Pakistan Navy

INTRODUCTION

Pakistan Navy is the naval force of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Its tasks are to defend coastal waters and offshore economic resources; and secure sea lines of communication and protect the merchant fleet. The Pakistan Navy is small but is highly motivated professional naval force, operationally capable of defending Pakistan coastline

HISTORY

The Royal Pakistan Navy was born on 14th August 1947 on the independence day of Pakistan. As the partitioned occurred between India and Pakistan, Armed Forces Reconstruction Committee (AFRC) divided the Royal Indian Navy between India and Pakistan. The Royal Pakistan Navy was handed two sloops, two frigates, four minesweepers, two trawlers, four harbour launches with some 3580 personnel consisted of 180 officers and 3400 ratings.

In 1956, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was proclaimed under the 1956 constitution. The prefix Royal was dropped and the service re-designated as Pakistan Navy. Pakistan Navy Jack and Pakistani Flag replaced the Queen’s color and the white ensign respectively

PRESENT

Today Pakistan Navy is one of the most professional naval forces in the world. It has more than 22,000 personnel and other 5,000 in reserve. The Pakistan Navy surface fleet is compromised of various squadrons according to the types of ships in service. Pakistan Navy currently operates 6 Amazon Type 21 Class destroyers, one Leander class frigate (training), 3 French Eridan Class mine hunter vessels, 4 Jalalat Class missile boats, including variety of other latest auxiliaries, tankers, missiles and patrol boats.

While the current surface fleet may not look good enough as the other modern navies continue to enjoy new ships and technology. The navy was able to succeed in upgrading these ships to modern standards technology. However, Pakistan Navy does operate one of the most advanced diesel-powered submarines in the world, French Agosta-90B currently two in service while the last one is under sea trials and close to be operational. Other than that Pakistan operates two Agosta-70 class submarines and three midget class submarines.

The Pakistan Navy Aviation wing may look small compare to the Army Aviation, however it does play significant role in the navy and will surely do so in the time of conflict. Pakistan Naval Aviation currently operates 3 Westland Lynx, 6 Westland Sea King Mk45, 8 Aerospatiale SA-319B Alouette III, 4 Lockheed P-3C Orion, 8 Fokker F27-200, 2-3 Breguet Atlantique I, and special wing of Mirage V anti-ship fighter aircrafts operated by Pakistan Air Force