Iraqi Navy
Coastal Defense Force
According to the Department of State Iraq Weekly Status Report, dated 12 January 2005, the Iraqi Coastal Defense Force was renamed the Iraqi Navy.
As of 2005, the Iraqi Navy was executing operational missions that included border and waterway protection from smuggling and infiltration, and site protection of port and oil assets in the Persian Gulf. The force was patrolling out to the 12-mile international water boundary in the Persian Gulf using 27-meter patrol boats, rigid-hull inflatable boats, and other support vessels. The Iraqi Navy had approximately 500 trained sailors on duty. It was equipped with five Predator Class Patrol Boats (PB), 24 Fast Aluminum Boats (Duel Outboard Engines), 10 rigid-hull inflatable boats, and various small arms and night vision devices. The Iraqi Navy would further equip themselves with six Al Faw Class Patrol Boats (the first of which was delivered in July 2005) and two Off-Shore Support Vessels. With some exceptions, the responsibility for logistical support of the Iraqi Navy had been handed over to the Umm Qasr Base Support Unit (BSU). Maritime and Riverine Advisory Support Team (M&R AST) members provided advice and assistance to both the BSU and the Iraqi Navy Logistics Department in order to cultivate a cooperative working relationship. It was anticipated (based on progression along the CTF-58 assessment program) that the Iraqi Navy would assume point defense responsibilities of the oil terminals by September 30, 2005. Assumption of the waterside mission (the afloat defensive screen) was dependent on the acquisition and initial operational readiness of the six Al Faw class.
As of 2005, the Iraqi Navy Training Department currently conducted all of its own training, assisted by the M&R AST. All members of the Iraqi Navy received their initial training in Kirkush. Following basic training, they were trained on mission-focused technical skill sets: ship handling, marlin spike seamanship, navigation, engineering, weapons handling, small boat operations, shipboard damage control, etc.
The Coastal Defense Force was to be comprised of a patrol boat squadron of five 30-meter boats and a naval infantry regiment. As of January 2004 the naval infantry was still training with the Iraqi army for basic skills. This Coastal Defense Force then moved down to the Umm Qasr/Basra area for boat training and where they learnt interdiction and boarding operations in order to protect the some 80 kilometers of Iraqi coastline.
Two patrol craft departed Bahrain April 30, 2004 en route to Umm Qasr, Iraq, where coalition forces would begin training the newly created Iraqi Coastal Defense Force. Patrol Craft 102 and 103 are two of five patrol craft provided by the United States, and are the first vessels belonging to the ICDF. The 27-meter long Chinese-made crafts were originally to be acquired by the Saddam Hussein regime in 2002 under the oil-for-food program, but were not allowed to enter the country due to their military capabilities. The United States purchased the boats from the Chinese ship-builder. The purchase included an agreement to compensate the German company shipping the boats so that no one, including Iraq, incurred any financial damage.
After spending nearly two years dry-docked in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, the boats finally sailed to Iraq. They were manned by British-led coalition forces. A commanding officer, chief marine engineer, deputy marine engineer, coxswain and eight-man deck crew of British, American and Australian Sailors man each craft and will immediately begin at-sea training with their Iraqi counterparts upon arrival.
ICDF training officially began in January 2004 with 214 volunteers attending a three-month boot camp. After completing boot camp and a brief period of leave, the ICDF sailors were transported to the newly constructed base in Umm Qasr, where they began technical training April 21.
The patrol craft crews will be trained to perform anti-smuggling operations, harbor and coastline defense, search and rescue operations, and various other operations inside the 12-mile international water boundary.
Iraqi Coastal Defense Force servicemembers carried out two training missions 19 August 2004, as the Iraqi government prepared for commencement of naval operations Oct. 1. The force consisted of 412 trained personnel and included five 27-meter long Chinese-made patrol gunboats and various other support craft. The two missions, piloting and sea rescue, were part of the ongoing effort by the Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq to train the Iraqi Coastal Defense Force. The mission was to protect the coastline from the terrorists and enemies. In training since Jan. 2004, the force was now concentrating on more advanced seamanship, towing, gunnery, sea rescue, chart reading, navigation, anti-smuggling, operations, and rigid inflatable boat integration and small boat drill instruction. The Iraqi Coastal Defense Force also learnt how to put all of this in the context of a democratically based maritime sea force.
In addition to protecting the coastline from smugglers and anti-Iraqi forces entering the country through the roughly 50-mile coastline, the Iraqi Coastal Defense Force also patrolled the 12-mile international water boundary. The force also served to protect the country's various oil platforms located the Persian Gulf within that zone.
The Iraqi Coastal Defense Force also included a land-based infantry unit to support the force's security mission in the area. The sea and land based units work closely with the Iraqi Riverine Patrol Service patrolling the country's southern waterways and rivers on a similar mission.
The five patrol craft were originally acquired by the previous regime in 2002. The Iraqi Coastal Defense Force assumed control of the Umm Qasr Naval Base on June 12 and was operating at 100 percent of its originally programmed manning goal.
