The Kazakh Naval Forces (Kazakh: Қазақстан Әскери-теңіз күштері, Qazaqstan Äskeri-teñız küşterı; Russian: Военно-морские силы Казахстана) is the naval force responsible for coastal defense, naval special warfare, and naval warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The navy mainly operates on the Caspian Sea and is currently based in the coastal city of Aktau.

Kazakh Naval Forces
Kazakh: Қазақстан Республикасының Әскери-теңіз күштері
Qazaqstan Respublikasynyñ Äskeri-teñız küşterı
Russian: Военно-морские силы Республики Казахстан
Kazakh naval emblem
Founded2 April 1993 (1993-04-02)
Country Kazakhstan
TypeNavy
RoleAerial reconnaissance
Aerial warfare
Air assault
Air-sea rescue
Airstrike
Amphibious reconnaissance
Amphibious warfare
Anti-aircraft warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-tank warfare
Artillery observer
Bomb disposal
CBRN defense
Clandestine operation
Close air support
Close-quarters combat
Coastal defence and fortification
Counter-battery fire
Counterintelligence
Countermeasure
Counterterrorism
Covert operation
Desert warfare
Direct action
Direct fire
Fire support
Force protection
Forward air control
Hostage rescue
HUMINT
Indirect fire
Intelligence assessment
Irregular warfare
ISTAR
Long-range penetration
Maneuver warfare
Maritime patrol
Medical evacuation
Military intelligence
Minesweeping
Mountain warfare
Naval boarding
Naval warfare
Parachuting
Patrolling
Raiding
Reconnaissance
SIGINT
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Tracking
Underwater demolition
Urban warfare
Size3,000 sailors and 14 patrol boats
Part ofArmed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan
HeadquartersAktau, Mangystau Region
Colors        Yellow, blue, black, and white
AnniversariesApril 2
May 7
Commanders
Supreme Commander-in-chiefKassym-Jomart Tokayev
Commander of the NavyRear Admiral Saken Bekzhanov[1]
Chief of StaffCaptain 1st rank Marat Janaev
Deputy CommanderCaptain 1st rank Yermek Baygabulov
Deputy CommanderColonel Yerbol Begildayev
Notable
commanders
Rear Adm. Ratmir Komratov
Insignia
Naval ensign
Naval ensign of the Border Service
Naval jack of Kazakhstan

The branch currently has a strength of 3,000 personnel and is mainly equipped with patrol crafts, minesweepers and a research vessel.

History

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Previously, the Soviet Navy's Caspian Flotilla served in the shores of the Kazakh SSR. Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, the fleet shrank, leaving the Kazakh contingent to serve as a basis for the newly formed navy. Kazakhstan's Naval Forces were established in April 1993 as a naval base of the Kazakh Army. The base, which was stationed in Aktau, initially became active in service on August 17, 1996, in spite of Kazakhstan being one of the largest landlocked countries on earth. In July 1999, the naval base became part of the Maritime units of the Border Guard Service of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan. It became a separate military branch by presidential decree on 7 May 2003. In February 2010, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in his position as supreme commander in chief of the entire military, presented the Battle Flag to the Kazakh Navy. The 612th Airbase in Aktau was opened a year later, in 2011.[2][3]

Structure

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Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, commander of United States Naval Forces Central Command greets Rear Admiral Ratmir Komratov prior to a meeting in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

The following units form the structure of the Kazakh Navy:[4]

  • Naval Headquarters
  • Special Forces Unit
  • Coastal Artillery
  • Caspian Flotilla
  • Border Service of the KNB

Aktau Naval Academy

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The Aktau Naval Academy of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan was the main educational institution of the naval forces. It established in March 2001 by order of the national government on the basis of the Vocational Technical School No. 2. which preceded it. It was reorganized into a naval institute on July 10, 2003, effectively upgrading its status as a nationally recognized military school. Graduates of the institute have served in ships and coastal units of the Navy and maritime units of the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2011, the institute was deactivated and liquidated.[5]

