Missile Boats

Missile Boats
State Medal, 2004/5764
First Medal in the "Ships of the Israel Navy" Series.

The "Ships of the Israel Navy" Five-Medal Set is dedicated to the soldiers of the Navy who have devoted their lives to ensuring the security of Israel's coastlines. The Medal Set has been issued in conjunction with and overseen by the Israel Navy Veterans Association. The Israel Navy was established in 1948. Its very first fleet consisted of the clandestine immigrant ships and the first core of the Navy was formed in part from the Palyam (sea unit of the Palmach). Over the years, the Israel Navy has taken part in many operations, including the War of Independence in 1948, when it gained control over the sea despite Egypt's recognized command in the area, the 1956 Sinai Campaign, Six Day War in 1967, War of Attrition (1969-70), Yom Kippur War in 1973, Peace for Galilee War in 1982 and it has aborted many terrorist penetration attempts from the sea, among them Karine A in 2002. The quality of its soldiers, together with its sophisticated ships and naval equipment put the Israel Navy in good stead to face future tasks successfully and secure Israel's coastlines. The Israel Navy's missile boats are long-range fast attack vessels capable of protecting the country's long coastline and operating farther out to sea. The pride of the fleet is the Sa'ar class of fast attack craft, the first modern missile boats to be developed in the western world. In the early 1960s an order was placed with a French shipyard for the construction of the first of these small swift vessels. Based on the German Jaguar-class missile boats, it was modified to carry sea-to-sea missiles developed in Israel. With a displacement of 250 tons, its operational range was limited to 500 nautical miles. In 1969 the first of these boats, named the "Haifa", was pronounced operational. But already in 1968 the Israel Shipyards had had been commissioned to build a larger version of the Sa'ar, with a displacement of 400 tons and an operational range of 1,000 nautical miles. The Israeli missile boats passed their first real test with flying colors. On the first night of fighting in the Yom Kippur War (1973), a flotilla of Israeli missile boats attacked and destroyed several Soviet-made Syrian naval craft in their own base with zero losses and established control over the eastern Mediterranean theater of operations. This success spurred several Western navies to develop similar versions of this deadly little attack boat. A large number of orders were placed with the French shipyard which had built the first Israeli Sa'ar craft. In the years that followed, Israel developed improved versions of the Sa'ar. Each version saw an improvement in its various defense, control and speed systems, keeping pace with the latest technological developments. The latest missile boats are equipped with a combat helicopter spot.

Obverse: A Missile Boat and to its right, a schematic map of Israel, showing the main port cities: Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat. In the upper border "IDF Navy" in English and Hebrew, and in the lower border "Missile Boat" in English and Hebrew.

Reverse: An ancient ship symbolizing the glorious maritime history of the Land of Israel, that started in the time of our Patriarch Jacob. Before he died, Jacob blessed his son and the Tribe of Zebulun, "Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; and he shall be a haven for ships" (Genesis 49:13). There were also splendid ships in use in the time of King Solomon. Beneath the ship, the Israel Navy Emblem and to the left, the Emblem of the Israel Navy Veterans Association. In the lower border, the inscription "Shipmen who know the sea" (Kings I) in English and in the upper border, the same inscription in Hebrew.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left; the serial number and metal.

Designer: Ruben Nutels.

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan.

Mint: Bronze and Silver Medals: Bulgaria. Gold medal: The Government Mint, Israel.