. The entire operation was carried out from this base.

Ammunition Truck Disaster
On January 24, 1970 at the Eilat base ,a truck loaded with ammunition exploded. As a result of the explosion, 24 people were killed, 17 of them on the spot, and seven died of their wounds in the days after the explosion, and dozens were injured.

Evacuation plans
From the late 1990s, discussions began on the evacuation of the naval base in Eilat, in favor of the establishment of tourist projects and the further development of the Eilat beach strip towards the south. However, the realization of the project did not come to fruition for many years. In 1996, the Ministry of Defense and the Navy Headquarters decided to close the Navy shipyard in Eilat. In the area of the shipyard, planning has begun for the establishment of tourist projects. But in May 1997, the Minister of Defense, Yitzhak Mordechai, decided not to close the base.

At the end of 2002, a plan was drafted according to which the Ports Authority will manage a project that includes the expansion of the Eilat port and the relocation of the Eilat base into it. In March 2003, the IDF, the Ports Authority and the Eilat Municipality agreed that the Navy base would be moved to Eilat Port and the area would be available for development. But the project did not go ahead, due to a dispute over the financing of the plan.

Operation Full Disclosure
Operation Full Disclosure was a military operation carried out by the Israel Defense Forces on March 5, 2014, in the Red Sea. After days of surveillance far out to sea, Israeli Navy Shayetet 13 commandos seized the Iranian-owned and Panamanian-registered merchant vessel Klos C that had set sail from Iran, heading for Port Sudan via Iraq. On board, the commandos found long-range missiles suspected to be destined for the Gaza Strip concealed in containers full of Iranian bags marked as Portland cement. The operation was carried out from this base.

Red Sea crisis
The Red Sea crisis began on 17 October 2023. On 27 October 2023 two loitering munitions were fired in a northerly direction from the southern Red Sea. According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials, their target was Israel, but they did not cross the border from Egypt. Of the two drones, one fell short and hit a building adjacent to a hospital in Taba, Egypt, injuring six; the other was shot down near an electricity plant close to the town of Nuweiba, Egypt. A Houthi official later made a one-word post on Twitter after the drone crashed in Taba, mentioning Eilat.

On 31 October an alert was triggered in Eilat, Eilot kibbutz and the Shahorit industrial park area regarding the penetration of hostile aircraft from the Red Sea. The aircraft was successfully intercepted over the Red Sea. The Arrow system intercepted a ballistic missile and the Air Force intercepted several cruise missiles fired from the Red Sea toward Eilat. The Houthis took responsibility for the launches.

On 1 November at 00:45 the IDF intercepted an air threat fired from Yemen and identified south of Eilat.

On 9 November, the Houthis fired a missile toward the city of Eilat.

On 14 November the Houthis fired numerous missiles, one of which was aimed toward the city of Eilat. The missile was intercepted by an Arrow missile according to Israeli officials.

On 22 November, the Houthis fired a cruise missile aimed toward the city of Eilat. Israeli officials said the missile was successfully intercepted.

On 6 December 2023, the Houthi movement launched several ballistic missiles at Israeli military posts in Eilat including this base.

By 21 December 2023, the Port of Eilat, which gives Israel via the Red Sea its only easy shipping access to Asia without the need to transit the Suez Canal, had seen an 85% drop in activity due to the Houthi action.

On 2 February, the Houthis claimed that they had fired a ballistic missile towards Eilat. The IDF also said that the Arrow defense system intercepted a missile over the Red Sea.

On 18 March, Yemeni Houthis launched a cruise missile that successfully struck Israel, reportedly hitting an open area north of Eilat. Israel stated there was no damage or injuries caused.

On 21 March 2024, IDF also announced on the same day that it intercepted a "suspicious aerial target" approaching Israeli territory over the Red Sea.

On 9 April, the IDF used a seaborne missile from the INS Magen to shoot down a UAV for the first time. The UAV, which came from the Red Sea, breached Israeli airspace and crossed into the area of the Gulf of Aqaba, setting off sirens in Eilat.

