History Albanian Naval Force

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 during socialist era
1.3 recent history

history
early history

the history of albanian navy dates general command of military powers in 1925, following creation of albanian republic. earlier efforts create albanian naval force following albanian independence in 1912 failed due start of world war i. in period albania possessed few naval vessels. following establishment of albanian kingdom king zog in 1928, navy reformed royal albanian navy.

following italian invasion of albania , second world war, albanian armed forces abolished , many ships destroyed in harbors of albania.

during socialist era

the history of people s republic of albania saw albania recovering result of italian occupation , world war ii. in 1945, shipyard built in durrës repair albania s remaining ships.

in mid-50s albania began modernize , expand navy. in 1954, torpedo boat unit , associated facility established on sazan island, off coast of durrës. submarine unit established in 1958. naval academy opened in vlorë in 1961.

until 1996 albania had more 145 vessels in service. 45 of them small, fast chinese type 25 huchuan class pht torpedo boats, carrying two/four 533 mm torpedoes, , shanghai-class coastal asw patrol craft. glory of fleet 4 soviet built whiskey class submarines, direct result of albanian-soviet dispute on ownership, after albania withdrew warsaw pact (1961) , soviets abandoned pasha liman base. submarines put full service chinese assistance, end of 80 s efficiency in doubt due albanian isolation , end of chinese help.

recent history

the collapse of people s socialist republic of albania began in 1990s , finalized 1992 elections , founding of 4th albanian republic. fall of communism in albania ushered in new era of cooperation between navies of albania , other european nations. starting in 90s, albania began take part in numerous search , rescue exercises alongside other european nations.

vessels of albanian navy damaged during 1997 political conflict. in march 1998, albanian navy docked in italy repair , refuge. naval force s facilities damaged in conflict , repairs made of united states, italy, germany, greece, turkey, , other countries. in same year, albania retired 4 whiskey class submarines.

as result of numerous agreements made between 1998 , 2004, albania received donated patrol vessels united states , italy use in search , rescue operations. united states donated 5 boats in 1998, italy donated 6 boats in 2002, , italy donated 5 in 2004.

in 2004, albania entered agreement italy wherein italian navy provided equipment , technical assistance albanian naval force in order upgrade country s aids navigation.

in june 2007, albania renamed , reorganized navy. newly named naval force thereafter organized 2 flotillas , logistics battalion.