Armée des Bahamas / Royal Bahamas Defence Force ( RBDF )

Note : Les Bahamas n'ont pas une armée terrestre ni une force aérienne, seulement une force navale composée de 3 patrouilleurs principalement, plusieurs vedettes rapides et une escadre aérien composé des quelques Jets de transport équipés pour les missions de surveillance maritime et de reconnaissance. Ceci peut s'expliquer par la nature du territoire de ce pays de l'espace caraïbe.
Le HMBS Bahamas ( P60 ) est l'un des 2 patrouilleurs de la classe Bahamas en service, elles sont les plus importantes unités de la RBDF.
Photo prise au port de Nassau, en Avril 2010

HMBS Bahamas ( P-60 )



HMBS Nassau ( P-61 )

Citation :

Following a six-year acquisition program, the Government of the Bahamas has announced the signing of a Letter of Intent to acquire 9 vessels for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The contract has been placed with Damen Shipyards Group, headquartered in Gorinchem, the Netherlands.
In announcing the contract, the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Bernard Nottage, stressed that his Government was determined to protect the security and economic well-being of the people of the Bahamas and this order was a powerful endorsement of this commitment.
The project will include the acquisition of a fleet of various vessel types and the upgrading and construction of three bases in the Bahamas.
The fleet of vessels includes a dedicated roll-on, roll-off landing craft (a Stan Lander 5612) which will be fitted with a 25 tonne crane and demountable disaster relief equipment. Special containers will be acquired to provide emergency relief, medical facilities, desalinated water and sanitary equipment which will rapidly be deployed in the event of a natural disaster. In addition, eight patrol vessels, four of the Damen Stan Patrol 4207 type and another four type SPa 3007, will join the Bahamas’ fleet.

http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2013/04/19/video-damen-announces-major-new-defence-contract/

Citation :

Damen vend 8 patrouilleurs, un chaland et trois bases navales aux Bahamas


22/04/2013


crédits : DAMEN

Le groupe néerlandais Damen a annoncé, le 19 avril, avoir signé une lettre d’intention avec les forces armées des Bahamas. Ce contrat majeur, qui doit être notifié prochainement, porte sur la réalisation de 8 patrouilleurs hauturiers et une unité logistique, ainsi que la construction de trois bases navales où les bâtiments seront positionnés. Il s’étalera sur une période de six ans, les livraisons devant débuter en 2014.

Huit patrouilleurs de la famille StanPatrol, développée par Damen, font partie de ce programme. Les plus grands sont du type SPa 4207. Conçu pour les missions hauturières, ce modèle mesure 42.8 mètres de long et peut dépasser la vitesse de 20 nœuds. Armé par un équipage de 24 hommes et capable de franchir 2450 milles à la vitesse de 12 nœuds, le SPa 4207 est doté d’un radar de surveillance, d’affûts légers et, à l’arrière, d’une rampe pour la mise à l’eau d’une embarcation rapide. Quatre unités de ce type vont être commandées.


Patrouilleur du type SPa 4207 (© : DAMEN)

Les Bahamas veulent également faire construire quatre autres patrouilleurs, du type SPa 3007. Ces bâtiments de 30.8 mètres de long, bénéficiant du design Sea Axe de Damen, sont optimisés pour les opérations côtières, avec un tirant d’eau limité à 2 mètres pour pouvoir opérer autour des îlots de l’archipel. Armés par un équipage de 13 hommes, les SPa 3007 pourront naviguer à plus de 20 nœuds et franchir 2000 milles à 10 nœuds.


Patrouilleur du type SPa 3007 (© : DAMEN)


Patrouilleur du type SPa 3007 (© : DAMEN)

Une unité de transport logistique

Le programme comporte également une unité logistique. Ce grand chaland de débarquement de 57 mètres de long et 11.9 mètres de large (du type RoRo 5612) aura pour mission de ravitailler les différentes îles des Bahamas, notamment pour le transport de fret, de personnel ou encore de véhicules. Il pourra également servir à la projection de forces ou encore pour une opération humanitaire suite à une catastrophe naturelle. Doté d’une rampe à l’avant, ce bâtiment pourra transporter 615 tonnes de fret sur son pont, d’une capacité de 36 EVP (Equivalent Vingt Pieds, taille standard du conteneur). Armé par 12 marins, il pourra accueillir 10 passagers.


