Imperial Ethiopian Navy (1955–1974)
Posted: 10 Mar 2024, 23:42
Imperial Ethiopian Navy (1955–1974)
Founding of the navy
Ethiopia acquired a coastline and ports on the Red Sea in 1950 when the United Nations decided to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia. In 1955, the Imperial Ethiopian Navy was founded,[1] and its first (and primary) base — the Haile Selassie I Naval Base — was established at Massawa in 1956. The navy took delivery of its first ship in 1957.[1] By the early 1960s, workshops and other facilities were under construction at Massawa to give it complete naval base capabilities.
Organization
In 1958, the navy became a fully independent service, organized as one of the three Ethiopian armed services – alongside the Ethiopian Army and Ethiopian Air Force – under the overall command of the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Armed Forces. The navy's deputy commander had his naval headquarters in Addis Ababa. The navy was conceived and built as a coastal navy for patrolling the Red Sea coast.
Training and education
The Imperial Ethiopian Navy's personnel were among the best trained in the world.[2] Even before Ethiopia took control of Eritrea, the British Royal Navy had seconded Ethiopian personnel to its bases in Eritrea to provide them with naval training. A naval college, where Ethiopian naval officers undertook a 52-month program of study, was founded at Asmara in 1956; each class admitted averaged 30 to 40 students in size, and they graduated with a naval commission and a Bachelor of Science degree.[2] In 1957, a Naval Non-Commissioned Officer School was established at Massawa as well. A Frogman/Diving School for the training of a special commando unit and a Ratings' Training Establishment for the training of naval enlisted men also were established at Massawa by the late 1950s or early 1960s. Centers to provide enlisted men with training in technical specialities were established at Aseb, Asmara, and Massawa.[2]
Emperor Haile Selassie I appointed 25 Royal Norwegian Navy officers to help in organizing Ethiopia's new navy, and they oversaw much of the training. Retired British Royal Navy officers also served as trainers and advisers during Haile Selassie's reign. Some Imperial Ethiopian Navy officers received naval education at the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy, while others attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.[2]
Forces
The United States Navy seaplane tender USS Orca (AVP-49) off Houghton, Washington, on 6 February 1944. She served in the Ethiopian Navy as the training ship Ethiopia from 1962 to 1993 and was its largest ship.
Personnel
By 1958, the Imperial Ethiopian Navy had 129 personnel, increasing to 1,200 in 1970.[1] At its peak, the Imperial Ethiopian Navy had a force of 11,500 personnel. All enlisted men served seven-year enlistments as volunteers.
Ships
The navy operated a mix of patrol boats, torpedo boats, and small submersible boats transferred from the United States Navy and the navies of European countries.
The Imperial Ethiopian Navy's first ship was a former U.S. Navy PC-1604-class submarine chaser, ex-USS PC-1616, transferred to Ethiopia on 2 January 1957 via a loan scheme involving Italy and transferred to Italy on 3 May 1959.[2] The Ethiopian ship was named after Zerai Deres,[3][4] famous national patriot considered a folk hero.
In 1962 the United States transferred the former seaplane tender USS Orca (AVP-49) to Ethiopia; renamed Ethiopia (A-01) and placed in service as a training ship, she was the Ethiopian Navy's largest ship throughout her 31 years of service.
Bases
The Imperial Ethiopian Navy established four bases: Massawa was the site of the naval headquarters and enlisted training facilities; the naval air station and naval academy were at Asmara; Assab was the site of a naval station, enlisted training facilities, and a repair dock; and there was a naval station and communications station on the Dahlak Islands in the Red Sea near Massawa.[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Navy
Founding of the navy
Ethiopia acquired a coastline and ports on the Red Sea in 1950 when the United Nations decided to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia. In 1955, the Imperial Ethiopian Navy was founded,[1] and its first (and primary) base — the Haile Selassie I Naval Base — was established at Massawa in 1956. The navy took delivery of its first ship in 1957.[1] By the early 1960s, workshops and other facilities were under construction at Massawa to give it complete naval base capabilities.
Organization
In 1958, the navy became a fully independent service, organized as one of the three Ethiopian armed services – alongside the Ethiopian Army and Ethiopian Air Force – under the overall command of the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Armed Forces. The navy's deputy commander had his naval headquarters in Addis Ababa. The navy was conceived and built as a coastal navy for patrolling the Red Sea coast.
Training and education
The Imperial Ethiopian Navy's personnel were among the best trained in the world.[2] Even before Ethiopia took control of Eritrea, the British Royal Navy had seconded Ethiopian personnel to its bases in Eritrea to provide them with naval training. A naval college, where Ethiopian naval officers undertook a 52-month program of study, was founded at Asmara in 1956; each class admitted averaged 30 to 40 students in size, and they graduated with a naval commission and a Bachelor of Science degree.[2] In 1957, a Naval Non-Commissioned Officer School was established at Massawa as well. A Frogman/Diving School for the training of a special commando unit and a Ratings' Training Establishment for the training of naval enlisted men also were established at Massawa by the late 1950s or early 1960s. Centers to provide enlisted men with training in technical specialities were established at Aseb, Asmara, and Massawa.[2]
Emperor Haile Selassie I appointed 25 Royal Norwegian Navy officers to help in organizing Ethiopia's new navy, and they oversaw much of the training. Retired British Royal Navy officers also served as trainers and advisers during Haile Selassie's reign. Some Imperial Ethiopian Navy officers received naval education at the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy, while others attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.[2]
Forces
The United States Navy seaplane tender USS Orca (AVP-49) off Houghton, Washington, on 6 February 1944. She served in the Ethiopian Navy as the training ship Ethiopia from 1962 to 1993 and was its largest ship.
Personnel
By 1958, the Imperial Ethiopian Navy had 129 personnel, increasing to 1,200 in 1970.[1] At its peak, the Imperial Ethiopian Navy had a force of 11,500 personnel. All enlisted men served seven-year enlistments as volunteers.
Ships
The navy operated a mix of patrol boats, torpedo boats, and small submersible boats transferred from the United States Navy and the navies of European countries.
The Imperial Ethiopian Navy's first ship was a former U.S. Navy PC-1604-class submarine chaser, ex-USS PC-1616, transferred to Ethiopia on 2 January 1957 via a loan scheme involving Italy and transferred to Italy on 3 May 1959.[2] The Ethiopian ship was named after Zerai Deres,[3][4] famous national patriot considered a folk hero.
In 1962 the United States transferred the former seaplane tender USS Orca (AVP-49) to Ethiopia; renamed Ethiopia (A-01) and placed in service as a training ship, she was the Ethiopian Navy's largest ship throughout her 31 years of service.
Bases
The Imperial Ethiopian Navy established four bases: Massawa was the site of the naval headquarters and enlisted training facilities; the naval air station and naval academy were at Asmara; Assab was the site of a naval station, enlisted training facilities, and a repair dock; and there was a naval station and communications station on the Dahlak Islands in the Red Sea near Massawa.[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Navy
