Iraqi Navy

From Daily Escape

Headquartered in Basra, the 5,000-man Iraqi Navy is the smallest branch of the armed forces. Most of Iraq's active naval vessels are based at Umm Qasr. Between 1977 and 1987, Iraq purchased from the Soviet Union eight fast-attack OSA-class patrol boats--each equipped with Styx surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs). In late 1986, from Italy, Iraq obtained four Lupo class frigates, and six Wadi Assad class corvettes equipped with Otomat-2 SSMs. It is speculated that Iraq is planning a rapid expansion of the navy, which could exercise its influence in northern Persian Gulf waters.