On 3 June, the IDF's Arrow defense system intercepted a surface-to-air missile aimed at Eilat from the direction of the Red Sea.

IRI attacks
On 3 November 2023 Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Eilat.

On 12 November 2023 Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Eilat.

On 31 December 2023 Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed drone attack on Eilat.

On 28 January 2024 Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed a drone attack on Eilat.

On 1 April 2024, Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Eilat. The drone struck this base causing damage to a building and no casualties.

Multiple strikes were reported on 9 April 2024 ,20 April 2024 ,7 May 2024 ,20 May 2024 23 May 2024 and 27 May 2024

915th Patrol Squadron
The squadron is divided into two units, the vessel fighters, who make up the bulk of the force, and the fin fighters.

Vessel fighters
Objectives of vessel fighters are
 * Constant patrols in the seas of Israel.
 * Identification of watercraft entering Israeli waters.
 * Preventing smuggling through the sea
 * Protecting national assets, such as drilling rigs.
 * Various operations carried out alone, or with other units in and outside of the navy.

Fin fighters
The objective of Fin fighters is the security of the base.

Sources & References

 * Zeev Fried, חיל הים כובש את מפרץ אילת, "Marine Systems" 11, December 1956, p. 54.
 * Orly Azoulai, בסיס אילת פנים רבות לו, 'Marine Systems' 111, March 1973, p. 30.
 * Batia Shem-El,	אמנים בבסיס אילת''',	'Between Waves', April 1974 p. 32.
 * Giorgio concocted,	על השקט בבריכה''',	'Between Waves' 164 February 1985, p. 21.
 * Aryeh Tal,	ספינות נאטו בסיס אילת''', "Between Waves", 8, May 2005 p. 10.
 * sapphire paid,	ים סוף למען הסביבה''',	"Between Waves", May 2017, p. 16.

Sheitat 3
he:שייטת ספינות הטילים

The Missile Ship Fleet, or as it's officially called Shayetet 3, is the main surface combat force of the Israeli Navy. The fleet was established in 1967 and includes, 15 missile ships of the Saar 4.5 , Saar 5 and Saar 6 models. In addition, the Ahi Bat Yam auxiliary ship is under its command. It is the only fleet of Israeli Navy operating Surface vessels (as Israeli Navy only uses submarines and missile ships)

Roles
The cruise missions of the missile ships are derived from the mission of the Israeli Navy: "to give a safe coast and open navigation to Israel". In times of war, the Navy's duties are naval warfare against the enemy's fleets, assistance to the ground forces, shelling of installations and traffic routes on the enemy's coast, securing the shipping lanes to Israel and protecting the country's beaches.

Except in times of war, the fleet is assigned various tasks: operations to gather intelligence, regular security patrols against hostile sabotage activity and preventing the supply of weapons to terrorist elements and providing backup to ground forces in operational operations. In the 2nd decade of the 21st century, with the establishment of the drilling arrays and gas production, drilling: Tamar , Leviathan and Tanin in the Mediterranean Sea , the navy's missions were expanded and they also include security of the state's assets at sea.

Organisation
The fleet is divided into four combat squadrons.
 * Squadron 31 - Squadron of Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boat : INS Tarshish, INS Herev and INS Sufa , INS Hetz.
 * Squadron 32 - Another squadron of Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boat: INS Kidon and INS Yaffo, Achi Keshet , INS Romach and the auxiliary ship INS Bat Yam 2 , which is used for underwater detection.
 * Squadron 33 - Corvette squadron of the Sa'ar 5-class corvette : INS Lahav, INS Hanit and INS Eilat.
 * Squadron 36 - Corvette squadron of the Sa'ar 6-class corvette : INS Magen, INS Oz , INS Atzmaut and INS Nitzachon.
 * Extra Auxiliary ship - An Auxiliary ship INS Bat Galim 3, was sold to the government company Israel Seas and Lakes Research in 2015 , but the Navy retains the right to recruit for wartime service.

