August 5 is celebrated as Naval Forces Day in Azerbaijan.
Sea-news.az reports that the foundation of our national military maritime history was laid in 1919 during the period of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. In the summer of that very year, as the British left Baku, port management and a portion of the warcraft were handed over to the Azerbaijani government, thereby forming the Caspian Military Naval Fleet.
In late 1919, a military mission headed by General Ibrahimagha Usubov acquired combat cutters, submarines, ship and coastal artillery, as well as telegraph installations from abroad for the fleet. Admiral Islamov of Turkic origin, a researcher of the North Pole, was invited to build the national fleet, and Azerbaijani captains were appointed as commanders of the warships “Astrabad,” “Kars,” and “Ardahan.” However, as a result of the April occupation in 1920, the fleet’s development plans were cut short and liquidated by the Bolsheviks.
After Azerbaijan restored its independence, the Headquarters of the Naval Forces was established on April 7, 1992. Twenty-five percent of the former Caspian Military Naval Fleet and the Higher Naval School passed to the disposal of the republic. On June 26, 1992, Azerbaijan’s tricolor state flag was hoisted on the guard ship “Bakili.”
With the aim of strengthening the personnel potential of the sector, the Azerbaijan State Maritime Academy was founded on the basis of the Baku Maritime Transport School by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated July 15, 1996.
In accordance with the Decree signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1996, August 5 of each year is solemnly celebrated as Naval Forces Day in our country.
