July 3 Naval Base

The 3rd of July Naval Base, also written as July 3rd Naval Base, Third of July, or July 3,^[5] also known as Gargoub Naval Base, is an Egyptian naval base situated on the Mediterranean coast, approximately 255 kilometers (158 mi) west of Alexandria, near the Egypt–Libya border.^[6] The Gargoub area, about 140 kilometers (87 mi) away, serves as the main entrance to the base. It became officially operational on July 3, 2021. It is geographically tasked with securing Egypt's northern and western borders, contributing to safeguarding the country's economic capabilities, particularly its offshore natural gas fields.^[7]

July 3 Naval Base
قاعدة 3 يوليو البحرية
Gargoub, Egypt
Site information
Type	Naval Base
Owner	Egypt
Operator	Egyptian Navy
Location
Coordinates	31°29′13″N 26°34′35″E
Area	10 million square meters
Site history
In use	2021 (2021)–present

Description

Covering approximately 10,000,000 square metres (110,000,000 sq ft), it is one of the largest naval bases of Egypt.^[8] Its geographical position supports the defense of Egypt's northwestern maritime borders and contributes to security in the Mediterranean region. It is designed to serve as a center for joint military exercises and naval training with Egyptian allies, focused on maintaining and supporting regional security ties and promoting interoperability with the naval forces of allied nations.^[7]

The base also contributes to securing shipping routes and maintaining maritime security by employing combat groups from land military units, submarines, and air forces. Also, it contributes to the protection of navigation in the Suez Canal, a primary artery for international trade.^[9]

Spreading over 2,650 acres (1,070 ha),^[10] the base is positioned to address challenges such as illegal entry and smuggling. It is intended to provide logistical support for Egyptian troops operating in both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, allowing for a coordinated response to potential threats in the region.^[7]

History

Main article: June 2013 Egyptian protests

The 3rd of July Naval Base is named in reference to the aftermath of the 30 June protests. On this date, a major political shift occurred in Egypt, when then-President Mohamed Morsi, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt's first democratically elected president, was removed from power following widespread protests. The removal was supported by Egypt's military, with General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi playing a key role in the process.^[7]

Facilities and equipments

The base hosts a several of naval assets, including 48 bleeding edge vessels,^[11] 28 armored combat boats, four swift boats, two Italian FREMM Bergamini-class frigates, an Egyptian-manufactured Gowind-class frigate, and a German-made Type 209 submarine. These vessels contribute to Egypt's naval capabilities in both defense and regional maritime security operations.^[7] The base is also equipped with 15 different motorboats,^[12] ENS Tahya Misr, equipped with Exocet MM40 Block III anti-ship missiles, and an Ambassador MK III missile boat.^[13]

In addition to its military assets, the base is equipped with 74 facilities, including an airstrip, training fields, and an operations center.^[7] It also features a 1,000 meters (3,300 ft)-long military berth with a depth of 14 meters (46 ft),^[14] as well as commercial berths that extend 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) in length and 17 meters (56 ft) in depth. Supporting infrastructure includes a 29-meter (95 ft)-high port control tower, two breakwaters measuring a combined 3,650 meters (11,980 ft), and various logistical and hospitality facilities.^[7]

The base also contains several civilian facilities, such as a hotel spread over 6,300 square meters (68,000 sq ft), a conference hall with a capacity of 700 people, a sports complex, an open-air theater that seats 600, and a mosque covering 1,100 square meters (12,000 sq ft).^[7]

Military operations

• Qadar 2021: Since 3 July Naval Base became operational, a naval drill named Qader 2021 was conducted on 3 July 2021. It was a large-scale military maneuver involving the coordinated participation of all branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces, designed to test the combat readiness and operational integration.^[15]