Command Structure
The organization of the ship is done in four departments. Each department is headed by a naval officer in the rank of captain who reports to the ship's commander. The departments are:


 * GNK department - activates the detection and communication devices and creates a situational picture for the commander.
 * Weapons department - operates and maintains the missile cannons.
 * Electronics department - maintains the detection and communication devices and operates the electronic warfare means.
 * Machine department - operates and maintains the engines and the electrical and hydraulic systems.
 * Anti-submarine warfare - ships designed for anti-submarine warfare do not have a separate department. The means of detection are operated by the GNAK department and the means of armament are operated and maintained by the weapons department.

Establishment
On October 1, 1966, the first command structure of the fleet was established: Squadron 311. In the order of establishment, its mission was defined:
 * Fighting with missiles and cannons.
 * Anti- submarine warfare

Cherbourg Project
The Cherbourg Project (or Boats of Cherbourg) was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French port of Cherbourg (Cherbourg-Octeville since 2000, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin since 2016). The boats had been paid for by the Israeli government but had not been delivered due to the French arms embargo in 1969. The whole operation was planned by the Israeli Navy, and was codenamed Operation Noa, after the daughter of Captain Binyamin "Bini" Telem.

The boats taken from Cherbourg were still unarmed platforms on their arrival in Israel. They were brought into the navy and armed with Gabriel missiles and ECM and EW systems produced by MABAT and RAFAEL. Their commissioning into the Israeli Navy was overseen by Commodore Yehoshua Lahav Schneidemesser, a Haganah member who had volunteered with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and who was at the time the division head of Equipment and Platforms.

The flotilla's working up was overseen by Captain Hadar Kimhi, who was later promoted to commodore commanding the Naval base of Haifa. New concepts of sea missile warfare were developed by the navy and new ECM/EW techniques were developed with the leadership of Captain Herut Zemach who was awarded the Israel Defense Prize for his efforts, creating a new generation of missile boats. Later, new Israeli Sa'ar boats were developed and built in Haifa Shipyards under the leadership of Haim Schachal, the chief engineer of the Israel Shipyards.

Two of the boats were launched a few months before the Yom Kippur War, INS Reshef (Flash) and INS Keshet (Bow), Sa'ar 4 class missile boats. For his leadership, Schachal was awarded the Israel Defense Prize.

Seizure of militant vessels
The fleet's ships assisted in security missions. In the course of 1970s decade, ships of the Flotilla captured four militant boats en route to Israel. The first capture of a boat happened on July 27, 1970. A "Hatz" Saar 3 model captured a boat with three militants on their way to the Gaza Strip, west of Rosh Carmel.

Operation Hood 20
Palestinian Liberation Organisation militants in Lebanon launched maritime rifs into Israel. On the night of January 14/15, 1971, paratroopers and the 13th Fleet were deployed for the first time by sea in Operation Hood 20, under the command of Haim Nadal - commander of the invading force, and Hadar Kimchi - commander of the naval force. The targets were found in Sarafand and Bas-Sheikh, south of Sidon on the coast of Lebanon. Six ships of the fleet, one "Hanit" under the command of Ephraim Ashed, four ships under the command of Shabtai. Levi - Achi "Hatz" under the command of Avraham ben Shoshan, Achi "Mishgav" under the command of Gadi ben Ze'ev, Achi "Mazanak" under the command of Avraham Ashur and Achi Haifa (Saar 2) under the command of Eli Rahab carried the force of the paratroopers. After a security guard under the command of Rafi Apel, she carried the 13th Fleet force, which was under the command of Hanina Amishav. The raiding forces were led from the steels to the coast in rubber boats. Two naval sabotage bases and a land training base were attacked and destroyed.

Battle of Latakia
The Battle of Latakia was a small but revolutionary naval action of the Yom Kippur War, fought on 7 October 1973 between Israel and Syria. It was the first naval battle in history to see combat between surface-to-surface missile-equipped missile boats and the use of electronic deception.

