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Shayetet 15

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Shayetet 15
פלגות הבט"ש
Logo of the Flotilla
Active1948 - 1970 (as Shayetet 5)
1970 - present (as Shayetet 15)
Country Israel
Branch Israeli Navy
TypeMaritime Patrol Squadron
RoleMaritime Bombardment
Amphibious raids
Maritime Patrolling
Anti-Smuggling operations
Part of Israeli Navy
Garrison/HQIsraeli Naval Headquarters
Nickname(s)Betash

Patrol fleet officially known as Shayetet 15 (formerly Torpedo fleet or Shayetet 5) is the naval patrol fleet of the Israeli Navy. It is headquartered at the Israeli Naval Headquarters in Tel Aviv. It is composed of three squadrons, Squadron 914 at Haifa naval base, Squadron 915 (formerly Squadron 912) at Eilat Naval Base and Squadron 916 (formerly Squadron 913) at Ashdod Naval Base.

Fleet

[edit]
Class Photo Number of ships Commissioned Origin Notes
Dvora, [dvo̞ˈʁa] (Bee) 9 1988  Israel
Super Dvora Mk II, [suˈpe̞ʁ dvo̞ˈʁa] 2 1996  Israel
Super Dvora Mk III 13 2004  Israel
Shaldag, [ʃalˈdaɡ] (Kingfisher) 5 1989  Israel
Defender 9 2002  Israel
Rafael Protector USV N/A 2000s  Israel Unmanned Naval Patrol Vehicles
Silver Marlin N/A 2006?  Israel USV Naval Patrol Vehicles

Personnel and training

[edit]

The patrol ships are manned by a crew of about 12 soldiers each. On the ship, a captain is in command with the rank of lieutenant or captain, who has already held the position of deputy platoon officer in the BHD 600, was trained while filling the position of deputy commander of the vessel. The captain usually functions as a vessel commander for one and eight months until he is promoted. The members of the crew are soldiers in regular service of the Israeli Navy, who become crew members through pre-enlistment. After the 2nd gunner's training at the BHD 600, there is a selection for the courses between sailor and mechanic. At the end of the training course, the trainees are assigned to the ships and go through the "final stay" period in which the "basic certification" tests are conducted finally becoming crew members.

The mechanics are further qualified as ship's watchmen, firemen and enginemen while sailors occupy the positions of watchmen, magists, navigation, lighting, seaman's work, and gunners. Depending on the needs of the ship or the soldier's desire to diversify his service and to advance to senior courses, they can undergo a theoretical test later leading the crew as a non commissioned commander guiding the young soldiers and leading the management of the ship. During the service, the offer will be given to some of the soldiers to go to the combat medics course and complete it at the naval hospital and return to the ships as a ship's medic.

Torpedo fleet

[edit]
Logo of the Shayetet 5

Torpedo fleet or Shayetet 5 was the naval patrol fleet of the Israeli Navy from 1948 to 1970, operating Torpedo boats of various classes. It was composed of the same three Squadrons as of patrol fleet today (albeit different numerical designations) as well as an additional Squadron 788 for patrolling the Sea of Galilee.

History

[edit]

Establishment

[edit]

During the Israeli War of Independence, Israeli Navy, a World War 2 era German boat captured by the Americans was purchased in America at a cost of nine thousand dollars, and was sent on the way to Israel however it sank on the way near Malta.[1] In 1949, another torpedo ship was purchased, which arrived in Israel without armament which was attached to the "small flotilla", which included landing craft and six patrol vessels purchased from the British when they left the Port of Haifa however soon the landing craft were reorganised as Shayetet 11. In 1950, 12 more torpedoes were purchased: eight World War II era vessels from United Kingdom and four modern ones from France. In 1952, the name of the flotilla was changed to "Shayetet 5". In 1956, three new torpedoes were built in Italy for the Eilat Naval Base.[2] In 1957, three French torpedoes arrived and were stationed in Haifa naval base.[3]

Shelling of Kinneret

[edit]

Due to harassment of Israeli fishermen by Syrian Armed Forces in the Sea of Galilee, the vessels in the Sea of Galilee bombarded Syrian positions causing some casualties on the Syrian side. During the engagement an IDF soldier was wounded and a 57 mm cannon caught fire which had to be replaced.[4]

Operation Resourcefulness

[edit]

