Sri Lanka Navy

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Sri Lanka Navy

Components
Sri Lanka Navy
Volunteer Naval Force
Fast Attack Flotilla
Naval Patrolmen
Special Boat Squadron
History
History of the Sri Lanka Navy
Ships
Current Fleet
Historic Ships
Personnel
Commander of the Navy
Naval Ranks

Sri Lanka Navy
Sri Lanka Navy Insignia
Active	December 9, 1950–present
Country	Sri Lanka
Role	Naval and Maritime Defense
Size	20,000
Part of	Ministry of Defence
Naval Headquarters	SLNS Parakrama, Colombo
Motto	Rata wata run weta Sinhala - (The golden fence around the country)
Anniversaries	December 9 (Navy Day)
Engagements	World War II 1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War
Commanders
Commander of the Navy	Vic. Adm. Wasantha Karannagoda, RSP, USP, SLN
Notable commanders	Admiral W.W.E.C. Fernando VSV, ndc, psc, SLN  †

The Sri Lankan Navy is the key maritime division of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and is classed as the most vital defence force of Sri Lanka. It conducts maritime operations at sea for the defence of the Sri Lankan nation and its interests. The Sri Lankan Navy is comprised of five commands each being commanded by a flag officer and is ultimately commanded by the Commander of the navy, who exercises his command from the Naval Headquarters in Colombo. The rank structure of the Sri Lankan navy follows that of the Royal Navy.

Sri Lanka situated in the middle of major sea lanes passing through the Indian Ocean was always a magnet for sea farers. In 1937 the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force (CNVF) was established. After World War II CNVF was absorbed into the Royal Navy as the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (CRNVR). After independence from British rule, a nucleus of 100 Officers and Men prepared to form the Regular Navy gradually. On 9 December 1950 the Navy Act was enacted and Royal Ceylon Navy was formed. In 1972, with Sri Lanka becoming a Republic and the introduction of new constitution Royal Ceylon Navy was renamed as the Sri Lanka Navy. In recent years it had played a key role in the Sri Lankan civil war, conducting deep sea, costal & inshore patrols, amphibious and supply operations. The navy has its own elite special forces unit, the Special Boat Squadron.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Military of Sri Lanka is the President of the country and so the Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lanka Navy too. The professional head of the navy is the Commander of the Navy, at present Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda.

Contents 1 Role 2 History 2.1 The Beginning and World War II 2.2 Royal Ceylon Navy 2.3 Recent years 3 Organisation 3.1 Naval Headquarters 3.2 Area Commands 3.3 Branches 4 Training 5 Fleet 5.1 Offshore Patrol Vessels 5.2 Corvette 5.3 Fast missile vessels 5.4 Patrol vessels 5.5 Logistic vessels 5.6 Equipment 6 Fleet Air Arm 7 Special Forces 8 Naval Patrolmen 9 Provost Branch 10 Personal 10.1 Parama Weera Vibhushanaya recipients 10.2 Notable fallen members 10.3 Women in the Sri Lanka Navy 11 See also 12 References 13 External links and Additional References

[edit] Role

The role of the Sri Lanka Navy is

“

Navy is the most vital defence force of an island nation. The maritime role is to conduct operations at sea for the defence of the nation and its interests.[1]

”

[edit] History

[edit] The Beginning and World War II

In January, 1938 the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force (CNVF) was created with Commander W.G. Beauchamp as Commanding Officer.On 31 August 1939 at the out set of World War 2, the CNVF was mobilized for war duties. Three years later, the CNVF was offered to, and accepted by the Royal Navy (RN) as a Volunteer Reserve, the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (CRNVR). It continued under the Royal Navy operational and administrative command until March 1946. With the end of the war, it reverted to Ceylon Government Control, though yet CRNVR in name. In the 1939-1946 period, the CRNVR carried out several operational duties, mainly at sea. Cutting its teeth on the Port Commission Tugs Samson and Goliath, it later manned and operated trawlers and Antarctic whalers converted as Minesweepers and fitted out with guns, submarine detection equipment and anti-submarine weaponry. They were the HMS Overdale Wyke (the first ship to be purchased by the Government of Ceylon), HMS Okapi, HMS Semla, HMS Sambhur, HMS Hoxa, HMS Balta and HM Tugs Barnet and C 405. In addition the CRNVR manned several Motor Fishing Vessels (MFV), Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) and miscellaneous auxiliary vessels. All were manned exclusively by CRNVR personnel. These ships were meant to sweep and guard the approaches the harbors but were often used on extended missions outside Ceylon waters. In the course of these operations, the ships came under enemy fire recovered essential information from Japanese Air Craft that where shot down, sailed to Akyab after the Burma front was opened in two FMVs for harbour duties and, was called upon to accept the surrender of the Italian Light Cruiser Eritrea and escort her to the Colombo port with a prize crew on board.