Battle of Baltim
The Battle of Baltim was fought between the Israeli Navy and the Egyptian Navy on 8–9 October, 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. It took place off the Nile delta, between Baltim and Damietta. The battle began when six Israeli Sa'ar-class missile boats heading toward Port Said were engaged by four Egyptian Osa-class missile boats coming from Alexandria. It lasted about forty minutes. The Osas fired Styx missiles, missed, and began to withdraw back to Alexandria when the Israelis began to give chase. Two Osas were sunk by Gabriel missiles within a span of ten minutes, and a third was sunk twenty-five minutes later. The fourth made it back to base.

Second Battle of Latakia
The Second Battle of Latakia was a small naval battle of the Yom Kippur War fought on 11 October 1973 between Israel and Syria. The Israeli Navy force consisted of Sa'ar 2-class, Sa'ar 3-class, and Sa'ar 4-class missile boats armed with Gabriel anti-ship missiles while the Syrian Navy force consisted of Soviet-made Komar- and Osa-class missile boats armed with Soviet-manufactured P-15 Termit (NATO reporting name SS-N-2 Styx) anti-ship missiles.

Operation Litani
INS Yaffo (Saar 4), under the command of Lt. Col. Hanina Amishev, took an active part during the 1978 South Lebanon conflict. In general, the ship fired about 1000 76 mm shells.

Battle of Rabbit Island
The Battle of Rabbit Island was the destruction of a militant base on an island north of Tripoli (Lebanon). On June 27-28, 1984, a force that included the INS Reshef (under the command of Major Ami Segev), the submarine INS Rahav, (under the command of Haim Kafir), and a pair of swallows (under the command of the Sheitat 13 Commander Yadidia Yaari ) attacked the naval commando base of militants on the island of Al-Nahal and destroyed militant base and vessels.

Operation Derech Netz
Operation Derech Netz was carried out by four assault ships of the Flotilla under the command of Col. Shimon Meir, carrying a force of submarine fighters from the 13th flotilla under the command of Yedidia Yaari to attack militant ships in the port of Annaba in Algeria.

Destruction of Ateviros
On April 20, 1985, a Panamanian-flagged ship Ateviros carrying militants and speedboats from Algeria was discovered heading for an assault on Kirya in Tel Aviv. After the ship refused to stop and an RPG missile was fired from it,It was sunk. INS Muledat (commanded by Dani Halevi) and INS Mevat (commanded by Capt. Yaron Zahar) also participated in the operation.

Seizure of Castlerdy
The seizure of the 'Castlerdy' yach on August 25, 1985. A small ship with an Australian flag and an American crew that tried to transport a platoon of trained militants from Cyprus to Lebanon. Their mission was to carry out an attack in Kiryat Shmona. A naval force under the command of Lt. Col. Alex Eyal, which included INS Gaula and Unit 881, the 31st squadron and the "Sheaf" naval patrol aircraft, ambushed it on its way. The ship was stopped and the terrorists were transferred for questioning. After an official confiscation process, she was used as a vessel to locate sea mines under the name "Octopus".

Operation Mekset Shifur
Operation Mekset Shifur was the capture of the terrorist ship Angel, the farthest capture from the shores of the country was on the night of August 4, 1988 in the Adriatic Sea. When it became known that the yacht "Angel" carrying a group of Fatah officers was sailing from Yugoslavia to Libya, it was intercepted about 25 miles south of the Gulf of Trento in Italy by four Sa'ar ships - Achi "Jaffa" (Sa'ar 4), Ach "Keshet" (Saar 4.5 Noshav), one "Moldat" (Saar 4), and one "Gaula" (Saar 4.5 Hochit), under the command of the battalion commander Col. Yossi Levy. Four officers from the Fatah naval force were arrested and the yacht was towed to Haifa.

Operation Dust Road
Operation Dust Road In the early 1990s, ships of the navy engaged in patrols to prevent the infiltration of fast armed boats. In the security patrols, the fleet spent over 3000 hours at sea. The activity of the ships and patrol planes over the sea became known to the militants and deterred them from approaching. The attempted attack was carried out on 27–30 May 1990: six armed boats launched at a great distance ran out of fuel before reaching the shore and the attack was averted.

