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Latvian Naval Forces - History

In the autumn of 1991, the first months of independence of the restored Latvia began. The defense forces of the new state became. Intensive work was already underway to establish a national border guard force, and the first bodyguards were formed. It was clear that the almost 500-kilometer-long sea border would also have to be provided. Our country did not have its own ships or capable forces capable of performing naval and coast guard functions. However, the very beginning of the renewal of our navy was on October 1, 1991, when the Naval Training Center was established at Liepaja Naval College, where the first Latvian sea border guards began their training. It was basically the first naval subunit. On February 10, 1992, the first battle unit of the National Navy was established in Liepaja - the Navy Division, which included the Training Center. The first commander of the division was the sea captain Ilmars Lešinskis, who led it until April 1998. On March 16, 1992, three former LSSR fish resource monitoring vessels were involved in the Liepaja Division, which were deployed on their own for the needs of the Coast Guard.

The most important event in the Navy since the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia was the hoisting of the flag on the first ship of the restored fleet "Sams" on April 11, 1992, and this day is considered to be the rebirth of the Latvian Navy.

In 1992, not only the Naval Division was established in Liepaja (from January 12, 1993 - the Southern District of the Naval Forces), but also the Naval Forces Headquarters of the Defense Forces Headquarters of the Republic of Latvia (from June 1, 1994 - the Naval Headquarters). The 7th Ventspils Border Guard Battalion, established on the coast of Kurzeme in February 1992, was included in the Navy; At the end of 1993 , it was reformed and the Coast Guard Battalion was formed. Since the reorganization on 1 July 1999, this unit had been transformed into the Radio Technical Battalion (since 2004 - the Maritime Surveillance and Communications Service), which ensures the functioning of the Maritime Surveillance System and the Naval Force Command System. In 1993, the Naval Forces Central District was established in Riga and the Coast Guard Battalion in Ventspils was transferred to the Naval Forces.

From 1992 to 1993 the Naval Forces included: Ribnadzor class ships - KA-04 «Sams», KA-02 «Spulga», KA-03 «Kometa», KA-05 Gauja », A-18 "Thunder" (Polish gift), A-51 "Pike", P-01 "Lightning" (German gift), as well as "Kristaps" class (Swedish gift) ships - KA-01 "Kristaps", KA-06 "Light », KA-07« Ausma », KA-08« Saule », KA-09« Klints », KA-10. From 1994 to 1995 - Kondor class II (German donation) vessels M-01 Viesturs and M-02 Imanta, as well as Storm class (Norwegian donation) vessels P-04 Bulta , KA-11 and KA-12 «Garnet». From 1999 to 2002 - Lindau class ship M-03 "Namejs" and "Storm" class ships P-02 "Lode", P-03 "Linga", P-01 "Lightning", as well as SAR class ship KA-14 «Astra».

One of the most important events in the co-operation of the Baltic States was the establishment of the joint Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian ship unit Baltic Sea Squadron ( BALTRON ) in 1998. Marine Commander Ilmars Lešinskis, Commander of JS Southern District , was appointed its first commander. The aim of the project is to ensure the constant readiness of the Baltic Sea force's mine search vessels to participate in the performance of national tasks and in the operations carried out by the NATO Mine Action Unit. At the same time, BALTRON promotes interoperability and co-operation between the navies of the Baltic States. A training base of the Baltic Naval Forces was established, which includes several structural units, most of which (Mine School, Mine Equipment Repair Center, Diver Training Center and Weapons Equipment Workshop) are located in Latvia, one - also in Lithuania.

Achievements of 2003:

• the professional skills of personnel, the combat ship and staff command and control capabilities have been enhanced:
• planning and commanding of the mine clearance operation “MCOPLAT 03”;
• participation in the mine clearance operation “OPEN SPIRIT 03”;
• participation in the international and local sea and staff exercises;
• drills of crews have been increased:
• participation in the working groups on the NATO war ship armament;
• participation in the BALTRON project;
• a mine laying vessel of VIDAR Class had been procured (on duty as a command and logistics vessel within BALTRON);
• updating of the Submarine Database had been continued;
• participation in the MOST (Maritime Operation Sea Training).

Plans for 2004:

• integration of Latvian countermine vessels to the unified countermine vessel unit of NATO, which is a part of the Mine Counter Measures Force North (MCMFORNORTH);
• by December 2004, certify the locations of storing the NATO classified documentation at the Naval Forces’ Staffs, units and vessels, which participate within the NATO forces;
• by December 2004, procure the NATO-compliant encrypting equipment to be used in the ultra-short wave communications network;
• within the BALTRON project continue the vessel and staff personnel drills;
• participate in mine clearance operations and NATO-led exercises;
• implement the NATO requirements on protection of mine-clearing vessels against NBCweapons (NBC) and inspect the current NBC systems;
• by July 2004, implement the NATO requirements on physical fields of the mine-clearing vessels and perform their de-magnetisation;
• by December 2004, commence procurement of active impact trawls for countermine vessels;
• continue to update the Submarine Database;
• build docks in Riga (Daugavgriva);
• by December 2004, produce the technical specifications and announce a tender for establishing
• test the vessel m-03 at MOST (Maritime Operation Sea Training);
• review options to procure an oil clearing vessel;
• review options to build ships;
• continue the professionalisation of NF.

