First row from left to right: M-263 TCG Erdek, M-1069 FGS Homburg, M-108 HMS Grimsby. Second row from left to right: M-503 TCG Finike, M-502 TCG Fatsa, Y-116 TCG Pınar 3. Photo: Oktay Cömert. Used with permission.

From left to right: M-261 TCG Edremit, M-264 TCG Erdemli, M-268 TCG Akçakoca, M-267 TCG Ayvalık. Photo: Oktay Cömert. Used with permission.

A-577 TCG Sokullu Mehmet Paşa. Photo: Oktay Cömert. Used with permission.

From left to right: M-62 HS Evropi, 63 BGS Priboi. Photo: Oktay Cömert. Used with permission.

The training mines on board of TCG Sokullu Mehmet Paşa are clearly visible. Photo: Oktay Cömert. Used with permission.

The flagship of SNMCMG-2 F-583 ITS Aviere. Photo: Oktay Cömert. Used with permission.

The ships participating to the Turkish led mine warfare exercise Nusret 2014 were in İzmir for the weekend.

The below is the list of the participating warships as far as I could identify:

TCG Giresun passing through the Bosphorus. Note her new Smart Mk2 3D radar and MK41 VLS system. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

The Gabya (ex Perry) class frigate F-491 TCG Giresun seems to have gotten her new radar and vertical launcher. She is the last ship to received this upgrade.

The new Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D radar replaced the incumbent AN/SPS-49(V)4 radar which was 2D. The addition of 8 cell Mk41 in the forecastle increased the range and the number of the anti-air missiles carried on board. The Mk41 will hold ESSM missiles. while the Mk13 keep housing the SM-1 Standard missiles.

TCG Giresun is the fourth and final ship to undergo through this modernization. The other three are F-495 TCG Gediz, F-496 TCG Gökova, F-497 TCG Göksu.

This is a photo of a Turkish S-72B Sea Hawk helicopter firing a missile. There are many things, one can say about this photo.

The special 100th Anniversary Logo of the Turkish Naval Aviation is painted on the side of the fuselage dates the photo to 2014.

The usual missile armament of Turkish Navy helicopter are Penguin Mk2 and AGM-114K Hellfire II missiles. The bright red color of the missile indicates that it is not a serial production unit. Thus this must be a photo of a test firing of a missile in development for Turkish Navy helicopters.

There are some speculative information on Turkish websites that this missile might the a naval version of the Mızrak long-range anti tank missile developed by Roketsan.

If this photo turns out indeed to be a test firing of a navalized version of Mızrak, then the missile may have an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) seeker  and a range longer than 15 km. These features will enable to helicopter to stay out of the range of SAM missiles her target may be carrying.

Above: TCG Ödev tows the target. Below: the point of impact and the damage to the target.

The firing of the missile.

The test bed: Turkish S-70 B2 helicopter with the tail number TCB-66.

Last week I had reported about the this photo of a Turkish S-70 B2 Sea Hawk helicopter firing a missile.

Thanks to the comment of my reader Frankie I have now more information strait from the in house magazine of Roketsan.

According to the magazine the test was conducted on 16 September 2014, from the helicopter TCB-66 which was modified for this test. The modifications included a firing control panel inside the cockpit, the special designed power and data cabling for the communication between the missile and the helicopter and finally a missile launcher that fits to the helicopter.

The missile it self is a laser guided UMTAS. It is a beam rider that means the missile follows a the reflection of a laser beam pointed to the target. The source of this beam can the the launching aircraft, a ground based forward observer or another aircraft. The missile has be locked-on before the launch or lock-on after the launch modes.

During the test the launching platform (TCB-66) was the laser designator. The height of the helicopter was 200 meters over the sea level and the target was 4000 meters away, towed the Turkish Navy tug TCG Ödev.

Roketsan states the maximum range of the L-UMTAS as 8000 meters. Turkish Navy is the only operator of the Hellfire missile family in Turkey. As is the missile is very similar in performance to the Hellfire missiles used by Turkish Navy thus L-UMTAS offers a local replacement for the Hellfire missiles.