Operation Grapes of Wrath
The flottia took part in the Operation Grapes of Wrath in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah by blockading the ports of Beirut, Sidon and Tyre.

2006 Lebanon War
The Flotilla participated in the Second Lebanon War and fired a total of 2,500 shells. . INS Hanit which was patrolling in Lebanese waters ten nautical miles off the coast of Beirut. It was damaged on 14 July 2006 on the waterline, under the aft superstructure by a missile (likely a Chinese-designed C-802 ) fired by Hezbollah that reportedly set the flight deck on fire and crippled the propulsion systems inside the hull. However, INS Hanit stayed afloat, withdrew and made the rest of the journey back to Ashdod port for repairs under its own power. Four crew members were killed during the attack: Staff Sergeant Tal Amgar, Corporal Shai Atas, Sergeant Yaniv Hershkovitz, and First Sergeant Dov Steinshuss.

Operation Cast Lead
During the Gaza War (2008–2009) the Israeli Navy attacked Hamas' rocket launchers and outposts, command and control centers, a Hamas patrol boat, and the office of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, using the Typhoon Weapon System and Surface to surface missiles. The navy coordinated with other Israeli forces and used powerful shipboard sensors to acquire and shell targets on land. Records of the attacks published by the navy indicate that for the first time vessels were equipped with Spike ER electro-optically guided anti-armor missiles. Videos of an attack showed precision hits from a Typhoon stabilizing gun despite a rolling sea. Versions of the Spike were also used by ground units and possibly by helicopters or unmanned aerial vehicles. Shayetet 13 naval commandos were also deployed to attack targets on land, and reportedly attacked an Iranian ship loaded with arms for Hamas, which was docking in Sudan. On 28 December, Naval vessels shelled the Port of Gaza.

On 29 December, the Free Gaza Movement relief boat Dignity carrying volunteer doctors with 3.5 tons of medical supplies, human rights activists (Among them Caoimhe Butterly and former US Representative Cynthia McKinney), and a CNN reporter was involved in an altercation with Israeli patrol boats. The captain of the Free Gaza vessel said that their vessel had been rammed intentionally and that there had been no warning before it had been rammed. An Israeli spokesman disputed this, and said the collision was caused by the Dignity attempting to outmaneuver the patrol boats after disobeying Israeli orders to turn back.

On 4 January the Israeli Navy extended its blockade of the Gaza Strip to 20 nautical miles.

Throughout the war, the Israeli Navy employed Sa'ar 4.5 class missile boats of the Flotilla in addition to Super Dvora Mk III class patrol boats.

Operation Four Species
Francop Affair, On November 4, 2009, the ship MV Francop was radioed by an Israeli Navy missile boat of the Flotilla, which ordered it to halt and prepare for inspection. Shayetet 13 naval commandos then boarded the ship without resistance. The navy said that the crew was not aware of the purported smuggling and cooperated with the commandos. The commandos broke open the shipping containers and discovered crates of weapons and munitions hidden between sacks of polyethylene stacked along the openings and sides.

Operation Iron Law
The Flotilla participated in the Victoria Affair which was a military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in March 2011 in which the Israeli Navy intercepted the vessel Victoria on the international waters in the Mediterranean, and discovered concealed weapons which, according to the IDF, were destined for Palestinian militant organizations in the Gaza Strip. The vessel was found to be carrying approximately 50 tons of weapons, including C-704 anti-ship missiles, rocket launchers, radar systems, mortar shells and rifle ammunition

Operation Pillars of Defence
The Flotilla participated in the 2012 Gaza War, carrying out bombardments of the Gaza strip.

Operation Full Disclosure
Operation Full Disclosure was an Israeli seizure of an Iranian vessel heading towards Port Sudan via Iraq. The operation was led by Major General Ram Rothberg, commander-in-chief of the Israel Navy, on board Sa'ar 5-class corvette INS Hanit. INS Hetz, a Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boat of the folitta also participated in the Operation.

Operation Protective Edge
During the 2014 Gaza War, the Flotilla off-shore fleet fired 3,494 naval shells, into the Gaza Strip.