Immediately after the end of Suez crisis, two of the torpedo vessels sailed to Port Said under the disguise of Italian vessels and covertly transferred hundreds of Jews to Israel along with the French vessels who further transferred 170 more Jews.[5]

Engagement at Sanafir

[edit]

In 1957, while on a patrolling mission near Sanafir Island a torpedo vessels increased its speed near the Saudi coast leading the Saudis to believe they were being fired upon. In return the Saudis attackef the torpedo vessel with a coastal battery. The torpedo returned fire hitting a Saudi position causing some casualties.[6]

Beirut reconnaissance mission

[edit]

On July 9–10, 1958 the Shayetet 13 personnel were dispatched to carry out a reconnaissance mission in Beirut but their extraction proved to be a difficult task for which the torpedoes had to be mobilized.[7]

Reorganisation

[edit]
Logo of Autonomous Squadron 788 tasked with patrolling Sea of Galilee

In 1958, it was organised into four squadrons Squadron 718 in the Sea of Galilee, Squadron 912 at Eilat Naval Base, Squadron 913 at Ashdod Naval Base and Squadron 914 at Haifa naval base.[3][8]

Voyages to Cyprus and Greece

[edit]

The torpedoes made voyages to maintain a presence in the shipping lanes in the Eastern Mediterranean. The torpedoes sailed every summer to visit destinations in the Mediterranean. In order to maintain and practice long-range activity. The main destinations were Cyprus and Crete.

T-204 visiting Cyprus
Torpedoes and INS Noga in Famagusta

Six Day War

[edit]
Operation Lady
[edit]

During Operation Lady in Port Said, the two torpedoes accompanying the attack force attacked two Osa type Egyptian vessels that were moving near the port. The commander of the force Benjamin Talm received a report from the T-207 torpedo that it was "low on fuel" and ordered the torpedoes not to pursue. The Egyptians also didn't attack the torpedoes.[9]

USS Liberty incident
[edit]

Three vessels of the fleet were involved in the attack on USS Liberty. When the torpedo boats arrived, Commander Oren could see that the ship could not be the destroyer that had supposedly shelled Arish or any ship capable of 30 knots (56 km/h) speed. According to Michael Limor, an Israeli naval reservist serving on one of the torpedo boats, they attempted to contact the ship by heliograph and radio, but received no response.[10] Oren consulted an Israeli identification guide to Arab fleets and concluded the ship was the Egyptian supply ship El Quseir, based on observing its deckline, midship bridge and smokestack. The captain of boat T-203 reached the same conclusion independently. The boats moved into battle formation, but did not attack.[11]

Liberty turns to evade Israeli torpedo boats

As the torpedo boats rapidly approached, McGonagle ordered a sailor to proceed to machine gun Mount 51 and open fire.[12]: 38  However, he then noticed that the boats appeared to be flying an Israeli flag, and "realized that there was a possibility of the aircraft having been Israeli and the attack had been conducted in error".[12]: 39  McGonagle ordered the man at gun mount 51 to hold fire, but a short burst was fired at the torpedo boats before the man understood the order.[12]: 39 

McGonagle observed that machine gun Mount 53 began firing at the center torpedo boat at about the same time gun mount 51 fired, and that its fire was "extremely effective and blanketed the area and the center torpedo boat".[12]: 39  Machine gun mount 53 was located on the starboard amidships side, behind the pilot house.[12]: 16  McGonagle could not see or "get to mount 53 from the starboard wing of the bridge".[12]: 39  So, he "sent Mr. Lucas around the port side of the bridge, around to the skylights, to see if he could tell [Seaman] Quintero, whom [he] believed to be the gunner on Machine gun 53, to hold fire".[12]: 39  Lucas "reported back in a few minutes in effect that he saw no one at mount 53".[12]: 39  Lucas, who had left the command bridge during the air attack and returned to assist McGonagle,[12]: 14  believed that the sound of gunfire was likely from ammunition cooking off, due to a nearby fire.[12]: 16  Previously, Lucas had granted a request from Quintero to fire at the torpedo boats, before heat from a nearby fire chased him from gun mount 53.[12]: 26, 27  McGonagle later testified, at the Court of Inquiry, that this was likely the "extremely effective" firing event he had observed.[12]: 49 

After coming under fire, the torpedo boats returned fire with their cannons, killing Liberty's helmsman.[13] The torpedo boats then launched five torpedoes at the Liberty.[14] At 12:35Z (14:35 local time)[13] one torpedo hit Liberty on the starboard side forward of the superstructure, creating a 39 ft (12 m) wide hole in what had been a cargo hold converted to the ship's research spaces and killing 25 servicemen, almost all of them from the intelligence section, and wounding dozens.[15]

The torpedo boats then closed in and strafed the ship's hull with their cannons and machine guns.

