The Patrol Fleet, officially designated Shayetet 15 (formerly the Torpedo Fleet or Shayetet 5), serves as the naval patrol fleet of the Israeli Navy. Headquartered at the Israeli Naval Headquarters in Tel Aviv, the fleet operates three squadrons: Squadron 914 at Haifa Naval Base, Squadron 915 (formerly Squadron 912) at Eilat Naval Base, and Squadron 916 (formerly Squadron 913) at Ashdod Naval Base.
Fleet ClassPhotoNumber of shipsCommissionedOriginNotes, (Bee)91988, 21996132004, (Kingfisher)5198992002Rafael Protector USVN/A2000sUnmanned Naval Patrol VehiclesSilver MarlinN/A 2006?USV Naval Patrol Vehicles
Personnel and training Patrol ships are crewed by approximately 12 soldiers each. Command of a vessel is held by a captain, who holds the rank of lieutenant or captain (Hebrew: Segen or Séren). To qualify for this role, the captain must have previously served as a deputy platoon officer in the BHD 600 (the Israeli Navy's training base) and completed training as the vessel's deputy commander. Captains typically serve in this role for 18 months before promotion.
Crew members are selected during pre-enlistment and serve as regular-service soldiers in the Israeli Navy. After completing second-gunner training at the BHD 600, personnel are assigned to either sailor or mechanic specialization courses. Upon finishing their training, recruits undergo a "final stay" phase aboard ships, where they must pass basic certification tests to become full crew members.
Mechanics receive additional qualifications as ship's watchmen, firefighters, and enginemen, while sailors assume roles such as watchmen, navigators, gunners, and specialists in lighting, seamanship, and magistrate operations (shipboard administrative duties). Soldiers may also take advanced theoretical exams to qualify as non-commissioned commanders, enabling them to mentor junior crew and oversee ship operations.
During their service, select personnel may be offered enrollment in a combat medics course conducted at the naval hospital. Graduates return to their vessels as certified ship's medics, responsible for onboard medical care.
Torpedo fleet
The Torpedo Fleet, officially designated Shayetet 5, was the naval patrol and torpedo boat fleet of the Israeli Navy from 1948 to 1970. It operated Torpedo boats of various classes and was organized into four squadrons, including Squadron 788 for patrolling the Sea of Galilee. In 1970, the fleet was reorganized as Shayetet 15 (Patrol Fleet), with its squadrons absorbed into the new structure.
History
Establishment (1948–1952) During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Israeli Navy acquired a World War II-era German torpedo boat captured by the United States, purchasing it for $9,000. The vessel sank en route to Israel near Malta. In 1949, an unarmed torpedo boat joined the Small Flotilla, a unit including British-surplus patrol vessels and landing craft (later reorganized as Shayetet 11). By 1950, 12 additional torpedo boats were acquired: eight WWII-era vessels from the United Kingdom and four modern French boats. The unit was formally renamed Shayetet 5 in 1952.
Operations and Expansion (1953–1967) In 1956, three Italian-built torpedo boats were stationed at Eilat Naval Base, followed by three French vessels at Haifa Naval Base in 1957.
Shelling of Kinneret (1955) Syrian forces harassed Israeli fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, prompting Shayetet 5 to bombard Syrian positions. The engagement resulted in Syrian casualties, one Israeli soldier wounded, and a damaged 57 mm cannon replaced post-action.
Operation Resourcefulness (1956) After the Suez Crisis, two Israeli torpedo boats disguised as Italian vessels covertly evacuated hundreds of Jews from Port Said, with French ships rescuing an additional 170.
Engagement at Sanafir (1957) A Shayetet 5 vessel patrolling near Sanafir Island was mistaken for an attacker by Saudi forces, triggering an exchange of fire. The Israeli boat struck a Saudi coastal battery, inflicting casualties.
Beirut reconnaissance mission (1958) On July 9–10, 1958 the Shayetet 13 personnel were dispatched to carry out a reconnaissance mission in Beirut, but their extraction proved to be a difficult task for which the Torpedo Fleet had to be mobilized.
Reorganisation
In 1958, the Torpedo Fleet was organised into four squadrons: Squadron 718 in the Sea of Galilee, Squadron 912 at Eilat Naval Base, Squadron 913 at Ashdod Naval Base, and Squadron 914 at Haifa Naval Base.
Voyages to Cyprus and Greece The Torpedo Fleet made voyages to maintain a presence in the shipping lanes in the Eastern Mediterranean. The fleet sailed every summer to visit destinations in the Mediterranean. In order to practice long-range activity. The main destinations were Cyprus and Crete.
Six-Day War (1967)
Operation Lady During Operation Lady in Port Said, the two torpedo boats accompanying the attack force attacked two Osa-type Egyptian vessels that were moving near the port. The commander of the force, Benjamin Talm, received a report from the T-207 torpedo boat that it was "low on fuel" and ordered the boat not to attack. The Egyptians also didn't attack the torpedo boats.
USS Liberty incident Three vessels of the fleet were involved in the attack on USS Liberty. When the torpedo boats arrived, Commander Oren could see that the ship could not be the destroyer that had supposedly shelled Arish or any ship capable of speed. According to Michael Limor, an Israeli naval reservist serving on one of the torpedo boats, they attempted to contact the ship by heliograph and radio, but received no response. Oren consulted an Israeli identification guide to Arab fleets and concluded the ship was the Egyptian supply ship El Quseir, based on observing its deckline, midship bridge, and smokestack. The captain of boat T-203 independently reached the same conclusion. The boats moved into battle formation, but did not attack.
