Us Naval Units In Bahrain: Who's Stationed There?

Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain) is a United States Navy base in the Kingdom of Bahrain. NSA Bahrain is home to approximately 8,500 military personnel and civilians, as well as 78 Tenant Commands, Joint and Coalition Forces, and the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and United States Fifth Fleet. The base provides operational support to U.S. and Coalition Forces in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain)

NSA Bahrain occupies the original territory of the British Royal Navy base, HMS Jufair. The USN presence was established on-site during World War II, when the US entered the war in 1941 and the Royal Navy invited them to deploy a small detachment. After World War II, the posting was recognised as the U.S. Middle East Force, a small shore facility providing logistical and communications support to Marine Expeditionary vessels.

In 1971, when Bahrain gained independence from the British Empire, the permanent Royal Navy presence in Bahrain ended, and the USN took on the entire site. The location was named Administrative Support Unit (ASU) Bahrain, and in 1992, it was renamed Administrative Support Unit Southwest Asia to reflect the increasing role of United States Navy activities in the region. In 1997, under the Military Construction Program, the facilities in Juffair were expanded, resulting in what is now known as NSA Bahrain.

NSA Bahrain provides support through logistics, supply, and protection, as well as a Navy Exchange facility and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs for both the United States Armed Forces and coalition assets. It is the primary base in the region for naval and marine activities in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and, formerly, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND) until the end of the Iraq War.

US Naval Forces Central Command

The US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) is a vital component of the US military presence in the Middle East, with its headquarters stationed at the Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain). NSA Bahrain is a US Navy base situated in the Kingdom of Bahrain, providing a strategic foothold in the region.

USNAVCENT plays a critical role in maintaining US naval presence and power projection in the Central Command area of responsibility, which covers a vast region, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. The command is responsible for ensuring the security and stability of vital sea lanes, protecting maritime interests, and conducting a range of military operations in this crucial area.

NSA Bahrain serves as a critical hub for USNAVCENT operations, offering logistical, supply, and protection support. The base is home to approximately 8,500 military personnel and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees, as well as 78 tenant commands and joint and coalition forces. It provides the necessary infrastructure and facilities to support the US Fifth Fleet and USNAVCENT's operational requirements.

The base has a rich history, initially established as a British Royal Navy base known as HMS Jufair during World War II to counter the threat of piracy and protect oil interests in the region. In 1971, with Bahrain's independence, the site was transferred to the US government, marking the beginning of a permanent US naval presence in Bahrain. Over the years, the base has undergone significant expansion and development, including the addition of various support services and recreational facilities for personnel.

USNAVCENT's mission is to provide operational support to US and coalition forces within the CENTCOM area. This includes ensuring the free flow of commerce, conducting maritime security operations, and supporting joint and combined military exercises. The command also plays a crucial role in maintaining regional stability, countering threats, and fostering cooperation with partner nations in the region.

United States Fifth Fleet

The United States Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy, with its headquarters in Bahrain. It shares a commander and headquarters with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). The Fifth Fleet's area of responsibility covers approximately 2.5 million square miles, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.

The Fifth Fleet was first established during World War II on 26 April 1944, from the Central Pacific Force under the command of Admiral Raymond Spruance. It conducted extensive operations that played a crucial role in defeating Japanese forces in the Central Pacific, including the Mariana Islands campaign, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The fleet was deactivated in January 1947, but after a 48-year hiatus, it was reactivated in 1995.

During World War II, the Fifth Fleet became the largest combat fleet in the world under Admiral Spruance, boasting 535 warships by June 1944. The fleet's ships also formed the basis of the Third Fleet, known as the "Big Blue Fleet" under Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. The two admirals alternated command of the fleet, allowing them to prepare for subsequent operations and confusing the Japanese, who believed they were dealing with two separate fleets.

The Fifth Fleet has contributed significantly to the Global War on Terrorism and continues to project U.S. naval power in the Middle East. Its usual configuration includes a Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Amphibious Ready Group or Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), and other ships and aircraft. The fleet's forces peaked in early 2003, with an impressive display of naval power that included five USN aircraft carriers, six USN amphibious assault ships, and over 30 Royal Navy vessels under its command.

British Royal Navy base

The British had a naval presence in Bahrain from the early 1820s, when the rulers of Bahrain, Salman and Abdullah Al Khalifa, signed an agreement with the British to try to control piracy in the region. This was followed by another agreement in 1835, specifically with the British Royal Navy, which aimed to stop the slave trade in addition to piracy.

In 1935, the British established a permanent base for the Royal Navy in Bahrain, known as HMS Juffair, which was located in Mina Salman. The base was opened following an agreement between the British and Sheikh Isa's advisor, Charles Belgrave, who had modernised the state's systems and infrastructure. However, during World War II, the base was bombed by the Italian Air Force as the Axis Forces attempted to cut off one of the three Allied Forces' sources of oil in the Persian Gulf. As a result of this raid and the United States' entry into the war, the Royal Navy invited the US Navy to deploy a small detachment to the region.

After World War II, the US Navy's posting in Bahrain became known as the U.S. Middle East Force, providing logistical and communications support to Marine Expeditionary vessels. In 1971, Bahrain gained independence from the British Empire, marking the official end of the permanent Royal Navy presence in the country. The USN immediately took over the site previously occupied by the British, and it was renamed the Administrative Support Unit (ASU) Bahrain.

Today, the site is known as Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, serving as a base for the United States Navy and home to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the United States Fifth Fleet. NSA Bahrain provides operational support to U.S. and Coalition Forces and is responsible for logistical, supply, and protection activities, as well as various facilities and programmes for military personnel.

US Navy base history

Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain) is a United States Navy base situated in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It occupies the original territory of the British Royal Navy base, HMS Jufair, which was established to control pirates raiding British shipping in the Persian Gulf and limit the slave trade in the early 1800s.

In 1932, oil was first exported from Bahrain, and in 1935, the British opened HMS Juffair as a permanent base within the state, as part of the port at Mina Salman. During World War II, the base was bombed by the Italian Air Force as the Axis Forces attempted to cut off one of three Allied Forces sources of oil in the Persian Gulf. As a result of the raid and the United States' entry into the war, the US Navy was invited to deploy a small detachment to the base.

In 1948, the US posting was recognised as the US Middle East Force, a small shore facility that provided logistical and communications support to Marine Expeditionary vessels. In 1971, when Bahrain gained independence from the British Empire, the permanent British Royal Navy presence in Bahrain ended, and the site was transferred to the US government. The USN took on the entire 10-acre site, naming it Administrative Support Unit (ASU) Bahrain in 1979.

In 1992, the organisation was renamed Administrative Support Unit Southwest Asia to reflect the increasing role of US Navy activities in the region. Five years later, under the Military Construction Program, facilities in Juffair were expanded, resulting in what is now known as NSA Bahrain. Today, NSA Bahrain is home to approximately 8,500 military personnel and DoD Civilian employees, as well as 78 Tenant Commands and Joint and Coalition Forces.

Frequently asked questions