Assault on Sharm el-Sheikh
[edit]
Torpedoes entering Sharm el-Sheikh during the capture

The assault onSharm el-Sheikh was to be carried out by paratroopers but as it was not clear whether the Egyptian artillery position in the area which was weak was manned or not. So torpedoes had to accompany the assault. When the torpedoes reached there it became evident that the positions were deserted. So the personnel of the torpedoes themselves took control and hoisted the Israeli flag.[16] So the Paratrooper assault was cancelled and forces were transported via helicopters. Furthermore, two Egyptian commando vessels were spotted by the torpedoes after capturing Sharm el-Sheikh, the vessels were unarmed but carried 33 commandos who were taken captive.[17]

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan visits a Torpedo vessel stationed in Sharm el-Sheikh

War of Attrition

[edit]

Battle of Rumani Coast

[edit]
T-204 crew after the battle of Rumani coast

During the Battle of Rumani Coast, an Israeli ship along with two torpedoes attacked Egyptian P 6-class torpedo boats. The initial run scored no hits but the Egyptian MTBs dispersed. The separation enabled Eilat to close one Egyptian torpedo and the two Israeli torpedoes to close the other. Twenty minutes later, both P 6s were ablaze and exploded leaving no survivors.[18]

Sinking of INS Eilat

[edit]

On October 21, 1967, the destroyer INS Eilat was sunk near Port Said by Egyptian submarines. The torpedoes were dispatched from Ashdod Naval Base to rescue the victims. The first ship to arrive was the T-206 under the command of Rafi Apel. Her presence was essential for the coordination of the evacuation helicopters and the collection of the dead bodies.[19]

Capture of a militant vessel

[edit]

On November 3, 1969, the T-203 torpedo under the command of Lt. David Nitzan was on patrol in off the coast of Rosh HaNkira . During the night, a small, dark target was discovered penetrating the border from north to south. The torpedo began a chase and opened fire at the target that was trying to escape. Finally the target stopped. It was a boat carrying four Fatah militants and explosives. The Fatah militants were arrested.[20]

Disestablishment

[edit]

The torpedo fleet was abolished in 1970 and in its place the Shayetet 15 or Patrol fleet was established. The squadrons of the torpedo fleet were transferred to the Patrol fleet with the exception of the Squadron in the Sea of Galilee which was abolished as the entire coast of it was now under Israeli control as Israel had occupied the Golan Heights.

Fleet

[edit]
Torpedo vessels
Origin Vessels Type Image Weight (Tones) ! Length (meter) Width (meter) Submergence (meter) Speed Crew Range Armament
 United States
Higgins Industries		 INS Netz (T-200) Gasoline operated 43 21.3 5.79 1.52 74 km/h 16 600 miles 3 Packard engines, Two Torpedo tubes, Two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons
 United Kingdom
  • INS Eagle (T-201)
  • INS Ait (T-202)
  • INS Diya (T-204)
  • INS Tinshem (T-212)
 Gasoline operated
INS Eagle

INS Diya
 43 22.10 5.79 1.52 74 km/h 15 500 miles 3 Packard engines, 1,350 horsepower, 3 propellers, two 18 inch torpedoes, three 20 mm cannons
 United Kingdom
  • INS Aya (T-203)
  • INS Sheldag (T-209)
  • INS Lilit (T-210)
  • INS Yanshof (T-211)
 Gasoline operated
INS Sheldag

INS Litit

INS Yanshof
 43 22.10 5.79 1.52 74 km/h 15 500 miles

3 Packard engines, 1,350 horsepower 3 propellers, two 18 inch torpedoes, one 57 mm cannon and two 20 mm cannons

 France
  • INS Baz (T-205)
  • INS Thams (T-206)
  • INS Peres (T-207)
  • INS Yas'ur (T-208)
 Gasoline operated
INS Baz

INS Thams

INS Peres

INS Yas'ur
 62 26.5 6.31 1.52 78 km/h 15 965 km 4 Junkers Yomo engines, two torpedo tubes, three 20 mm cannons, Deca 2 radar
 France
  • INS Aya (T-203) [21]
  • INS Diya (T-204) [21]
 Diesel operated
INS Aya