This presentation by TKMS shows the local Turkish content in the upcoming Type214TN submarines. which is substantial compared to the previous submarine construction projects.

The German newspaper Handelsblatt run a story about the penalty to be paid by German submarine constructor Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to Turkey. The reason for this payment is the delay in, construction of 6 Type 214 TN submarines Turkey as agreed to buy From TKMS in 2009.

On 2 July 2009, a contract was signed between Turkey and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW), Kiel, a company of TKMS, and MarineForce International LLP (MFI), London, for the delivery of six material packages for the construction of Class 214 submarines which are now called as the Reis class.

The value of the contract is estimated as 2,5 billion €. There is %80 offset agreement. The submarines will be built in Gölcük Naval Shipyard where 11 submarines of Type 209, were previously built. According to the original contract terms the construction was to start in 2011, and the first sub delivered in 2015.

The reasons for the delay of the construction is both technical and commercial.

The technical delay is related to the much reported to the stability problems the Type 214 submarines experienced. The stability problem was one of the main reasons why Greek Navy refused to accept its first Type 214 HS Papanikolis years ago in the first place. The solution to the stability problem by TKMS was to add weights to certain places in the submarine in order to create a stability. But Turkish Navy was not satisfied with this come up with its own solution where the center of gravity of the submarine was relocated,by adding extending the length of the submarine. The solution has to be validated by TKMS and this is one of the delay in the project. This also means that Turkish Navy is working seriously in submarine design and problems associated with it.  In the end Turkish Type 214 submarines will be a few meters longer than the other nations Type 214 submarines.

The Type 214 construction project is the last project where Turkish Navy will construct a submarine to a foreign design and subsystems. It is not a secret that the next submarines constructed by Turkish Navy will be local design with most of the critical components ans sub systems produced with local input. It is not surprising to see the large Turkish industrial participation in the Type 214 project as this project is regarded as preparation phase for the Milli Denizaltı  (Milden). Milli Denizaltı means National Submarine in Turkish. So it is understandable for the Germans to drag their feet in the Type 214 project especially when they know that this is the last of its kind.

TCG Turgutreis sailing through Dardanelles.

Turkish contribution to NATO Maritime Group Two, F-241 TCG Turgutreis celebrated her 1000th departure from port on 16 February 2015.

According to NATO MARCOM press release this happened when the task force left Trieste, Italy.

The Commander of SNMG-2, Rear Adm. Brad Williamson (USA N) took the opportunity to join TURGUTREIS on this special occasion and addressed the crew over the ship’s PA system, “I know how much hard work and dedication goes into every sailing from port,” Williamson said to the crew. “I hope as you took in the lines this morning you also paused for a moment to reflect on this special day.”

Sailors aboard TURGUTREIS marked the occasion by taking a photo of the entire ship’s crew on the flight deck and hosting a banner declaring the 1,000th sailing, which the ship will display until the next port. TURGUTREIS is also flying signal flags on the mast which spell out “Sail, 1,000.”

“We are very happy to celebrate our 1,000th sail and are glad to have the honor of Rear Admiral Brad Williamson aboard for the event, and celebrate our ship and the commitment of our crew to serve with dedication and honor,” said TURGUTREIS Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Hüseyin Temizel.

“It was very special to be aboard TURGUTREIS today,” said Williamson. “It is an honour I will carry with me always.”

TCG Barbaros passing through Bosphorus in 2014. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

TCG Barbaros passing through Bosphorus in 2015. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

Above are two photos of MEKO 200 Track IIA class frigate F-244 TCG Barbaros. The first photo was taken in April 2014, the second in February 2015. Though the resolution is not optimal two fundamental change made on the ship in less than 10 months is clearly visible.

Gone are the old AWS-9 search radar and Mk-29 SeaSparrow launcher. They are replaced by a (probably a 16 cell) Mk41 VLS and a SMART-S Mk2 3D radar. This means TCG Barbaros can now fire Sea Sparrow and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles on board. And the life of the radar maintenance technicians got a lot more easier.

Bulgarian frigate BNS Drazki, in Varna. Photo: Nikolay Zlatev. Used with permission.

Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton arriving to Varna. Photo: Nikolay Zlatev. Used with permission.

Turkish frigate TCG Turgutreis arriving to Varna. Photo: Nikolay Zlatev. Used with permission.

German tanker FGS Spessart in Varna. Photo: Nikolay Zlatev. Used with permission.

Italian frigate ITS Alieso in Varna. Photo: Nikolay Zlatev. Used with permission.

The ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2) arrived to-day to the Bulgarian port Varna. There is a very strong north wind in the Black Sea throughout the weekend and I think the sailors are happy to be in a port in this weather. According to the excellent Bulgarian blog SeaDog, the flagship of the task force USS Vicksburg did not enter the harbor due to strong winds. She is expected to arrive on 8 March 2015.

“Our Sailors are excited to visit Varna and to interact with the people who represent this city and nation,” said Rear Admiral Williamson. “More importantly, we are looking forward to getting back underway and training with the professional mariners of the Bulgarian Navy.”

During the port visit, SNMG2 leadership will meet with local Bulgarian authorities and Navy officials to discuss numerous issues of shared importance, to include exercises in the Black Sea.

SNMG2 is in the Black Sea as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to the region to assure NATO Allies of the Alliance’s commitment to collective defense. During the deployment, SNMG2 ships are training with ships from the Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish Navies.

According to Russian websites the first two ship of the task force to enter the Black Sea USS Vicksburg and TCG Turgutreis were greeted by Russian Su-24 and Su-30 warplanes.

NATO MARCOM published an press release today about the exercise between Turkish Naval Forces and SNMG-2. And the published the photo below:

SNMG-2 ships with two Turkish frigates. Photo: NATO/MARCOM.

From left to right you can see an Improved Tetal class Romanian corvette, the Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton, 3 Turkish MEKO 200 Track 1 frigates (marked with red arrows) and the German tanker FGS Spessart.  The nearest Turkish frigate is F-240 TCG Yavuz. The others are F-241 TCG Turgutreis and F-242 TCG Fatih.
The text of the press release is below:

BLACK SEA – NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) recently completed exercises in the Black Sea with ships from the Turkish Navy.  SNMG2 is in the Black Sea to assure allies in the region of the Alliance’s commitment to collective defence and to enhance NATO’s maritime force interoperability.

Led by Rear Adm. Brad Williamson (USA N), SNMG2 is currently comprised of the flagship USS Vicksburg (CG 69), HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337), TCG Turgutreis (F 241), FGS Spessart (A 1442), ITS Aliseo (F 574) and ROS Regina Maria (F 222).

SNMG2 units were joined by Commander, Turkish Destroyer Division Three, Capt. Murat Sirzai, embarked aboard TCG Yavuz (F 240) and Turkish units TCG Fatih (F 242) and a Turkish submarine. During the multinational exercise, the ships tested anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare tactics and procedures, as well as basic ship-handling maneuvers and communications drills.

“Opportunities to train with different units from our Allied nations only further enhance our ability as a ready maritime force,” said SNMG2 Staff Planning Officer, Lt. Taner Erdem (TUR).

While in the Black Sea SNMG2 will also participate in exercises with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies before returning to the Mediterranean to resume patrols; contributing to maritime situational awareness in the region.

Turkish frigate TCG Fatih passing through Istanbul Strait. Photo: Shonquis Moreno. Used with permission.

Though a certain date was not mentioned in the press release, the information in the text is at least 3 days old. The Turkish frigate TCG Fatih made her southbound passage through Istanbul Strait on 6 March 2015.

TCG Büyükada conducts a passing exercise with Bahraini warship Hawar. Photo: Turkish Naval Forces.

TCG Büyükada is continuing with her Indian Ocean deployment.

She was in Doha, Qatar, between 3 and 6 March for a scheduled port visit. After leaving Qatar she made PASSEX with the Bahraini war ship RNBS Hawar.

TCG Büyükada is now making a port visit in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. She is scheduled to return to Turkey in 30 days.

On 18 March 2015, Turkish Navy organised a Naval Parade in Çanakkale Strait to commemorate Turkish Victory over the Allied Armada 100 years ago.