[edit] Royal Ceylon Navy

After Independence from British rule in 1948 the government believed a island nation should possess a strong navy to be it first line of defense. Therefore on 9 December 1950 the Royal Ceylon Navy was created with Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve forming the nucleus. The first war ship was commissioned HMCyS Vijaya a Algerian class Minesweeper, ex-HMS Flying Fish along with other patrol boats and tugs. Later the fleet was expanded with, HMCyS Parakram another Algerian class Minesweeper (ex-HMS Pickle), two Canadian built "River" class Frigates HMCyS Mahasena (ex-HMCS Violetta, Orkney and ex-Israeli ship Mivtach), HMCyS Gajabahu (ex-HMCS Hallowell, ex-Israeli Misnak) and Ocean going Tug(ex-HMS Adept). During this time the navy took part in several joint naval exercises and a goodwill mission visiting the far east. However the expansion of the navy was dramatically halted in 1962 when the captain of the navy who was relieved of command at the time was implicated in a attempted military coup. The navy suffered a great deal as result of the governments retribution that followed, with several of its ships sold off, reduced its size by stoppage of recruitment of officers cadets and sailors for over seven years, the loss of important Bases and Barracks and the stoppage of training in England. As a result the navy was poorly prepared when in 1971 the 1971 JVP Insurrection began, the navy had to send its sailors for ground combat operations against the insurgents.

In 1972 the "Dominion of Ceylon" became the "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" and the Royal Ceylon Navy became the Sri Lanka Navy. The Naval Ensign along with the Flag Officers' flags were redesigned. The term "Captain of the Navy", introduced in the Navy Act, was changed to "Commander of the Navy", in keeping with the terminology adopted by the other two services. Finally, "Her Majesty's Ceylon Ships" (HMCyS) became "Sri Lankan Naval Ships" (SLNS).

[edit] Recent years

At the begin of the civil war in the 1980’s the navy found it self poorly equipped to face the new threats the LTTE created. But this was soon over come by increasing the fleet of patrol boats and the introduction of fast attack crafts. These proved highly successful in limiting the LTTE’s use of the seas. The weapon systems on these were upgraded with time as the sea tigers resorted to using sophisticated suicide crafts against naval crafts. During this time the navy took part in its first amphibious operation in its history. The size of the force along with the fleet increased in the years of war. In the early 80’s a land combat force was created witch at first limited it self to base defense and as its numbers increased took part in offensive operations against the LTTE along with the Sri Lankan Army. An elite naval special forces unit called the Special Boat Squadron was created in the late 80’s based on the British Special Boat Service. It was during this time in 1992 Admiral W.W.E.Clancy Fernando, the commander of the navy was assassinated by a suicide bomb attack by the LTTE. In 2000 the Navy started a fleet air arm (FAA) by acquiring a HAL Chetak from India. Currently the FAA operates from the three Offshore Patrol Vessels of the fleet. During the same time conventional warfare capability is increased by the addition of Missile Corvettes.

Following the resumptions of hostilities between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE since early 2006, the navy has take an active role in limiting the LTTE's use of the seas. This has resulted in several major sea battles curring the course of 2006, 2007 and most likely continue in to the near future. Most significant of the events during this time were the interception and sinking of several large cargo ships that were brining illegal arms shipments to the LTTE in the Indian Ocean. These naval operations have proven the blue water capability of the Sri Lankan Navy.

[edit] Organisation

[edit] Naval Headquarters

The professional head of the navy is the Commander of the Navy (C of N), at present Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and reports directly to the Minister of Defence. The Commander of the Navy exercises operational and administrative control of the Navy from naval headquarters, Colombo. He is assisted by the Chief of Staff (C of S), at present Rear Admiral Jayanath Colombage, who along with Director Generals and Directors comprise the Board of Management (BOM) and Board of Directors (BOD) of the Sri Lanka Navy.

[edit] Area Commands

The Navy has five commands (or Naval Areas), each under the control of a flag officer for effective command and administrative control. This is in order to efficiently maintain all ships, crafts and vehicles; and to ensure the operational readiness of commands and units each area shall have its own harbour/ base, repair and refitting facilities, signal centres, logistic, civil engineering and medical facilities.

Five Area Commands

• Eastern Naval Area
• North Central Naval Area
• Northern Naval Area
• Southern Naval Area
• Western Naval Area

[edit] Branches

Sri Lanka Navy consists following branches;

• Executive Branch
  • Navigation and Direction
  • Communications
  • Gunnery
  • Missiles
  • Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
  • Diving
  • Hydrography
• Engineering Branch
• Medical Branch
• Logistics Branch
• Electrical Branch
• Naval Patrolman Branch
• Information Technology Branch
• Musical Branch
• Legal Branch
• Provost Branch

[edit] Training

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) formed in 1981 and situated in Ratmalana, fourteen kilometers south of Colombo, is Sri Lanka's only university specializing in defense studies. Each year, approximately fifty cadets from all three services are admitted to the university (aged 18-22) to participate in a three-year program of academic work and basic training.^[2]

Senior officers of the ranks of Lieutenant Commander and Commander are given advanced training and education at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) at Batalanda, Makola which was established in 1997 as the Army Command and Staff College.