INS Diya
 44 26.5 6.31 1.52 70 km/h 15 965 km Two Napier Delta engines, two propellers, two torpedo tubes, one 40 mm cannon, two 20 mm cannon, two 0.5 inch machine guns, Calvin Hughes radar
 Italy
  • INS Ophir (T-150)
  • INS Sheba (T-151)
  • INS Tarshish (T-152)
 Gasoline operated
INS Ophir

INS Sheba

INS Tarshish
 ? 16 5 1.20 74 km/h 12 800 km Two Packard 71 engines, two propellers, two torpedo tubes, one 40 mm cannon, two 20 mm cannons, two 0.5 inch machine guns, Deca radar
Other vessels
Name Origin Image
INS Haporzin 17 Purchased from Italy
INS Palmach 19 Transferred from British to Israeli Navy in Haifa, used for special operations.[22]
INS Dror 21 Transferred from British to Israeli Navy in Haifa
INS Sa'ar 23 Transferred from British to Israeli Navy in Haifa.
INS Galia
INS Tirzah 35 Purchased indirectly from the United Kingdom
Albatross A gift from Prime Minister of Italy to Prime Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion
Crostella A gift for the President of Israel from United States.[23]

Squadron 914

[edit]
Logo of the Squadron

Squadron 914 is a naval patrol squadron at the Haifa naval base. Squadron 914 is currently divided into two patrols: the Peres patrol, and the Yesur patrol (in the past there was also an Eagle patrol), and in addition to them, there's also a Snapir unit.

History

[edit]

1972 Lebanon ambush

[edit]

June 1972 near the Lebanon Coast Shayetet 13 Dvor 883 under the command of Dan Rabin and senior commander in the sea Eli Levi and INS Sa'ar under the command of Zvi Yanai carried out an ambush for a militant boa that was destroyed.

Yom Kippur War

[edit]

On October 16, 1973, two Dvor ships were used for rescue and transport for the force of Shayetet 13 participating in Operation Lady.[24] From October 17–20 off the coast of Beirut, the Unit 707 vessels of Shayetet 7 along with two bees sabotaged maritime communication lines disrupting the communication lines.[25]

Warehouse explosion

[edit]
Aftermath of the explosion of Dvor 862

On June 7, 1978, in the Haifa naval base an explosion in the wheelhouse of Dvor 862 as a result of hydraulic oil vapors from the steering system or fuel leakage from the rubber boat tanks killed Corporal Rafi Malka[26]

Operations against militant vessels

[edit]

On August 9, 1974, in southern Lebanon in front of the Port of Tzur a Dvor boat of the squadron destroyed a militant boat.[27] On June 3–4, 1979, near Rosh HaNkira, a militant boat targeting the coastal radar was captured by a bee. On August 17–18, 1979 in the sector of Ras al-Bayada a militant boat was captured. On November 18, 1979, three bees under the control of Col. Moshe Oron chased and 853 bees under the command of Eran Osherov destroyed a militant boat.[28]

Rocket boat captured from militants by the squadron in 1979

On June 16, 1980, near Rosh HaNkira a fast terrorist boat trying to penetrate from Lebanon was discovered by the control control and intercepted by Dvor 894 under the command of Dan Rabin. A militant fired a missile that hit the Dvor. Two wounded, one moderately injured were evacuated by helicopter. The three militants were neutralized.

Squadron vessels patrolling in front of Rosh HaNkira
Militant boat destroyed by the squadron in June 1980

On September 23, 1984, in front of the Sidon beach Dvor team 853, under the command of Lieutenant Yehiel Klusky, noticed at 5:30 that some militants were trying to penetrate.[29] In an exchange of fire with IDF soldiers on the beach, 3 militants were killed and several were captured.[30] On October 19, 1984, near the Coast of South Lebanon Dvor blocked a militant boat killing two militants in exchange of fire.[29]