Le futur chaland du type RoRo 5612 (© : DAMEN)

Avec ces nouveaux navires, les forces armées des Bahamas entendent renforcer leurs capacités de surveillance et de contrôle de la zone économique exclusive du pays, qui dispose d’une très vaste zone maritime. Les patrouilleurs auront notamment pour mission du lutter contre les trafics illicites (drogue, armes…) et l’immigration clandestine, tout en assurant le sauvetage en mer. On notera qu’en plus des nouveaux bâtiments, Damen va mener à bien la modernisation à mi-vie des patrouilleurs Bahamas et Nassau, lancés en 1999.


La future base navale de New Providence (© : DAMEN)

Le volet portuaire du programme

Le projet comporte, par ailleurs, un très important volet d’infrastructures portuaires. Allié au groupe néerlandais Van Oord, spécialisé dans les travaux de dragage, de construction maritime et de travaux offshore, Damen et son partenaire vont réaliser trois nouvelles bases navales. L’implantation principale sera située à Coral Port, sur l’île de New Providence. Elle comprendra notamment deux nouveaux quais de 395 mètres pour l’un et 170 mètres pour l’autre, avec une rampe pour les opérations roulières, le bassin ayant un tirant d’eau de 4.57 mètres. La future base pourra accueillir et assurer le soutien des nouveaux patrouilleurs et du futur chaland. En plus, le contrat verra la construction de deux autres points d’appui dans l’archipel. L’un à Gun Point, sur Ragged Island, et l’autre à Great Inagua. Ces nouveaux ports seront capables d’abriter les bâtiments militaires, qui pourront ainsi se pré-positionner dans les secteurs stratégiques du vaste archipel.


Le futur point d'appui de Ragged Island (© : DAMEN)

http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/damen-vend-8-patrouilleurs-un-chaland-et-trois-bases-navales-aux-bahamas

Citation :

 Bahamas inducts first vessels in fleet renewal effort

Jon Rosamond, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly  

Dutch company Damen Shipyards has begun delivering nine vessels ordered by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) as part
of a BSD232 million (USD228 million) fleet recapitalisation and port facilities enhancement programme.


The Royal Bahamas Defence Force's Legend-class offshore patrol craft, HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna (P421), was commissioned on
20 June 2014 and commenced its maiden operational deployment on 27 June. (Royal Bahamas Defence Force)


The first of four 42 m Legend-class (Stan Patrol 4207) offshore patrol craft, HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna (P421), was commissioned into service on 20 June, having completed its transatlantic delivery voyage in May, and commenced its maiden operational deployment on 27 June. Second of class, Durward Knowles (P422), arrived in Nassau on 9 July and is to be commissioned on 31 July.

The RBDF is also procuring four 30 m Stan Patrol 3007 coastal patrol craft, a single 59 m Stan Lander 5612 landing craft and nine rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) under the two-year Sandy Bottom programme, which is intended to address obsolescence, reliability and infrastructure issues caused by historic underinvestment in the Bahamian naval fleet and its shore facilities.

http://www.janes.com/article/41217/bahamas-inducts-first-vessels-in-fleet-renewal-effort

Citation :

First Stan Patrol 3007 Long range patrol vessel for Bahamas at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem


The first Damen Stan Patrol 3007 has arrived at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands for outfitting. The vessel is one of nine that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has ordered from Damen Shipyards. The order features four Stan Patrol 4207 vessels, one RoRo 5612 and a further three Stan Patrol 3007 vessels.

