ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to illuminate the capabilities of naval forces across the African continent. It focuses on historical development, capabilities, and the role of these forces in both the regional and international contexts. African navies comprise an assortment of forces as diverse as the continental states themselves. Based on current deployment, logistics, and maintenance capabilities, they are essentially coastal patrol forces. At independence, most African states possessed a navy consisting of a small number of platforms transferred from the respective colonial power. African navies are faced with a multitude of problems that few have been able to overcome. The most salient problems include shortages of skilled manpower, lack of training, organizational difficulties, poor logistics, undeveloped infrastructures, and maintenance problems. South Africa has an established, tested navy. Its forces are well trained and have benefited from a long history rooted in the British naval tradition. The Simonstown agreement set the stage for joint cooperation between South African and British navies.