Dvora 853 crew after successfully blocking a militant boat on 23 September 1984

On August 26, 1985, about 14 miles west of Sidon, a militant yacht was captured.[29] On July 10, 1986, on the coast of Rosh HaNkira a rubber boat with militants from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine was discovered by Devor 852 under the command of Idan in an exchange of fire, two IDF soldiers were killed and eleven were wounded meanwhile the four militants were killed and their boat was destroyed.[31] On September 10, 1986, about five kilometers north of Tzur INS Moladat (commanded by Noam Feig), with Dvora 881 (commanded by Micah Shitkin) with the help of combat helicopters, discovered a rubber boat 600 meters from the beach of Mint Abu Zeid and fired at it. Some of the militants were injured and the rest managed to escape with the boat to the shore. On December 10, 1987, in the area of the Litani estuary the Dvora 894 ship under the command of Eran Shor destroyed a militant ship during the encounter, Sergeant Major Amit Sela was killed [32] On December 4, 1988, between Cyprus and Lebanon a Dvora boat stopped the ship 'Hassan' which was involved in the transfer of militants from Cyprus to Lebanon. On April 8, 1989, off the coast of Southern Lebanon a militant boat was destroyed by Dvora 810 under the command of Ido Ram. On October 30, 1989, near the coast of South Lebanon the ship Dvora 811 under the command of Lieutenant Danny Naor, encountered a militant boat that was on its way to an attack in Israel and destroyed it. On November 13, 1989, in the waters of Southern Lebanon an attempted attack on the ship Dvora 811 under the command of Dani Naor, by a Lebanese fishing boat, was thwarted. On June 23, 1990, southwest of Tyre a militant boat that was on its way to the attack was destroyed by Deborah 811 under the command of Dani Naor.[33] On July 31, 1990, in front of Rashidiya Dvora 811 under the command of Dani Naor discovered a fast boat with armed militants on it. On 5 September 1990 near Sidon INS Reshef (Saar 4) under the command of Aryeh Nagler, and Dvora 816 under the command of Dani Amir captured a militant from a ferry. On July 10, 1994, near Ras al Bayda Dvora 813 under the command of Boris Vossler killed two militants of the Hezbollah who were on their way to carry out an attack.[34]

2006 Lebanon War

[edit]

On July 14, 2006 INS Hanit was damaged by a Hezbollah rocket and a Davor boat of the squadron destroyed a gas station.[35][36][37]

Commanders

[edit]
Name Service Note Photo
Avraham Ben Zeev 1970-1971
Amnon Gonen 1971-1972 Left
Michael Kisari 1972-1973 Yom Kippur War
Dan Rabin 1973-1975
Shmuel Sharig 1975-1977
Ehud Savion May 1977 – October 1977 The voyage included 11 Dvor ships
Ami Shar-El 1977-1979
Roni Icher 1979-1981
Avi Shaaf 1981-1983
Roni Peleg 1983-1985
Ami Segev 1985-1987
Zev Yanovsky 1987-1989
Ilan Buchris 1989-1990
Yaron Zahar 1990-1991
Yitzhak Weinrev 1991-1993
Yohai Ben Yosef 1993-1995
Yoram Lex 1995-1997
Yossi Shaf 1997-1999
Yaron Levy 1999-2001
Adi Grossbach 2001-2003
Ilan Lavi 2003-2005
Sami Tzemach 2005-2007 Second Lebanon War
Yaniv Shahar 2007-2009
Oren Nahabs 2009-2011
Ariel Reznik 2017
Zohar Cohen 2017 - 2019
Kafir Raveh 2020-2022
Dew Cohen 2022-
Amir Yaniv August 2023

Squadron 915

[edit]
Cap with Insignia of the 915th Squadron

Squadron 915 also known as the Knights of the Gulf is a patrol squadron at the Eilat Naval Base. It is focused on the security of merchant ships sailing to the Port of Eilat.[38] Before the Egypt-Israel peace treaty it was deployed at Sharm el-Sheikh.

Squadron 915 in Sharm el-Sheikh

The main task of the squadron in Eilat is to maintain the security and peace of maritime waters 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.[39]

A squadron vessel patrolling near a beach resort in Eilat

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.[40]

History

[edit]

Capture of Egyptian Reconnaissance boat

[edit]

On January 5, 1972, in the Gulf of Suez in front of Al-Tur an Egyptian intelligence boat was captured by Dabura 873 under the command of Lieutenant Yaakov Bogach and the intelligence personnel were put on trial.[41]

Engagement with De Castro

[edit]

On August 13, 1973, in the North of the Gulf of Suez, Dvor 861 under the command of Shalom Shboy and 864 under the command of Eli Gabrieli, discovered Sgt. de Castro crossing the maritime border of Israel the gulf and attacked him. De Castro was badly hit and managed to return to port but was put out of action.[42]

