- Navy:
- Mahdist Naval Forces, 1885-98
- Career:
Created in 1884 after the Mahdist rebellion spread throughout Sudan and took Khartoum in January 1885. The Mahdists captured at least nine river steamers (Bordein, Fasher, Ismailia, Mahomet Ali, Monsuhaniya, Safiya, Tahra, Talahawiya, Tewfikiya) in 1884-85. Most were repaired and armed with one or two guns. They were used for transporting troops and supplies and conducting expeditions to collect taxes, ivory or slaves. Tahra was sunk by British artillery at Hafir, near Dongola (19 September 1996), Ismaïlia exploded when trying to lay mines near Khartoum (17 August 1898) and the others were sunk or captured in the Omdurman Campaign (September 1898) which destroyed the Mahdist forces and captured their capital.
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