Israel-Hamas war
During the Israel Hamas war during the 7 October attacks, the Navy stopped militants who tried to enter Israel by sea during the Zikim attack. The Sa'ar 6 ships of the Flotilla INS Oz and INS Magen, carried out, for the first time, as part of the fighting, sea surface attacks towards the Gaza Strip. As part of these attacks, they destroyed a facility for the production of weapons, an outpost and an observation post of Hamas.

Sources & Further reading

 * Shmuel Yaniv, יום שייטת הסטילים, Between Waves, April 1975, p. 2.
 * Remy Antian, פיליטון - יום בחייו של סטילן, Bin Galim, October 1975 (second booklet), p. 17
 * Slomo Aral, "'Before the Sea'", the story of a sailor, commander and fighter, Ministry of Defense Publishing House, 1998
 * Mike Elder, "'The Enemy and the Sea'", Chapters from the Operations Manual, pp. 170-181, 199-191, 246-235, Ministry of Defense - Publishing House, 1991
 * Avraham Rabinowitz, "'Sherburg Ships'", (translation from English: Aryeh Marmari, editing: Efi Meltzer), Efi Meltzer Publishing Ltd., 2001
 * Yehuda Schiff (editor in charge), Ilan Kafir, Yaakov Erez; The editors of the volume: Hirsh Goodman, Slomo Man, "'The IDF in Hilo, an encyclopedia for the military and security'", the Navy volume, Reviviv Publishing House
 * Slomo Man, "'Target Kiryat Shmona, an exhibition attack was prevented thanks to the Navy,'" Bin Galim, October 1998
 * Col. Ido Shabach, "'Achi Lahav's voyage from the United States to Israel'", pp. 48-51, "Bin Galim" magazine Navy Association, May 2005.
 * Moshe Imber and Gad Ariel, "Sheit 3 - the missile ships in the Navy", Ministry of Defense Publishing House, 2005
 * Digital addition to the book "Sheit 3 - The Missile Ships in the Navy", Sheit 3, 2014
 * Pesach Malovni, "'Evil will arise from the conscience'", The Syrian Army - Its Plots and Wars - A View from Damascus, pp. 465-473, 847-846, Israel Institute for the Study of Wars, 2014
 * General Chaim Nedel, "'The Daring Wins,'" IDF special and combined operations in flight and deception between the two wars (1967-1973), Moden Publishing House - IDF Systems Publishing, 2015
 * Dr. Aviad Rubin and Dr. Ehud Eran, with Dr. Tamir Magal "'Ashore the Seas Tishkhun'", Maritime Strategic Assessment for Israel 2015, Haifa Center for Maritime Strategy Studies, University of Haifa, 2015
 * Liat Katzir "'The future is already here'", assessment of the operational situation of the naval arm, interview with the head of Maspan Haim Brigadier General Dror Friedman, "Bin Galim" magazine of the Navy association, September 2015
 * Amnon Shafi, 12 פרויקטים לקליטת 12 הסטי"לים, Center for Maritime Policy and Strategy Research, Haifa University, 2023
 * Lior Margolin,, 1970
 * Yaakov Nitzan,, 1971
 * , the means of warfare in the exhibition at the Museum of Enlistment and the Navy
 * , February 19, 1973
 * , July 15, 1976
 * , the means of warfare in the exhibition at the Museum of Enlistment and the Navy
 * , February 19, 1973
 * , July 15, 1976

Haifa Naval Training Base
he:בה"ד חיל הים

BHD 600 or Haifa naval training base is the sole naval training base of the Israeli Navy. It is located in the port city of Haifa and is responsible for the training of most of Israeli Navy personnel.

Roles
The base is responsible for the training of all Israeli Navy personnel except Shayetet 13 and YILTAM fighters. All Shayetet 3, Shayetet 7 and regular personnel are trained here in addition to supplementary training for commanders. UAV and UUV operators are also trained here. In addition to training, regular military exercises are also held here.