The first Damen Stan Patrol 3007 has arrived at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands for outfitting. The vessel is one of nine that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has ordered from Damen Shipyards. The order features four Stan Patrol 4207 vessels, one RoRo 5612 and a further three Stan Patrol 3007 vessels.
The First Stan Patrol 3007 for Bahamas at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem


Damen has designed the Stan Patrol 3007 with the client’s requirements in mind. Robin van der Zon, Project Manager at Damen Shipyards Group explains: “These patrol vessels will prevent smuggling and people trafficking, so it’s vital they can quickly reach places other vessels cannot. For that reason we have developed the Stan Patrol 3007 to reach up to 24 knots with shallow draught.” Even at the highest speeds, Damen’s Sea Axe hull design will ensure excellent efficiency and sea keeping.

The vessel design also features a recess in the aft ship to accommodate a rigid inflatable boat (RIB), with high-speed capabilities. “The RIB design is also new,” Mr Van der Zon says. “It features a water jet, a new engine system and a propulsion arrangement designed for optimal performance and reliability. She will be able to make speeds over 30 knots.”

The first Damen Stan Patrol 3007 has arrived at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands for outfitting. The vessel is one of nine that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has ordered from Damen Shipyards. The order features four Stan Patrol 4207 vessels, one RoRo 5612 and a further three Stan Patrol 3007 vessels.
The First Stan Patrol 3007 for Bahamas at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem


Damen has designed the Stan Patrol 3007 to remain at sea for up to one week at a time. To meet that requirement, they have provided on board accommodation for a crew of 13, as well as a pantry and mess room. “Over a period of approximately 15 weeks, we will install on board all machinery, electrical installations, HVAC, navigational equipment, insulation and carpentry,” states Mr Van der Zon.

“After launching, sea trials and extensive testing will follow a commissioning period of approximately 5 weeks and the first Stan Patrol 3007 should be delivered in week 26 of 2015. After delivery, the crew of the vessel will undergo training in the Netherlands, before the vessel is shipped to the Bahamas,” says Mr Van der Zon.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Damen launches Royal Bahamas Defence Force's transport ship in Vietnam


Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International


Launch of the Damen RoRo 5612 for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in Ha Long, Vietnam. Source: Damen  


A multi-purpose transport and landing ship being built for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has been launched at Damen's Halong Shipyard in Vietnam, the company announced in a release on 30 July.

The vessel, which Damen refers to as the RoRo 5612, is being supplied as part of the RBDF's USD232 million 'Sandy Bottom Project' which includes the procurement of four Damen Stan Patrol 4207 coastal patrol vessels and four Damen Stan Patrol 3007 Sea Axe patrol craft.

The 722-tonne ship, also referred to as the Damen Stan Lander 5612, is equipped with a 25-tonne crane and features a roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) design to facilitate the movement of cargo.

"The vessel's multi-purpose capabilities will be put to use by the Defence Force in a range of situations including law enforcement, aids to navigation [ATON], replenishment at sea [RAS], the re-supply to Defence Force bases and the provision of disaster relief throughout the island nation and the wider Caribbean community," Damen stated in its release.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the 58 m vessel will be armed with one 12.7 mm machine gun for point defence. The vessel is propelled by two Caterpillar C32 diesel engines and has a top speed of 11 kt. Damen is also equipping the ship with containerised disaster relief packages including a field kitchen, emergency power generators, a first-aid station, and water treatment facilities.

"With this vessel we will be able to respond to storm warnings faster, pre-deploying emergency supplies to where they are needed," Commander Warren Bain of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force stated on the RBDF's RoRo 5612. "We can deploy this vessel wherever it is needed, not only in the Bahamas, but across the entire Caribbean region."


http://www.janes.com/article/53369/damen-launches-royal-bahamas-defence-force-s-transport-ship-in-vietnam

Citation :

Bahamas expands defence force with more marines

Alejandro Sanchez, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
20 April 2016

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) on 15 April commissioned 82 new marines to boost security in the Caribbean nation.

A Bahamian government statement explained that the new personnel come from two units: Women Entry 22, comprised of 17 officers, and New Entry 53, comprised of 65 officers.

