Royal Moroccan Navy

Royal Moroccan Navy (English) القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية (Arabic) Adwas Ageldan n Yilel (Berber) Marine royale (French)
Moroccan Royal Navy Seal
Active	1960 - Present
Country	Morocco
Allegiance	Kingdom of Morocco
Branch	Navy
Type	Navy
Size	7,800 personnel (includes 1,500 Marines)
Part of	Administration of Defence إدارة الدفاع
Headquarters	Rabat-Salé
Anniversaries	April 1st (foundation)
Equipment	89 vessels 17 aircraft
Commanders
Inspector General of the Navy	Vice-Admiral Mohammed Laghmari
Commander-in-Chief	King Mohammed VI
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	AS565 Panther

The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية‎‎, Berber: Adwas Ageldan n Yilel, French: Marine royale) is a branch of the military of Morocco responsible for conducting naval operations. The Royal Moroccan Navy is administratively managed by the Administration of Defence, which is (de facto) commanded by King Mohammed VI, the commander-in-chief of the Moroccan Armed Forces.

The Royal Moroccan Navy is part of the Moroccan Armed Forces. Its mission includes the protection of Moroccan territory and sovereignty, as well as the control of Morocco's 81,000-square-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Given Morocco's significant coastline (2,952 km) and strategic position overseeing the Strait of Gibraltar, it (along with Spain and the United Kingdom) is deeply involved in the security of this important international waterway.

The history of the modern Royal Moroccan Navy began in 1960 with its foundation by King Mohammed V. The first admiral of the modern Moroccan Navy was Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki, who held the position as the Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy for 14 years and devoted 46 years of services to the Moroccan Navy. Vice Admiral Triki was awarded these decorations: (from Morocco) Legion of the Order of Commander, Knight of the Order of the Throne by his majesty King Hassan II; (from France) Legion of Honor by President Jacques Chirac; (from USA) Legion of Merit by President Bill Clinton; and (from Spain) Legion of Merit. Although the modern Royal Navy was structured following independence, the Moroccan naval military traces its roots back to the 11th century, with the rise of the Almoravid dynasty, and its ambition for naval hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea. Admiral Abdullah Ben Meimoun is credited for being the first commander of the Almoravid dynasty organized naval forces. With the Almohad dynasty taking over most of northern Africa, together with Al-Andalus, the Almohad dynasty navy soon became the "first fleet of the Mediterranean". At its peak, the Almohad navy's military reputation was well known, inciting Ayyubid dynasty Egypt and Saladin to seek its help in preventing Crusades expeditions. The 16th century had the starting decline of the Moroccan state and consequently the navy that served it. The capture of major coastal cities and locations by Spain and Portugal much affected Morocco's naval capabilities. Later on, under pressure from a coalition of European powers, Sultan Slimane dismantled the last remanents of the Moroccan Navy.