Tanzanian Navy Command (TNC)

The Navy is commanded by the Navy Chief of Staff and consists approximately 1 000 personnel in 2000. The Navy then possessed 14 patrol and coastal craft in its inventory and is trained largely according to Chinese naval doctrine. New training possibilities are currently being explored between the TPDF and the South African Navy. Navy bases are in Dar-Es-Salaam, Mtwara, Zanzibar and Mwanza on Lake Victoria.

For several years after independence Tanzania did not have a navy. Necessary coastal patrols were carried on by the Police Marine Unit, which operated four small patrol boats that had been loaned to the country in December 1961 by the West Germans. In 1968 the PBC agreed to build a small naval facility for the Tanzanians at Dar es Salaam and also to sell several patrol boats of the Shanghai class. Two years earlier the PRC had donated four small patrol boats to be used by the marine police; the Shanghai-class boats, however, were the nucleus of a Tanzanian navy. Work on the naval base was begun in January 1970 and completed in December 1971. Meantime the PRC had been training Tanzanian seamen to man the vessels that arrived during construction of the naval base. Four fin Chwan-class hydrofoil torpedo boats we-re¬later added to the inventory.

The Tanzanian People's Defence Force (TPDF) held a dedication November 23, 2010 to accept two 27-foot defender class boats at the Tanzanian Navy Base in Kigamboni, Tanzania. The boats were presented by Rear Admiral Brian Losey, Commander Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, on behalf of the American people and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The dedication ceremony highlighted the continuing partnership between the U.S. and Tanzanian militaries. "On behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, TPDF, and also my personal behalf, I express my gratitude to the U.S. government for this important support," said General Davis Mwamunyange, TPDF Chief of Defense Force. "We strongly believe that it will help us to strengthen significantly the ability of our navy to implement its responsibilities in our coastal areas."

The defender boats will enhance the current capabilities of the Tanzanian naval forces with respect for the concerns of piracy and water invasion, said Tanzanian Navy Command Brigadier General Saidi Omari. "Our common footing as mariners means we share common challenges at sea," Losey said. "It's those common challenges, our response, and common interest in security and stability that we interact closely and respond together as an international community."

One of the missions for the United States operating in Africa is to help build partner nation capacity in order to promote stability. The United States, represented by the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, Alfonso E. Lenhardt, and U.S. Africa Command representatives, marked the handover of a VHF Communications System presented to the Tanzanian Police Force Maritime and the Tanzanian People's Defense Force Naval Command during an October 2013 ceremony held at the Tanzanian Naval and Maritime Operations Headquarters, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Communications System, worth $1 million, includes repeaters and 16 base stations deployed to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Kigoma, Tanga, and Mtwara, as well as 182 handheld radios that are capable of encrypted digital end unsecure analog communications.

According to Ambassador Lenhardt, “this effort has laid the groundwork for a regional communications network that enhances the capabilities of Tanzanian counter-narcotics units and other regional partners. "Together with our partners here in East Africa, the United States believes this investment will yield significant progress on our shared long-term security goals for the region, and will enhance the Government of Tanzania's ability to combat illicit narcotics trafficking and other transnational crime."

The opportunity to hand over the Communications System was the result of over eighteen months of planning, and represents the fulfillment of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Tanzanian Police Force, the Tanzania People's Defense Force, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

In May 2013 the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and National Service has proposed the deployment of the country’s soldiers to monitor armed foreign cargo vessels as well as those carrying out gas exploration activities offshore Tanzania. The Committee’s call followed reports that there have been foreign cargo as well as gas exploration vessels in the Indian Ocean waters in Tanzania which have been allowed to use military weapons.

Mr Omari Nundu, who read the Committee’s speech on behalf of its chairperson said that due to rampant piracy on the Indian Ocean waters, the defence force should supervise activities of armed vessels. “The use of foreign military vessels was one of the factors leadig to the spread of illegal arms in the country,” Mr Nundu said. The Police Force recorded a total of 876 criminal incidents between January and September, last year, in which small arms were used and 62 firearms were stolen.

According to the 2013 report by the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), incidents of piracy in Tanzania’s Indian Ocean economic exclusive zone and along its shores have decreased by 70 per cent following measures taken by the government in collaboration with the international community to fight piracy.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on 29 April 2015 commissioned two new navy patrol ships, saying his country will continue strengthening defense of its territorial sovereignty. Jakaya Kikwete “They are very expensive, but there is no alternative to help in fighting piracy." The two patrol boats - TNS Mwitongo (P77) and TNS Msoga (P78) - are Chinese-built Haiqing-class patrol boats.