History
Prior to 1991, the Somali Navy participated in several joint exercises with the United States, Great Britain and Canada. It subsequently disbanded following the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia during that year.
Equipment
The Somali navy consisted of the following ships, along with various other warships.:
Osa-II missile-armed fast attack craft (2)
Mol PFT torpedo-armed fast attack craft (4)
Polnocny class landing ship
New Navy
In June 2009, the Somali navy was re-established with a new commander appointed: Admiral Farah Omar Ahmed. Up to 500 marines are training in Mogadishu with their training expected to finish in December 2009. They are the first batch of a 5000 strong navy force. In May 2010, construction also began on a new naval base in the town of Bandar Siyada located 25 km west of Bosaso, the commercial capital of the Puntland region. The new naval base is funded by the Puntland administration in conjunction with Saracen International, a UK-based security company. It will include a center for training recruits, and a command post for the naval force.
