Zanzibar System Navy

The Zanzibar System Navy was the naval force of the Caliphate of Zanzibar. It was also called the Caliphate Navy (in 1905 PD) and the Zanzibaran Navy (in 1913 PD).

Until 1913 PD, the ZSN was essentially still a sublight self-defense force which required a substantial Manticoran picket for backup. The ZNS did not have anything bigger than a heavy cruiser, and its units were probably assigned almost exclusively to the defense of their own home system. (HH8)

Organization

• Around 1913 PD, Rear Admiral Michael Tennard, Manticoran picket commander, was probably commanding officer of the Zanzibar System Defense Command. (HH8)
• Around 1920 PD, Admiral Gammal al-Bakr was the Chief of Naval Operations and commanding officer of the Zanzibar System Defense Command. (HH11)
• The Manticoran Alliance specifically assigned the Zanzibar's System Defense authority to the ZSN. (state of 1920 PD)

Strength

• 1905 PD – presence of light attack craft confirmed, including probably obsolete Highlander-class units (HH3, JIR 1)
• 1913 PD – a handful of cruisers, destroyers and obsolete LACs (HH8)
• c1920 PD – Zanzibar System Defense Command controlled:
  • system defence missile launchers
  • inner and outer LAC platforms
  • a heavy Manticoran picket(HH11)

After the Second Battle of Zanzibar, as part of the program to rebuild the ZSN, the Saganami A -class heavy cruiser Quentin Saint-James was transferred there. (HH11, SI2)

Battles

• Anti-ZLF operations in the Zanzibar System.
• The ZSN was completely destroyed twice during offensive Havenite operations.
  • First Battle of Zanzibar, part of Operation Icarus, executed by the People's Navy during the First Havenite-Manticoran War (1913 PD)
  • Raid on Zanzibar, executed by the Republic of Haven Navy in the post-initial phase of the Second Havenite-Manticoran War - a reconnaissance before the next Havenite offensive operation
  • Second Battle of Zanzibar, part of Operation Gobi (1921 PD)