Organisation

 * Training group - trains the instructors, the course commanders in building courses and improving them.
 * Simulator Fleet - unites under it the simulator training course and the regular training in the various simulators in the fields of Shayetet 7 and Shayetet 3 and Naval intelligence
 * Tash Kashrut squadron - training for recruiters, command and controls.
 * Stil Kashrut squadron - For specialisation in secondary services.
 * Coastal Technical Training Squadron - Training in small arms and electronic equipments.
 * School for officers - a school for conscripts and military officer training.
 * Submarine training squadron - Training for Shayetet 7 personnel.
 * The Naval Command School - training for ship commanders.
 * Tzur-Yam - a high school specializing in technological expertise.

Establishment
The base was established in 1965 and training missions were initiated in 1967 after the arrival of new ships from Cherbourg after the Cherbourg Project. These vessels were initially used for training purpose.

Yom Kippur War
In the 1960s, limited facilities at the training base prompted Israeli Navy to hold drills in Malta as Naval Combat exercises couldn't be held at the training base. With the passage of time, the facilities were gradually improved and helped to strengthen up the Israeli Navy before the Yom Kippur War.

Evacuation plans
At the end of the 1990s, the Haifa Administration wanted to promote a plan for the construction of a marina in Bat Galim. Environmental activists opposed the plan, which included drying up an extensive sea area, for the purpose of construction that would finance the construction of the marina. The Society for the Protection of Nature proposed an alternative plan that included the evacuation of the base and the construction of a marina in the area opposite to it, which was not accessible to the public. In January 2003, the Israel Land Administration also presented a plan for the development of Bat Galim that included the evacuation of the base. In May 2008, local authorities approved the construction of a neighborhood of 1,000 housing units in the base area. However, the plan did not go into effect, as the Ministry of Defense refused to sign an agreement to evacuate the base. In 2015, the plan was transferred to the National Committee for the Planning and Construction of Preferred Housing Complexes, with the hope that its rapid advancement would serve as leverage to renew negotiations with the Ministry of Defense, but it did not advance the plan.

Hulda Gurvitz Strip
At the end of 2017, it was agreed that the base would vacate only a strip of beach along the seashore, so that for the first time so that a sequence of promenades would be created, in front of the sea from the Mediterranean coast, through the beach of the base, Bat Galim beach to the southern beaches of the Haifa. The construction of the boardwalk began in 2018, most of it was completed, and in August 2020 it was decided to name it after Hulda Gurvitz. however the Navy withdrew from the agreement and refused to allow the construction to be completed.