Yom Kippur War

[edit]
Battle of Marsa Talamat
[edit]

The Battle of Marsa Talamat was fought between the Israeli Navy and the Egyptian Navy commando forces on October 7, 1973, during the early stages of the Yom Kippur War. It took place in the small Egyptian naval anchorage of Marsa Talamat, in the central sector of the Gulf of Suez. Two Israeli Dabur class patrol boats of the squadron were on a routine patrol mission when the Egyptian Army launched a surprise attack into Israeli occupied Sinai. When it became evident that a war had started, the Israeli boats were reassigned to the mission of destroying Egyptian commando boats in order to interrupt Egyptian commando operations in the Gulf of Suez. The Israeli boats located two Egyptian commando boats which were about to depart Marsa Talamat. The Israeli boats attacked, and continued their attack even when both Daburs accidentally ran aground. The Israeli boats managed to retreat after inflicting considerable damage on the Egyptian commandos. For their actions in the battle, three Israeli crewmen were later awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service.[43] The battle was amongst several significant naval battles which dictated the course of the naval war.[44]

Raid on Ras Al Arab
[edit]

On 14 October 1973 in the Gulf of Suez in Ras Al Arab five patrol boats in two forces under the command of Ami Elon and Israel Petchni attacked mobilized fishing boats of the Egyptians who were preparing to transfer raiding forces and seriously damaged them.[45]

Commanders

[edit]
Name Service Note Photo
Herzl Shaf 1970 - 1971
Uri Tzur Summer 1971 – Summer 1972 שמאל
Ami Elon Summer 1972 – Summer 1973 Yom Kippur War
Israel Petchnik Summer 1973 – October 1973 Yom Kippur War
Abraham ben Zabo November 1973 – April 1974
David Bacher April 1974 – April 1975
Dubi Geser April 1975 – December 1975
Mike Elder December 1975 – July 1976
Zvi Yanai July 1976 – November 1977
Shmuel Peres November 1977 – October 1978
Beam Bears October 1978 – October 1980
Yehuda Yaffe October 1980 – January 1982
Gershon Neve January 1982 – April 1982 Evacuation of Sharm el-Sheikh
Gyora Boxer
Abrahimi Sarulevich
Mentin
Roni Davni 1989 - 1991
Ezrael Ram 1991 - 1992
Nitzan 1992 - 1993
Avidan Bar Sela 1993 -
Menachem Levi 1994-1995
Gyora Dash July 1995 to August 1997
Alon 1997-1999
Kobe Riff 1999-2001
Issachar Indig 2003 - 2001
Amir Gutman 2004 - 2003
Zvika Shahar 2006 - 2004
Yaniv Shahar 2007 - 2006
Mickey Cohen 2010 - 2007
Ronen Merkam 2012 - 2010
Ira Leaf 2014 - 2012
Steven Gordon 2016 - 2014 l
Yonatan Kudish 2017 - 2016
Tal Cohen 2019 - 2017
Yoad Toran 2019 - 2021
Amir Yaniv September 2021 - July 2023
Gal Goren August 2023 – present

Squadron 916

[edit]
Logo of the 916th patrol squadron

Squadron 916 is a maritime patrol squadron at the Ashdod Naval Base. Its role is to protect the center of the country, but most of its resources are directed to the Gaza Strip. The unit carries out in addition to maritime security, also offensive and deterrent activities aimed at thwarting the activities of militants and disrupting their infrastructure.[46]

Structure

[edit]

Squadron 916 is divided into four patrol cruises: Bezeq Cruise, Sword Cruise, Shark Cruise and Trigon Cruise. In addition there's also a special Protector USV unit called 'Knights of Sea'. Just like other squadrons, it also has a Snapir unit concerned with the safety of Ashdod Naval Base.

Protector USV on entering service in the squadron

History

[edit]

Establishment

[edit]

Following the Six Day War, and occupation of Sinai Peninsula the maritime border of the Israel was extended fivefold.[47] During this period, the Israeli Navy carried out the routine security tasks using the torpedo boats to stop infiltration attempts such as on 1 January 1971 an infiltration at Achziv beach by Fatah 'frogmen' was thwarted.[48] Another infiltration attempt by Fatah 'frogmen' was thwarted on October 14, 1971, and the squad was captured before the attempt.[49] Another infiltration was thwarted in November 1971, this time from Lebanon.[50][51] Initially, various vessels not suitable for the purpose were used for patrolling including those of Shayetet 11. On October 18, 1970, the first two "Devor" ships arrived in Israel from "Swiftships" shipyard in Louisiana , United States Dvor 852 under the command of Major General Aryeh Roder and Dvor 871 under the command of Major General Uri Levy. They were out into operational use at the Ashdod Naval Base. The unit received the name Patrol 913 and later Squadron 913. The first commander of the unit was Lieutenant Ehud (Odi) Aral. It was the first patrol squadron of Israeli Navy. The area of control of the Ashdod Naval Base at that time extended for about 370 km, from Netanya to the east of the northern entrance of the Suez Canal.

