Azerbaijan marks Navy Day on August 5

Azerbaijan commemorates Navy Day on August 5, honoring the history and development of its national maritime defense capabilities.

The roots of the Azerbaijani Navy date back to 1919 during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). Following the withdrawal of British troops in the summer of 1919, the management of the Baku port and several warships were handed over to the Azerbaijani government, laying the foundation for the Caspian Military Flotilla.

By late 1919, an Azerbaijani military mission led by General Ibrahim aga Usubov procured six single-gun destroyers, 12 fighter boats, six submarines, 92 naval guns, 10 coastal artillery units, and wireless telegraph systems from abroad. Russian Admiral Islamov of Turkic descent was invited to assist in organizing the fleet, and command of key vessels such as the "Astrabad," "Kars," and "Ardahan" was assigned to Azerbaijani captains. However, the 1920 Bolshevik occupation led to the disbandment of the flotilla.

The national navy was re-established following the restoration of independence. On April 7, 1992, the Headquarters of the Naval Forces of Azerbaijan was formed, with the country securing 25% of the former Soviet Caspian Flotilla and the Higher Naval School. The national flag was raised aboard the patrol ship "Bakili" on June 26, 1992. Later, in July 1996, the Azerbaijan State Maritime Academy was established to train specialized maritime personnel.

Under a decree signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1996, August 5 was officially designated as Navy Day in Azerbaijan.

N.Tebrizli