Sources & References

 * Moshe Oron, מתקן תרגול טאקטי, 'Marine Systems' 104, July 1971, p. 16.
 * Yosef Yerblum and Aryeh Doblin, הפנימיה לאלקטרוניקה, 'Marine Systems' 105, October 1971, p. 28
 * Major Eli, בסיס הדרכה של חיל הים, 'Marine Systems' 107–108, March 1972, p. 56.
 * Rafiki, בה"ד - קמפוס במדי צבא, 'Between Waves' June 1974, p. 2.
 * Batia Shem-El, מדסית בפעולה, 'Between Waves' April 1975, p. 20.
 * Amnon Shafi. "'12 projects to absorb the 12 steels'" ,The Center for Maritime Policy and Strategy Research, Haifa University, October 2023, p. 58.
 * מחנה בת גלים, "Navy" booklet September 3, 1948, p. 31.
 * M. sailor, בסיס הדרכה של חיל הים, "Sea Systems" 29, June 1956, pp. 20-27.
 * Meir Shapir, ההדרכה''',	"Marine Systems" 95, August 1969, p. 19.
 * Lt. Col. Sh.	מאמ"נים בשירות הצי''',	'Between Waves' 162 July 1984 p. 32.
 * Aryeh Kiesel,	סוף מנערים אבק - בבה"ד משנים תוכניות לימוד''',	'Between Waves' 165 June 1985 p. 12.
 * Ruthie Rodner,	המדריך עוד שלב בפרויקט ההדרכה בבהד''',	'Between Waves' 172 October 1987, p. 20.
 * Raanan Cherbinski,	ראש התורן ואדמה סביב - המרכז החדש לתרגול טקטי בבה"ד''',	'Between Waves' 174 June 1988 p. 8.
 * Sigal Bochris and Avi Oval,	האימון הסימולטורים בבה"ד וגם סיום קורס נגדי משמעת''', 'Between Waves' 177 April 1989 pp. 22 and 27.
 * Sigal Bochris and Avi Oval,	המת"ט החדש''',	'Between Waves' 178 August 1989 p. 14.
 * Sigal Buchris,	מסוג אחר''',	'Between Waves' 179 November 1989 p. 14.
 * Sigal Bochris and Avi Oval, אש במאמ"ן וגם טל קאופמן מדריכת פי"ם במילואים''',	'Between Waves' 180 April 1990 pp. 44 and 58.
 * Aryeh Kiesel and Shani Fais,	מבראשית במעגן הסירות בבה"ד, וגם עלה ים" איך מסיימים קורסים בחיל הים וגם אולפן וידאו בבה"ד''', "Between Waves" 181 August 1990, pp. 53, 54 and 68.
 * Ilanit Fener,	הים''' בהד חיל הים מסייע לילדים חולי סרטן ברמב"ם, "Between Waves" issue October 1, 2001 p. 68.
 * Rose Barel,	הים - בית ספר "צור ים"''',	"Between Waves", December 2009, p. 8.
 * Rose Barel and Raz Sharga,	בצוללת - הסימולטור''',	"Between Waves", October 2010, p. 42.
 * Ado Neuhaus,	מסע - מלח ים והרבה פאסון קורס דבורנים''',	"Between Waves", October 2010, p. 58.
 * Annie Elroy,	השער הראשי של חיל הים''',	'Between Waves' May 2014, p. 59.
 * Annie Elroy,	לסימולטור -מערך הסימולטורים בבה"ד חיל הים''',	"Between Waves", October 2014, p. 52.
 * Annie Elroy,	נועם - סמי צמח מפקד בה"ד''',	"Between Waves", September 2015, p. 44.
 * Oral Elhadad and Brit Almog,	הסימולטורים של זרוע הים וגם צור ים - כשחזון הופך למציאות''',	"Between Waves", May 2017, p. 14 and 47.

Media publications

 * Илья Варламов Шиес. Как люди защищают свою землю https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws2Px9LviA4&t=5s декабрь 2019
 * Ирина Андрианова Шиес: осуществление невозможного https://bellona.ru/2020/01/17/shies-osushhestvlenie-nevozmozhnogo/ 17.01.2020
 * Дмитрий Степановский. Шиес через год после начала протестов: 10 главных вопросов о строительстве в Архангельской области полигона для московского мусора. 20 ноября 2019
 * Татьяна Брицкая. «Ленинград» взяли «помойщики». Лагерь активистов в Шиесе сравняли с землей // Новая газета. 6 февраля 2021.
 * Илья Варламов Шиес. Как люди защищают свою землю https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws2Px9LviA4&t=5s декабрь 2019
 * Ирина Андрианова Шиес: осуществление невозможного https://bellona.ru/2020/01/17/shies-osushhestvlenie-nevozmozhnogo/ 17.01.2020
 * Дмитрий Степановский. Шиес через год после начала протестов: 10 главных вопросов о строительстве в Архангельской области полигона для московского мусора. 20 ноября 2019
 * Татьяна Брицкая. «Ленинград» взяли «помойщики». Лагерь активистов в Шиесе сравняли с землей // Новая газета. 6 февраля 2021.
 * Ирина Андрианова Шиес: осуществление невозможного https://bellona.ru/2020/01/17/shies-osushhestvlenie-nevozmozhnogo/ 17.01.2020
 * Дмитрий Степановский. Шиес через год после начала протестов: 10 главных вопросов о строительстве в Архангельской области полигона для московского мусора. 20 ноября 2019
 * Татьяна Брицкая. «Ленинград» взяли «помойщики». Лагерь активистов в Шиесе сравняли с землей // Новая газета. 6 февраля 2021.