During the Communist-run governments of the Provisional Military Administrative Council (also known as the Derg, 1974–1977) and the dictatorial Mengistu (1977–1991), the Ethiopian navy grew under the influence of the Soviet Union.
Training: Officer training - The 1984 class comprised 48 ensigns; typical of the size of classes in subsequent years. After the rise of the Communist government in Ethiopia, select members of the navy attended the Soviet Union’s naval academy in Leningrad.
Enlisted training - Seamen, technicians, and marines enlisted men were trained at Mitsiwa; their term of service was for seven years.
Forces: By early 1991, the Ethiopian navy was a 3,500-strong force, with the following vessels:
• two frigates
• eight missile craft
• six torpedo craft
• six patrol boats
• two amphibious craft
• two support/training craft
Final disposition: The Ethiopian navy was finally dissolved after the independence of Eritrea in 1991. At that time, many ships were sold for scrap in Djibouti, such as the four Peyta-class gas turbine-powered frigates Ethiopia had acquired from the Soviet Union.
The navy also had four Osa-class missile boats, one of which is still in use by Eritrea. Though Eritrea wished to purchase up to 16 of the former Ethiopian ships, plans were dropped in September 1996 to avoid exacerbating an international confrontation with Yemen.
Keywords: Derg, Mengistu, Yemen, Ethiopia, Eritrea,
10 responses so far ↓
1 Zelalem // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:32 am
The ex-Ethiopian navy was also equiped with two Russian made shore Missile Lounching complex,each can cary P21/22 winged missiles.The system was managed by about 10 officers, 40 marines and seamen,who were trained for about 14 months in then USSR , with diffrent diciplines.
2 Fresenay Kebede Gebreyes // Jan 22, 2008 at 10:40 am
The Ethiopian Navy Missile Boats, During the Derg regime was only 4(four) and Torpedo Boats was only four(4).
3 Hailu Bekele Eshetu // Jan 23, 2008 at 11:46 am
There were two mine sweepers in eEthiopian navy and both were not used for the purpose they were designed to.
4 Hailu Bekele Eshetu // Jan 23, 2008 at 11:56 am
Most of the Officers of Ethiopian navy were trained in Baku Azerbajan (former USSR).
5 Fresenay Kebede // May 18, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I would like to salute to all the former Ethiopian Navy members, Please any person who have the previous History of our the legendiary Ethiopian Navy photographs or movies; you can download it in youtube to remind and to keep it up forever. We expect this from the former Ethiopian Navy Journalists. Thank you
6 Fred Alikoma // Jun 9, 2008 at 7:29 pm
While this all sounds great and precious to the one time Ethiopian Navy, that never engaged or used its the navy. I say why all this money for a 100 officers when the nation was starving after the drought. I am Ethiopian living in Bulgaria for 30 years and still love Ethiopia. It just hurts me so bad because i can’t get the image of the Ethiopian child displayed on the news since 1984, around the world every time news about Ethiopian shortage of food. The child with a cracker/biscuit in his hand and taking small bites of it not because he was nibbling on it but it was because that is all he can chew due to loss of energy and appetite from starvation. Shame on the Ethiopian government to let this happen at that time.
7 Tamane // Aug 18, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Is there any one 1969 intake
8 Tamane // Aug 18, 2008 at 3:06 pm
http://www.travel-images.com/ethiopia431.jpg
9 Tamane // Aug 18, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Our GB still alive still strong now in Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia: patrol boats on lake Tana
http://www.travel-images.com/ethiopia431.jpg
10 Fresenay // Sep 25, 2008 at 10:02 am
Tamane! stiill now no change? Did you Loving the only your intake? Some of of 1969 intake needs themselves only, why? we live together, we eat together, we wound together, our Brothers died for country Ethiopia together, we serve together the Navy to our country Ethiopia. please be cherishing all the Navy members We are Brothers. Thank you informed to us about GB.
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