Operation Spring of Youth

[edit]

The squadron participated in the 1973 Israeli raid in Lebanon with two patrol boats of the squadron acting as a reserve along with Shayetet 3 vessels to pick up the raiding team after completion of the operation as well as to provide cover to the raiding party.[52]

Yom Kippur War

[edit]

By October 1973, the unit's staff numbered 4 Dvor boats, and in addition to the unit's regular forces, the ships' crews were reinforced with reservists. So, it was combat ready and participated in the Yom Kippur War.

Battles of Fort Budapest
[edit]

The squad took part in the Second Battle of Fort Budapest to evacuate the wounded till the siege was lifted by a ground reinforcement.[53][54]

Rescue of INS Hanit
[edit]

After the Battle of Latakia, a Sa'ar 3 vessel of Shayetet 3 INS Hanit got struck ashore, so the Squadron vessels were dispatched to rescue the vessel and its personnel, ultimately the mission was a success and it was towed to Haifa Shipyard for repairs and was returned to service.[54]

Operation Lady
[edit]

The squadron participated in the Operation Lady. On October 16, 1973, a group of Shayetet 11 vessels led the Shayetet 13 to attack Port Said. The strike group was guarded and reinforced by the squadron vessels. The operation was carried out successfully and multiple Egyptian vessels were damaged or destroyed.[55]

Renaming

[edit]

With the increase in the number of bees, squadron 913 was renamed as squadron 916 in October 1975. At its establishment, the fleet numbered 7 patrol boats.

Egypt-Israel peace agreement

[edit]

Following the Egypt-Israel peace treaty , the IDF withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula, greatly reducing the patrol sector from Suez to Rafah Its purpose shifted from patrolling against the Egyptians to against militant infiltrations (such as Coastal Road massacre).[56]

1982 Lebanon War

[edit]

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". The squadron vessels from Ashdod Naval Base traversed towards the Lebanese coast north of Sidon. Israel's publicly stated objective was to push PLO forces back 40 kilometers (25 mi) to the north.[57] An Israeli amphibious operation was conducted north of Sidon. Two groups of commandos from the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit then came ashore to probe enemy defenses and secure the landing site,. They were provided cover by Squadron 916 as Squadron 914 was tasked to deal with any probable infiltration that could happen as a result of the conflict.[58][59][57]

Patrols along with 914 Squadron

[edit]

During the 1980s, the squadron was involved in patrolling operations in the Northern Arena as the southern sector was pretty secure after the Egypt-Israel peace treaty. including thwarting an infiltration attempt on April 25, 1988. During these operations a squadron personnel Ofer Salomon was Killed in Action on January 5, 1984.[60]

First Intifada

[edit]

During the First Intifada, the squadron patrolled the waters off the coast of Gaza Strip extensively and on May 30, 1990, 2 patrol boats of the squadron got stuck while chasing fast boats of militants who were trying to penetrate the shores of Israel. One of them landed ashore the Gaza Strip landed on the beach, where 4 of its men were killed and 7 were captured.[61]

Oslo accords

[edit]

Oslo Accords resulted in a separate and autonomous administration in the Gaza strip so the patrol area was changed to 12 miles away from the coast as well as Egyptian and Israeli maritime borders.

Second Intifada

[edit]

During the Second intifada, Israel blockaded the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, several times with the squadron primarily carrying out the naval blockade of Gaza Strip.[62][63]

Operation Summer Rains

[edit]

During the 2006 Gaza–Israel conflict, on June 26, the Israeli Navy imposed a naval closure of the Gaza Strip, to prevent Shalit being smuggled out by sea. The squadron 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.[64]

Snapir unit thwarting a smuggling attempt into Gaza
A smuggling boat captured near Gaza being inspected by the Ashdod Naval Base commander

Operation Hot Winter

[edit]

The squadron participated in Operation Hot Winter, an IDF offensive in the Gaza strip by reinforcing the naval blockade of Gaza strip.

