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.
The branch currently has a strength of 3,000 personnel and is mainly equipped with patrol crafts, minesweepers and a research vessel.
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]
The following units form the structure of the Kazakh Navy:[4]
Main article: Military ranks of Kazakhstan |
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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 |