6 Navy and Coast Guard helicopters, 3 maritime patrol planes and 6 Army helicopters took part in a fly over. And the Turkish Stars, the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force made a display. The focal point of the commemorations was the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial, was off the limit for me. But I was never the less able to take photos of the warships taking part in the parade, Coast Guard Boats, providing security and ships that were open for public.

TCG Fatih and TCG Akçay were moored in Çanakkale and were open for public visitation:

The point ship of the naval parade was the replica of the small minelayer TCG Nusret. She was followed by TCG Alanya, TCG Akçakoca and TCG Ayvalık. This was a very propitiate selection ans the mines of the original Nusret laid 100 years ago had a had very definitive results, from the point of view of the continuation of the battle and the future of the world, the mines laid as Sir Winston Churchill once said.

The second line of the ships were the frigates TCG Oruçreis, TCG Salihreis, TCG Yıldırım, TCG Yavuz, TCG Gemlik and corvettes, TCG Heybeliada, TCG Bozcaada and TCG Bafra.

The frigates were followed by the patrol boats TCG Türkeli and TCG Karabiga.

Coast Guard section was headed by TCSG Dost. TCGS Güven, TCSG 303 and TCSG 106 followed her.

The fast attack boats were the last group of ships to take part in the parade. TCG Mızrak, TCG Kalkan, TCG Atak, TCG Doğan, TCG Tayfun, TCG Rüzgar.

The following boats provided security during the ceremonies:

Large landing ship TCG Osmangazi made an appearance in Çanakkale but she did not take port in the commemorations.

I am posting a couple of wide-angle shots to give an impression about the general conduct of the naval parade.

4 fast attack craft in formation. There is two more but I could not squeeze them in the the photo.

The corvettes and patrol boats passing through Çanakkale.

A wide-angle view of the helicopter fly past. 3 Navy S-70B Seahawks are in the front, followed by 3 Coast Guard AB-412’s and 3 (one not in the picture) Army AS-532UL Cougar Mk1.

T-129 Atak. Turkish attack helicopter based on Italian Mangusta helicopter frame. 3 of them took part in the ceremonies.

For the photos of the ships click here.

TCG Gediz sailing in Marmara Sea

On 2 April 2015, the Gabya class frigate F-495 TCG Gediz set sail from Aksaz Naval base, Marmaris for a 122 day deployment.

The highlight of this deployment will be the commemoration of the sinking of the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture in Japan.

TCG Gediz will follow he original route of Ertuğrul 125 years ago and will visit 18 different ports in 14 countries.

This is from Wikipedia:

Ertuğrul, launched in 1863, was a sailing frigate of the Ottoman Navy. While returning from a goodwill voyage from Japan in 1890, she encountered a typhoon off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture, subsequently drifted into a reef and sank. The maritime accident resulted in the loss of 533 sailors, including Admiral Ali Osman Pasha. Only sixty-nine sailors and officers survived and returned home later aboard two Japanese corvettes.

TCG Oruçreis saling to the Black Sea.

TCG Salihreis on her way to the Black Sea.

TCG Turgutreis making her northbound passage in IStanbul.

TCG Yavuz at night, on her way to the Black Sea.

TCG Atak making her northbound passage. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

TCG Kılıç sailing to the Black Sea. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

TCG Mızrak heading to the Black Sea. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

TCG Zıpkın making her northbound passage. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

TCG Bozcaada heading to the Black Sea. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

TCG Bandırma making her northbound passage. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

On 6 April 2015 we had witnessed northbound passage of a large number of Turkish warships, 5 frigates, 2 corvettes, 4 fast attack craft in total. The reason is the start of the Deniz Yıldızı 2015 naval exercise in Black Sea.

According to the Turkish Navy website following units will take part in the exercise: 6 frigates, 3 corvettes, 5 fast attack craft, 2 submarines, 7 auxiliaries, 2 patrol boats,  3 maritime surveillance planes, 7 helicopters helicopters.  From Coast Guard 2 OPV’s, 4 cutters and 1 SAR helicopter will participate in the exercise.