Operation Cast Lead

[edit]

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.[65][66] The navy coordinated with other Israeli forces and used powerful shipboard sensors to acquire and shell targets on land.[67][68] 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[69] and possibly by helicopters or unmanned aerial vehicles.[70] Shayetet 13 naval commandos were also deployed to attack targets on land,[71] and reportedly attacked an Iranian ship loaded with arms for Hamas, which was docking in Sudan.[72] On 28 December, Naval vessels shelled the Port of Gaza.[73]

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 of the squadron. 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.[74] 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.[75]

On 4 January the Israeli Navy extended its blockade of the Gaza Strip to 20 nautical miles.[76]

Throughout the war, the Israeli Navy employed Super Dvora Mk III class patrol boats of the squadron.

Operation Pillar of Cloud

[edit]

During the 2014 Gaza War, in the 2014 Zikim attack cannon fire from a Dvora patrol boat of the squadron and support from the Israeli Air Force were used to eliminate the infiltrators.[77] According to IDF assessments, the commando unit was dispatched by "a senior terrorist operative", Ahmed Andur, active in northern Gaza.[78] Taysir Mubasher, the former commander of Hamas's naval forces, was also claimed by the IDF to have been involved in the attack and was allegedly killed.[79] Captain Uri Nissim received Major General's Award[80] and the Squadron received a TLS award[81] for its role in stopping the infiltration.

Israel Hamas War

[edit]
Israeli President Isaac Herzog visits the squadron Headquarters during the Israel-Hamas war

During the Israel-Hamas war the Squadron participated in various operations. During Zikim attack amongst the October 7 attacks amid the 6:30 rocket barrage, which also targeted Israeli naval facilities, four boats with an estimated 35 fighters of Hamas' Nukhba unit were observed crossing into Israeli waters from the Gaza fishing zone.[82][83] 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.[83]

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.[83][84][85] The IDF estimated that 11 Hamas militants managed to land on the beach. Two or three were killed by naval gunfire shortly after landing, but the rest began killing civilians on the beach.[83] In the aftermath of October 7 attacks, squadron fighters eliminated dozens of militants at sea[86] and on land,[87] hit targets near the shores of the Gaza Strip, and assisted the maneuvering forces with fire and observation.[88] In addition, sailing warriors assisted raids from the sea into the Gaza Strip.[89]

Commanders

[edit]
Name Service Note Image
Ehud Aral September 1970 – November 1971 סגן אהוד אראל 1969
Danny Melamed November 1971 – November 1972
Abraham Fin 1972 - 1973 Operation Spring of Youth
Yochanan Peltz 1973 - 1975 Yom Kippur War שמאל
Israel Hecht 1975
Ehud Savion December 1975 – May 1977
Ami Segev May 1977 – November 1978
David Atzmon November 1978 – June 1979
Amiram Raphael June 1979 – September 1981
Haim Lahav September 1981 – September 1983
Haim Grover September 1983 – August 1985
Shahar Aharon August 1985 – October 1987
Amram Hami October 1987 – August 1989
Levi Shaft August 1989 – August 1991
Noam Feig August 1991 – April 1993
Dror Maor April 1993 – December 1994
Ofer David December 1994 – September 1996
Aryeh Nagler September 1996 – January 1999
Ben Zion Dabul January 1999 – October 2000
Yair Zilberman October 2000 - July 2002
David Sa'ar Selma July 2002 – July 2004 Later chief of the Israeli Navy
Ido Ben-Moshe July 2004 – July 2006
Saar Carmeli July 2006 – August 2008
Eyal Harel August 2008 – July 2010 Operation Cast Lead
Guy Goldfarb July 2010 – July 2012
Eli Sohulitsky July 2012 – August 2014 Operation Solid Cliff שמאל
Liav Zilberman August 2014 – August 2016
Boris Schuster August 2016-July 2018
Guy Barak July 2018 – January 2020
Ran Steigman January 2020 – June 2021
Roy Gerdosh June 2021 - July 2023
Matan Hazan July 2023 – present Israel Hamas war

Sources & References

[edit]
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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ ב-24 ביוני 1990, דבורה הופעלה מול מטרה מערבית לרשידיה, שני מחבלים ירו אר פיג'י ונהרגו.
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