The new personnel are part of the Sandy Bottom project, a 2014 initiative to increase the country's security system by establishing new bases and ports, boosting the number of defence personnel, and acquiring platforms to monitor the country, particularly its maritime space. Apart from the new marines, the Caribbean state has recently acquired Damen patrol vessels.

Citation :

The Bahamas commissions new radar to improve maritime security

Alejandro Sanchez, Washington, DC - Jane's Navy International

25 April 2019


The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) commissioned a new radar on 17 April as part of its new maritime security strategy, which focuses on decentralising the RBDF and acquiring new technologies to improve monitoring and surveillance operations.

The newly commissioned long-range coastal radar was manufactured by Kelvin Hughes and donated by the US government to Nassau, RBDF said in a release. Valued at USD2.1 million, the radar operates in the RBDF base in Matthew Town, Inagua Island, located just north of Cuba and Haiti.

The RBDF said another radar will be installed by the end of the year at an undisclosed location.

Citation :

Bahamas Defence Force acquires UAVs

Alejandro Sanchez, Washington, DC - Jane's Defence Weekly

03 February 2020


The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has established the Bahamas Unmanned Aerial System (BUAS) programme, after signing a contract with Swift Tactical Systems for the delivery of 55 unmanned aerial vehicles.

The contract, which was signed with the subsidiary of Swift Engineering in December 2019 but not announced until January, is valued at USD17 million.

Included in the deal is the delivery of “short- and medium-range drones, immediate surveillance capabilities, training and support, and the establishment of a regional drone academy”, Swift explained. The new UAVs will help Nassau combat maritime crimes, such as drug trafficking, illegal fishing, human trafficking, in addition to law enforcement-related activities, and helping with relief operations when natural disasters occur.

Fremo a écrit:

N
Le HMBS Bahamas ( P60 ) est l'un des 2 patrouilleurs de la classe Bahamas en service, elles sont les plus importantes unités de la RBDF.
Photo prise au port de Nassau, en Avril 2010

ils sont bases a CORAL HARBOUR et pas a NASSAU, comme la majorite de la flotte…avec ce qui semble etre le QG MARINE

j'y été semaine derniere

Citation :

=AZUXJ9tTLy2pYueqJcZHMjgx0c1DldIYWs0Xeem9hfTTEPHs-HC7O585wU_13T6R6f7OK77q5ZAfmOu5SlEgrI5fi9pYFvNBHD5dyZ-HmTlyukl9AuzRcZTBSZbms5Q2Gw2UKQGJg-xzVKkfKpCC3Obv_NOnAIrzALENrbhFoIsxxX8-x8LfuSSeJ55L9sBML9Y&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R]Forces armées aux Antilles

Coopération avec les Bahamas pour le BSAOM Dumont d’Urville

Du 19 au 23 mai 2022, à l’occasion d’un déploiement en mer des Caraïbes dans le cadre de la mission CAOUANNE, le bâtiment de soutien et d’assistance outre-mer (BSAOM) Dumont d’Urville a réalisé une relâche opérationnelle à Nassau aux Bahamas pour entretenir ses liens avec les Royal Bahamas Defence Forces.

Plusieurs manœuvres ont été conduites à la mer avec le patrouilleur HMBS Nassau, afin d’améliorer l’interopérabilité des marines françaises et bahaméennes et de partager les connaissances et savoir-faire dans les domaines de la lutte contre les trafics illicites ou de l’assistance aux populations, enjeux majeurs dans la zone. Cette coopération fructueuse s’est achevée par un raid nautique dans l’archipel de Big Major Cay, avant de remettre le cap à l’est vers les petites Antilles.

Le Dumont d’Urville, basé à Fort-de-France, est l’un des quatre BSAOM de la Marine nationale. Polyvalent, le Dumont d’Urville est doté de capacités de transport logistique, de projection de forces, de surveillance et police en mer, de lutte anti-pollution et d’assistance aux navires en détresse.