Commanders

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Vessel Origin Type In service Notes
Vessel
 Kazakhstan   Kazakhstan Missile boat 4[6][7]
 Mangistau   Kazakhstan /   Azerbaijan Missile boat 1 In December 2017, the flag of the Navy was raised on the ship in Aktau. The ship was commissioned into the Navy in October.[8] In July 2018, the ship arrived in Baku to participate in the "Sea Cup - 2018" international competition.[9][10]
Sea Dolphin   South Korea Fast patrol boat 3
Türk    Turkey Patrol boat 2[11]
Archangel   United States Patrol boat 3
Dauntless Patrol boat 1
Lashyn   Kazakhstan Patrol boat 1
OPV-62   Israel Patrol boat 2[11]
Shaldag    Israel
/   Azerbaijan
Go-fast boat 6[11] Assembled in Azerbaijan
Project 10750E   Russia Minesweeper 2 The first vessel was commissioned in 2017[12][13]
Project 01340G   Russia Research vessel 1 The ship is known to be a hydrographic ship. The vessel's name is Zhaiyk[14][15]
Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-27   Russia Fighter jets 2
Mil Mi-24   Russia Attack helicopters 12 [16]

Ranks and insignia

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Commissioned officer ranks

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Kazakh Naval Forces[17]
                                     
Жоғарғы Бас қолбасшының
Joğarğı Bas qolbasşınıñ
Адмирал
Admïral
Вице-адмирал
Vice-admïral
Контр-адмирал
Kontr-admïral
Бірінші дәрежелі капитан
Birinşi därejeli kapïtan
Екінші дәрежелі капитан
Ekinşi därejeli kapïtan
Үшінші дәрежелі капитан
Üşinşi därejeli kapïtan
Капитан-лейтенант
Kapïtan-leytenant
Аға лейтенант
Ağa leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant

Other ranks

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Kazakh Naval Forces[17]
                   
Шебер-старшина
Şeber-starşïna
Штаб-старшина
Ştab-starşïna
Бірінші сыныпты старшина
Birinşi sınıptı starşïna
Eкінші сыныпты старшина
Ekinşi sınıptı starşïna
Үшінші сыныпты старшина
Üşinşi sınıptı starşïna
Бас старшина
Bas starshyna
Бірінші сатылы старшина
Birinşi satılı starşïna
Екінші сатылы старшина
Ekinşi satılı starşïna
Аға матрос
Ağa matros
Матрос
Matros

References

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  1. ^ "Капитан 1 ранга Бекжанов Сакен Мансурович".
  2. ^ "Military "Balance in Europe 2011"". doi:10.1080/04597222.2011.559835. S2CID 219628702. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Основная информация | Военно-морские силы | Вооруженные силы РК | Структура | Министерство обороны Республики Казахстан (МО РК)".
  4. ^ "Казахстанский военный сайт - Военно-морской флот Казахстана: ВМС МО РК и БОХР ПС КНБ РК".
  5. ^ "Военно-морской институт (Актау), специальности". edu.Resurs.kz. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Министерство обороны Республики Казахстан (МО РК)". mod.gov.kz. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Kazakhstan Navy Unveils Its First Ship". EurasiaNet.org. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  8. ^ "На ракетно-артиллерийском корабле "Мангистау" поднят флаг ВМС ВС РК". Tengrinews.kz (in Russian). 2017-12-21. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  9. ^ "Kazakhstan's warship arrived in Baku". MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  10. ^ Lada.kz (2019-07-31). "Военный корабль "Мангыстау" примет участие в конкурсе в Азербайджане". Lada.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  11. ^ a b c Trade Registers. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 29 May 2015
  12. ^ "Janes | Latest defence and security news". Janes.com.
  13. ^ "Use of the Tengrinews English materials must be accompanied by a hyperlink to en.Tengrinews.kz". 15 July 2013.
  14. ^ Pike, John. "Kazakhstan Navy". www.globalsecurity.org.
  15. ^ "Kazakh naval vessels participate in 2017 Sea Cup in Azerbaijan - The Astana Times". 8 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Military Balance in Asia 2011"., March 07, 2011, pages 55-56
  17. ^ a b "Қазақстан Республикасының Қарулы Күштері, басқа да әскерлері мен әскери құралымдары әскери қызметшілерінің әскери киім нысаны және айырым белгілері туралы". adilet.zan.kz (in Kazakh). Ministry of Justice (Kazakhstan). 25 August 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2021.