As the torpedo boats rapidly approached, Libertys captain, Commander William L. McGonagle, ordered a sailor to proceed to machine gun Mount 51 and open fire.U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry Court of Inquiry for USS Liberty attack, Record of Proceedings, 18 June 1967 However, he then noticed that the boats appeared to be flying an Israeli flag, and "realized that there was a possibility of the aircraft having been Israeli and the attack had been conducted in error". McGonagle ordered the man at gun mount 51 to hold fire, but a short burst had been fired at the torpedo boats before the man understood the order.
McGonagle observed that machine gun Mount 53 began firing at the center torpedo boat at about the same time gun mount 51 fired, and that its fire was "extremely effective and blanketed the area and the center torpedo boat". Machine gun mount 53 was located on the starboard amidships side, behind the pilot house. McGonagle could not see or "get to mount 53 from the starboard wing of the bridge". So, he "sent Mr. Lucas around the port side of the bridge, around to the skylights, to see if he could tell [Seaman] Quintero, whom [he] believed to be the gunner on Machine gun 53, to hold fire". Lucas "reported back in a few minutes in effect that he saw no one at mount 53". Lucas, who had left the command bridge during the air attack and returned to assist McGonagle, believed that the sound of gunfire was likely from ammunition cooking off, due to a nearby fire. Previously, Lucas had granted a request from Quintero to fire at the torpedo boats, before heat from a nearby fire chased him from gun mount 53. McGonagle later testified, at the Court of Inquiry, that this was likely the "extremely effective" firing event he had observed.
After coming under fire, the torpedo boats returned fire with their cannons, killing Liberty helmsman. partially declassified 1999, 2003. The torpedo boats then launched five torpedoes at the Liberty. At 12:35Z (14:35 local time) one torpedo hit Liberty on the starboard side, forward of the superstructure, creating a wide hole in what had been a cargo hold converted to the ship's research spaces and killing 25 servicemen, almost all of them from the intelligence section, and wounding dozens.
The torpedo boats then closed in and strafed the ship's hull with their cannons and machine guns.
Assault on Sharm el-Sheikh
The assault on Sharm el-Sheikh was to be carried out by paratroopers, but it was not clear whether the Egyptian artillery position in the area was manned or not. So torpedo boats had to accompany the assault. When the torpedo boats reached their objective, it became evident that the position was deserted. So the personnel of the torpedo boats themselves occupied the site and hoisted the Israeli flag. So, the Paratrooper assault was cancelled and forces were transported via helicopters. Furthermore, two Egyptian commando vessels were spotted by the torpedo boats after capturing Sharm el-Sheikh, the vessels were unarmed but carried 33 Egyptian commandos, who were taken captive.
War of Attrition (1967–1970)
Battle of Rumani Coast
During the Battle of Rumani Coast, an Israeli destroyer, INS Eilat, along with two torpedo boats, attacked Egyptian P 6-class torpedo boats. The initial run scored no hits but the Egyptian boats dispersed. The separation enabled Eilat to close with one Egyptian torpedo boat and the two Israeli boats to close with the other. Twenty minutes later, both P 6s were ablaze; they later exploded, apparently leaving no survivors.Israeli MTB Action off Port Said, July 1967, Aryeh Wetherhorn
Sinking of INS Eilat On October 21, 1967, Eilat was sunk near Port Said by Egyptian submarines. Torpedo boats were dispatched from Ashdod Naval Base to rescue the survivors. The first ship to arrive was the T-206, under the command of Rafi Apel. Her presence was essential for the coordination of the evacuation helicopters and the collection of the dead bodies.
Capture of a militant vessel On November 3, 1969, the T-203 torpedo boat, under the command of David Nitzan, was on patrol off the coast of Rosh HaNkira. During the night, a small, dark target was discovered penetrating the border from north to south. The torpedo boat gave chase and opened fire at the target. Finally the target stopped. It was a boat carrying four Fatah militants, with explosives. The Fatah militants were arrested.Uri Porat לכידת ספינת טרור, Naval Systems, Navy Bulletin, booklet 104 July 1971, p. 7.
Disestablishment (1970) Shayetet 5 was disbanded in 1970 and replaced by Shayetet 15. Squadron 788 (Sea of Galilee) was decommissioned after Israel secured full control of the coastline following the occupation of the Golan Heights.
Fleet + Torpedo vessels Origin Vessels Type Image Weight (Tones) ! Length (meter) Width (meter) Submergence (meter) Speed Crew Range Armament Higgins Industries INS Netz (T-200) Gasoline operated 43 21.3 5.79 1.52 74 km/h 16 600 miles 3 Packard engines, Two torpedo tubes, Two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons INS Eagle (T-201) INS Ait (T-202) INS Diya (T-204) INS Tinshem (T-212)Gasoline operated 43 22.10 5.79 1.52 74 km/h15 500 miles3 Packard engines, 1,350 horsepower, 3 propellers, two 18 inch torpedoes, three 20 mm cannons INS Aya (T-203) INS Sheldag (T-209) INS Lilit (T-210) INS Yanshof (T-211)Gasoline operated 43 22.10 5.79 1.5274 km/h15 500 miles3 Packard engines, 1,350 horsepower 3 propellers, two 18 inch torpedoes, one 57 mm cannon and two 20 mm cannons INS Baz (T-205) INS Thams (T-206) INS Peres (T-207) INS Yas'ur (T-208) Gasoline operated 62 26.5 6.31 1.52 78 km/h 15965 km 4 Junkers Yomo engines, two torpedo tubes, three 20 mm cannons, Deca 2 radar INS Aya (T-203)Second ship with this name & number INS Diya (T-204) Diesel operated 44 26.5 6.31 1.5270 km/h 15965 km Two Napier Delta engines, two propellers, two torpedo tubes, one 40 mm cannon, two 20 mm cannon, two 0.5 inch machine guns, Calvin Hughes radar INS Ophir (T-150) INS Sheba (T-151)