In 2003, Latvia received a 65-meter-long Vidar -class minesweeper Vale N-53 from Norway , which was given the name A-53 Virsaitis. In 2004, Latvia acquired another ship - the 59-meter-long A-90 "Buyskes" from the Netherlands, which in Latvia was given the name "Hero". On August 24, 2005, the Latvian government signed an agreement to purchase five 52-meter-long Alkmaar -class minesweepers for the Navy. In total, Latvia had to pay almost 60 million euros for five ships. Consequently, the rapid modernization of the Latvian Navy began in order to increase the fleet's combat capabilities and capabilities to perform basic tasks.

Between 2011 and 2014, the Navy acquired five Skrunda-class patrol vessels. On 18 April 2011 the flag was raised on the first patrol ship P-05 «Skrunda». Since August 2012, the Maritime Surveillance and Communication Service was operating a new Maritime Surveillance System for identifying targets at sea.

In 2007, for the first time, the JSF Minesweeper M-03 "Namejs" was included in the 1st permanent NATO mine action unit. At the end of June 2017, for the first time , Latvia was entrusted with the command of NATO's 1st Permanent Minesweeper Group. In turn, the ship A-53 "Virsaitis" acted as the headquarters ship of NATO's 1st Permanent Minesweeper Group. The ship was prepared to meet all NATO requirements. At the same time, the staff team was recruited.

The decision on the armed forces in the operation "Atalanta " , the Saeima adopted on 2 September 2010. The operation had a mandate to defend World Food Program humanitarian and African Union military missions in Somalia ( AMISOM ), to deter, prevent and suppress piracy and armed robbery, to defend ships in distress, and to assist in the monitoring of fisheries off the coast of Somalia. Membership operation continues.

By participating in the European Union (EU) military operation "EUNAVFOR Med » , established to combat trafficking in human beings in the Mediterranean Sea and the beginning of the period was intended for trafficking and smuggling networks Assessment, 2015 June 21, Marine force flotilla on an operational headquarters sent the first officer - Lieutenant Captain Tali Dzerve. On October 7, 2015, the second phase of the operation began, which involved intercepting smugglers' boats in international waters. One Navy flotilla officer is sent on a rotating basis every 6 months to participate in the operation.

In 2015, the naval fleet vessels participated in the following international exercises: Dynamic Move 15 , Baltic SAREX , SQEX 1/14 , Baltic Fortress 2015 , Open Spirit , BALTOPS 2015 , BALEX Delta 15 » , « SQEX 2/14 » , « NOCO 2015 » , « Trident Juncture » , « NCAGS CPX » , « FLOTEX 15 In 2016, the naval fleet vessels and personnel participated in the following international exercises: SQUADEX I / 16 , SQUADEX II / 16 , Baltic Fortress 2016 , Open Spirit 2016 , BALTOPS 2016 , Dynamic Move 2016 , «BALEX Delta 2016» , «NOCO 2016» , «EODEX 2016» , «GUARDEX 2016» , «Joint Warrior 2016» .

On April 11, 1995, the Navy received the miraculously preserved Navy flag with the historical motto "We are united by the Holy Name of Latvia" on its anniversary. In 1938, it was presented to seafarers by representatives of the joint stock companies Vairogs, Tosmare and Liepajas Drašu fabrika. The silk flag was made in Liepaja according to the drawings of engineer Janis Zarinš. The flag disappeared in 1940 and was considered lost until 1995.

By 2017, a total of 26 naval auxiliaries had been assigned to the Navy fleet. They represent a variety of professions, from historians, cultural workers, actresses and singers to business women and painters. A designated person shall be appointed as the aunt of the warship by order of the Commander of the Navy. The rights and obligations of the ship's aunt are specified in special regulations. Aunt had a tradition of giving their family name to the ship's crew. The hallmark of the Aunt is a white scarf with the Navy logo. The Navy invites ship aides to participate in all public events.

According to the Regulations of the Commander of the Defense Forces approved in 1993, a ship's godmother can become an adult, eligible citizen with high spiritual and moral qualities. The aunt's moral duty is to acquaint the public, as far as possible, with the ship's service, the course and results of combat training, the living conditions of the crew, to promote the cultural and spiritual level of the ship's crew members, as well as other duties. The ship's aunt may be appointed only once for the duration of the ship's stay.