Latvian Naval Forces

Latvian Naval Forces
Active	1918-1940, 1991-
Country	Latvia
Branch	Naval Force
Role	To defend Latvian territorial sea from external threats, conduct military and rescue operations.
Commanders
Current commander	Commander in Chief flotiles admirālis Ingus Vizulis
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack

Latvian Naval Forces (Latvian: Latvijas Jūras Spēki) is a branch of the National Armed Forces tasked with conducting military and rescue operations at sea. The NF perform mine and explosive sweeping on the Baltic Sea, as well as search and rescue operations and ecological monitoring activities. The Naval Forces have participated in international NATO/Partnership for Peace operations and various exercises with great success. The main development priorities of the NF are to expand their activities within the Baltic States’ Ship Squadron BALTRON and to develop a Sea Surveillance System. They pay a great deal of attention to professionally specialized training and English-language teaching. One of the key tasks facing the NF is to develop its infrastructure.

History

Naval Forces minelayer A-53 “VIRSAITIS” in harbor

When Latvia regained its independence in 1991, it began recreating the Latvian Naval Forces under the command of Admiral (then Captain) Gaidis Zeibots. In 1994 the Naval Forces were composed of the Southern Region (in Liepāja), the Central Region (in Riga), the Coastal Defense Battalion (in Ventspils) and the Training Center (in Liepāja). The most important naval event of these early days of the re-established Latvian Republic occurred on April 11, 1991 when the Latvian flag was hoisted on the re-established Navy's first ship "SAMS." This date is now recognized as the rebirth of the Latvian Naval Forces.

In 1999 the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) was created with ships from the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Navies. Latvian Navy Captain Ilmars Lesinskis, then the Commander of the Southern District, was appointed to serve as the first commander of this multi-national force.

On July 1, 1999 Latvian Naval Forces were reorganized. The present structure was established on the basis of previous regional units – the War Ships Flotilla (HQ is in Liepāja), the Coast Guard Ships Flotilla in Riga (subunits are in Liepāja and Ventspils), the Coastal Defense Battalion in Ventspils (subunits are along the coast of the Baltic Sea and Riga Bay), the Training Center in Liepāja, the Logistic Base in Liepāja (subunits are in Riga and Ventspils).

On July 1, 2004 Latvian Naval Forces were reorganized again and since that time they consist of the Naval Forces Headquarters, Naval Forces Flotilla HQ with subunits, and the Coast Guard Service. The new structure make possible to organize personnel training and specialization better than before, as well as to share out responsibility between commanders.

As part of the program to equip the Naval Forces with modern assets, the first of a new generation of nationally made patrol vessels, made with German assistance, was launched in 2011.

Mission

Naval Forces divers in the evacuation of the cruise ship Mona Lisa

The Naval Force provides defense of the national territorial waters, carries out explosive ordnance disposal activities at sea and harbors, co-ordinates and carries out human search and rescue operations at sea within the national responsibility area. Warships of the Republic of Latvia have repeatedly made visits to foreign countries and have supported the visits of foreign warships and naval representatives in Latvia.

The warships of the Latvian Naval Forces Southern Region have participated in numerous international exercises (U.S. BALTOPS, COOPERATIVE JAGUAR, AMBER SEA, OPEN SPIRIT, etc.). These exercises have been conducted to NATO standards, which Latvian ships have successfully met.

The main tasks of Naval Forces are to:

• Ensure the defense of the territorial sea and internal waters of the State (except rivers and lakes);
• Perform a guarding of the coast and control the territorial sea and internal waters, as well as the exclusive economic zone;
• Ensure the readiness of units for mobilization and combat;
• Participate in ecological surveillance and search and rescue operations at sea, as well as take part in elimination of consequences of emergencies occurring at sea;
• Search for explosives at sea and destroy them;
• Secure for the State Border Guard according to the procedures specified by the Cabinet, with the technical means and vessels for the performance of their functions at sea.

Structure of Naval Forces

Naval Forces Headquarters

Naval Forces Flotilla Headquarters

• MCM Squadron (Mine Counter Measure)
• Patrol Boat Squadron
• Sea Surveillance and Communication Service
• MCM Equipment Maintenance and Repair Center
• Coast Guard Service

Ships in the Naval Forces

Current

Name	Picture	Origin	Class	Type	Built	Entered service (LNF)	Notes
Staff and support (Auxiliary)
A-53 Virsaitis		Norway	Vidar-class minelayer	Minelayer	1978	2003
A-90 Varonis		Netherlands	Buyskes class	Hydrographic survey vessel	1973	2004
Mine Warfare
M-04 Imanta		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2007
M-05 Viesturs		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2007
M-06 Tālivaldis		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2008
M-07 Visvaldis		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2008
M-08 Rūsiņš		Netherlands	Tripartite	Minehunter	1984	2011
Patrol
P-05 Skrunda		Germany	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2011	2011
P-06 Cēsis		Germany	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2011	2011
P-07 Viesīte		Latvia	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2011	2012
P-08 Jelgava		Latvia	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2013	2013
P-09 Rēzekne		Latvia	Skrunda	Patrol boat	2013	2014
Coast guard
KA-01 Kristaps		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1964	1993
KA-06 Gaisma		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994
KA-07 Ausma		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994
KA-08 Saule		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994
KA-09 Klints		Sweden	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1963	1994
KA-14 Astra		Finland	KBV	Coastal patrol boat	1996	2001

Retired

Name	Picture	Origin	Class	Type	Built	Entered service (LNF)	Left service (LNF)	Notes
Staff and support (Auxiliary)
A-18 Pērkons		Poland	Goliat	Tugboat	1960	1993	2011
Mine Warfare
M-01 Viesturs		GDR	Kondor II	Minehunter	1971	1994	2008
M-02 Imanta		GDR	Kondor II	Minehunter	1971	1994	2008
M-03 Namejs		FRG	Lindau	Minesweeper	1959	1999	2008
Patrol
P-03 Linga		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1968		2012
P-04 Bulta		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1967		2011
P-01 Zibens		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1967		2013
P-02 Lode		Norway	Storm	Patrol boat	1967		2013
Coast guard
KA-02 Spulga		USSR	Ribnadzor	Coastal patrol boat	1964	1992	2000	Crashed
KA-03 Komēta		USSR	Ribnadzor	Coastal patrol boat	1964	1992	2007
KA-04 Sams		Unknown	Unknown	Coastal patrol boat	1974	1992	1998

Ranks and ratings

	Flag Officers			Stabsoffiziere			Offiziere
Rank	Vice admiral viceadmirālis	Rear Admiral kontradmirālis	Rear Admiral (lower half) flotiles admirālis	Captain Navy jūras kapteinis	Commander komandkapteinis	Commander Junior grade komandleitnants	Lieutenant Commander kapteiņleitnants	Lieutenant virsleitnants	Lieutenant (junior grade) leitnants

	Senior ratings						Seamen
Ratings	Fleet chief petty officer augstākais bocmanis	Master chief petty officer galvenais bocmanis	Senior chief petty officer štāba bocmanis	Chief petty officer bocmanis	Petty officer seržants	Master seaman kaprālis	Leading seaman dižmatrozis	Seaman matrozis

References

• Latvian Ministry of Defense site
• Latvian Naval Forces Site