Basic officer training is carried out at the Naval & Maritime Academy at the SLN Dockyard in Trincomalee and short/specialized officer training is conducted at the SLNS Gemunu, Welisara. This training includes theoretical aspects covered at the training institute followed by a practical exposure on board the Sri Lanka Navy fleet at sea.

Basic training for new recruits (approximately six months) are conducted at Advanced Naval Training Center, SLNS 'Nipuna'; Naval Artificer Training Institute, SLNS 'Thakshila', Welisara; and at Naval Recruit Training Centres at several shore establishments . This basic training will be followed by on-the-job training on-board fleet units and at shore establishments. Combat Training School at SLNS 'Pandukabaya' conducts combat training for Naval Patrolmen

Additional training is carried out in UK, India, Pakistan, Australia.

Main training establishments,

• Naval & Maritime Academy - SLN Dockyard
• Advanced Naval Training Centre - SLNS 'Nipuna'
• Naval Artificer Training Institute - SLNS 'Thakshila'
• Naval Recruit Training Centre - SLNS 'Shiksha'
• Naval Recruit Training Center/Combat Training School - SLNS 'Pandukabaya'

[edit] Fleet

Main article: Current Sri Lanka Navy ships

The Sri Lankan Naval fleet consists of above fifty combat, support ships and inshore patrol crafts.

[edit] Offshore Patrol Vessels

• SLNS Sayura
• SLNS Samudura
• SLNS Sagara

[edit] Corvette

• Missile Corvette

[edit] Fast missile vessels

• Saar 4 Class missile boats (Nandimithra Class)
  • SLNS Nandimithra
  • SLNS Suranimala

[edit] Patrol vessels

• Type 037 class submarine chaser
  • SLNS Parakramabahu (P 351)
• Fast gun boats
  • Haizhui II class
  • Haizhui class (Ranasiri class)
  • Jayasagara class (Locally built)
  • Shanghai II class
  • Shanghai class
• Fast attack crafts
  • Super Dvora Mk III
  • Super Dvora Mk II
  • Dvora
  • Shaldag class
  • Colombo class (Locally built)
  • Simonneau class
  • Chevron class
  • Trinity Marine class
• Coastal patrol crafts
• Inshore patrol crafts

[edit] Logistic vessels

• Landing ship tank(LST)
  • SLNS Shakthi
• Landing craft mechanizeds(LCM)
• Landing craft utilitys(LCU)
• ABS M-10 LSC Hovercraft^[3]
• Fast personal carriers (Catamarans)
• Auxiliary vessels

[edit] Equipment

• Gabriel - Anti-ship missile
• Typhoon - Naval Optronic Stabilized Weapon Platforms

[edit] Fleet Air Arm

With the navy deploying offshore patrol vessels (opv) in its fleet since 2001 when SLNS Sayura was commissioned, the navy has been considering the development of a fleet air arm to operate from these offshore patrol vessels. Two types of helicopters are believed to be able to operate from these ships are being tested by the navy. They include;

• HAL Chetak
• HH-65 Dolphin

[edit] Special Forces

Main article: Special Boat Squadron

The navy has its own elite special forces unit, the Special Boat Squadron. Established in the 1980s SBS was modeled after the Special Boat Service of the Royal Navy. It has roles in naval special operations such as amphibious raids, Maritime Counter-Terrorism, Reconnaissance and target indication, combat swimmer missions and small boat operations. As a Special Forces unit, its role is not limited to water-borne operations. It also conducts operations on land, either with ground combat units of the Navy and the Army, or separately.

[edit] Naval Patrolmen

A branch formed recently to augment the land combat capabilities of SLN. Effectively members of this branch are soldiers of the navy performing the role of naval infantry. Originally limited for base and harbors security. In recent years Naval Patrolmen have taken parting offensive and defensive operations against the LTTE in conjunction with the army or independently, using both infantry and light armored units.

[edit] Provost Branch

The Naval Provost branch of the Sri Lanka Navy is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining discipline and enforcement of law and order among the Naval personnel by way of prevention of crimes, detection of crimes, apprehension of offenders, conducting preliminary investigations for necessary disciplinary action and providing assistance to all naval authorities on all disciplinary and other connected matters.

[edit] Personal

[edit] Parama Weera Vibhushanaya recipients

• Lieutenant-Commander Jude Lakmal Wijethunge †

[edit] Notable fallen members

• Admiral W.W.E.Clancy Fernando  † - Commander of the Navy
• Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha  † - Commander Northern Naval Area ^[4]

[edit] Women in the Sri Lanka Navy

Today women are recruited to both the regular and volunteer forces. Although at first limited to the medical branch currently both lady officers and female rates are able to join any branch of service including the executive branch as well. In 2007 the navy appointed its first ever Lady Commodore, Surgeon Commodore Indranee Y. Amarasinghe.^[5]

[edit] See also

• Military of Sri Lanka
• Commander of the Navy
• Military ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Navy
• Special Boat Squadron
• Naval and Maritime Academy
• Sri Lankan Civil War

[edit] References

[edit] External links and Additional References

• Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Navy
• General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy

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