Egyptian Navy The Egyptian Navy is the maritime branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces . It is the largest navy in Africa and Middle East and the Arab World , and is the seventh largest in the world measured by the number of vessels . The navy ' s missions include protection of more than 2 , 000 kilometers of coastline of the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea , defense of approaches to the Suez Canal , and support for army operations . The majority of the Egyptian Navy was created with the help of the Soviet Union in the 1960s . The navy received ships in the 1980s from China and other , western , sources . In 1989 , the Egyptian Navy had 18 , 000 personnel as well as 2 , 000 personnel in the Coast Guard . History . Egypt has had a Navy since Ancient Egyptian times . The Ancient Egyptian Navy have fought many battles as the Delta battle against the sea people . Several Ancient Egyptian solar ships are still present today . Fleet operations and missions . The navy ' s main operational subdivisions are the Frigate , Corvette , Submarine , Mine Warfare , Missile Boat , and Coastal Patrol Boat commands . Commanding the naval forces is Vice Admiral Moheb Memish . Naval air coverage . The navy lacks its own air arm and depends on the Egyptian Air Force for maritime reconnaissance and protection against submarine s . The Egyptian Air Force equipment that supports the navy includes the following : In mid - 1988 the air force also took delivery of the first of 6 Grumman E - 2C Hawkeye aircraft , now 8 units are operational and are used to secure the maritime borders among other missions ; it also operates 6 Beechcraft 1900C aircraft for maritime surveillance purposes with search and side - looking radar . The Egyptian Navy also uses Mil Mi - 8 and Sea King helicopters to transport troops . Modernization projects . The Egyptian Navy has adopted the 60m diesel - powered Ambassador MK III fast missile patrol craft . The construction of the boats began in spring 2001 . Egypt already had an older version of the Ambassador patrol craft in service , but the new boats would contain an update in design meant to make the vessels more resistant to radar detection . Design was conducted with the assistance of Lockheed Martin . Historical naval operations and engagements . The Egyptian navy was only peripherally involved in the series of conflicts with Israel . During the Suez Crisis War , Egyptian destroyers and torpedo boats engaged larger British vessels in a move aimed at undermining the amphibious operations of the British and French . However , the " Ibrahim el Awal " sent to shell Haifa was captured by the Israeli Navy with the assistance from Israeli Air Force . The Egyptian blockade of ships in the Strait of Tiran that were headed toward Israel helped precipitate the Six - Day War . The navy ' s most significant action occurred in October 1967 , a few months after the cease - fire , when an Egyptian missile boat sank one of Israel ' s two destroyers off Port Said . On 15 – 16 November 1969 , the Egyptian Navy frogmen attacked the port of Eilat and caused severe damages to the transport armed ship " Bat Yam " . On 5 – 6 February 1970 , the Frogmen attacked the Israeli landing ships at the same port and same piers causing severe damages to the landing ships " Bait Shivaa " and transport armed ships " Hydroma " . On 8 March 1970 the Frogmen attacked the Israeli oil drill " Keting " at the port of Abidjan in Ivory Coast providing that . Israel had bought this oil drill from Holland for the purposes of oil exploration in the Suez Gulf . In the Yom Kippur War , Egypt blocked commercial traffic to Elat in the Gulf of Aqaba by laying mines ; it also attempted to blockade Israeli ports on the Mediterranean . Using the coastal artillery to the east of Port Fouad to support the Land Forces in order to prepare for the assault of the Suez Canal . * Launching missile attacks against coastal targets . Carrying out tactical ambushes through the use of navy commandos behind the enemy defensive lines to the east of Port Said and along the Gulf of Suez . The current fleet . " See : List of ships of the Egyptian Navy for detailed information about modifications , and major specifications " The Egyptian Navy ( EN ) and coast guard currently consists of 321 ships and craft : The Egyptian Coast Guard . The Egyptian Coast Guard is responsible for the onshore protection of public installations near the coast and the patrol of coastal waters to prevent smuggling . Currently consists of one hundred five ships and craft . Bases . The Egyptian navy ' s main base is at Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea . Egypt ' s other Mediterranean naval bases are Port Said and Mersa Matruh . Additionally , Egypt has naval bases on the Red Sea at Hurghada , Safaga , Berenice and Suez . Records and milestones . In October 1967 the Egyptian Navy was the first navy in history to sink a ship using anti - ship missiles , when an Egyptian Komar class fast - attack craft sank the Israeli destroyer " INS Eilat " with two direct hits . This was a milestone of modern naval warfare , and for the first time anti - ship missiles showed their potential , sinking the destroyer at 17 km from Port Said . Navy exercises . In October 2008 , the Egyptian Navy launched the largest exercise in its history celebrating the Egyptian Armed Forces Day . The exercise is called victory 41 . About 44 vessels including frigates , submarine s , fast attack missile boats and landing ships conducted the exercise . References . 21 . http : / / www . defense - arabic . com / threads / % D8 % A7 % D9 % 84 % D8 % A8 % D8 % AD % D8 % B1 % D9 % 8A % D8 % A9 - % D8 % A7 % D9 % 84 % D9 % 85 % D8 % B5 % D8 % B1 % D9 % 8A % D8 % A9 - % D8 % AA % D8 % AA % D8 % B9 % D8 % A7 % D9 % 82 % D8 % AF - % D8 % B9 % D9 % 84 % D9 % 89 - 7 - % D9 % 85 % D8 % B1 % D9 % 88 % D8 % AD % D9 % 8A % D8 % A7 % D8 % AA - sh - 2g - % D9 % 84 % D9 % 85 % D9 % 83 % D8 % A7 % D9 % 81 % D8 % AD % D8 % A9 - % D8 % A7 % D9 % 84 % D8 % BA % D9 % 88 % D8 % A7 % D8 % B5 % D8 % A7 % D8 % AA . 10 /