The exercise is scheduled to end on 16 April. On 11 April the participating ships will make port visits in several Black Sea towns.

This is the list of the participants as far as I could find:

F-497 TCG Gökova currently taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior 2015.

F496 TCG Göksu currently taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior 2015.

M269 TCG Anamur currently taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior 2015.

According to media sources there are 55 warships taking part in Joint Warrior 2015. I was able to identify 53 of them.

Thanks to Sjoforsvaret for reminding me about HNOMS Thor Heyerdahl.

Any corrections and additions are always welcome.

Monsieur Louis, Martin-Vézian from Contemporary Issues & Geography (CIGeography) prepare this wonderful picture where you can visualize easily all nations and all warships taking part in Joint Warrior 2015-1 exercise.

According to media sources there are 55 warships taking part in Joint Warrior 2015. The below list has 55 of them.

Thanks to:

Sjoforsvaret, for reminding me about HNOMS Thor Heyerdahl,

Herr Thomas Wiegold, for information on Germany Navy,

Mister Nils K Haugen for correcting the name of HNOMS Skjold.

Any further corrections and additions are always welcome.

F-502 TCG Bandırma returning from Deniz Yıldızı 2015 exercise in Black Sea. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

Large landing ship NL-125 TCG Osmangazi making a southbound passage (returning from Deniz Yıldızı 2015 exercise!?) through Bosphorus. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

F-491 TCG Gemlik returning from Deniz Yıldızı 2015 exercise in Black Sea. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

Tanker A-573 Binbaşı Sadettin Gürcan returning from Deniz Yıldızı 2015 exercise in Black Sea. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

F-500 TCG Bozcaada returning from Deniz Yıldızı 2015 exercise in Black Sea. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

The oldest vessel in commission in Turkish Navy, A-578 TCG Gazal returning from the Deniz Yıldızı 2015 exercise.

The Deniz Yıldızı 2015 exercise ended on 16 April 2015 and the participants returned to their home ports.

According to the Turkish Navy website following units took part 6 frigates, 3 corvettes, 5 fast attack craft, 2 submarines, 7 auxiliaries, 2 patrol boats, 3 maritime surveillance planes, 7 helicopters.

I was able to identify 18 warships of out indicated 23. Here is the list:

Click here for the photos of the frigates and fast attack craft participating in the exercise.

On 23 April 2015, 11 warships from 5 different nations gathered in Çanakkale to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Çanakkale Wars.

Two of them F-77 HMNZS Te Kaha and 150 HMAS Anzac arrived after a very long journey. The New Zealand frigate Te Kaha left her home port in 16 February and The Australian Frigate Anzac on 15 March 2015.
In addition to Australian and New Zealand frigates the British assault ship HMS Bulwark and the french destroyer FS Cassard ware also present. From Turkish Navy TCG Salihreis, TCG Yavuz, TCG Turgutreis, TCG Fatih TCG Heybeliada took part in the commemorations. And Turkish Coast Guard participated with the offshore patrol vessels TCSG Güven and TCSG Umut.

The above photos are taken on 23 April 2015 as the ship sailed southbound on Dardanelles for a rehearsal.

For the photos from the international sail past click here.

On 24 April 2015, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Çanakkale Wars, a naval parade was held under the command of Turkish Navy Northern Task Group Commander Rear Admiral Ali Murat Dede.

The formation led by Turkish frigate TCG Salihreis was made up from the following ships from 5 different nations:

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli Land Wars, 4 different ceremonies were held. The first ceremony was organised by Turkish Republic at the Turkish War Memorial on 24 April 2015. On the same day following these Turkish ceremony one ceremony at the British War Cemetery and one in French Cemetery are held simultaneously by their respective nations.

The last and, one of the major commemoration ceremonies was the Dawn Service at the Anzac Cove on 25 April 2015. More than ten thousand Australians and New Zealanders attended this special event.

The naval parade was organized for the commemorations at Turkish War Memorial and for the Anzac Dawn Service. The following photos are from the first event.

The parade of the warships was followed by an impressive show of Turkish Stars the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force. Click here for the photos.

For the photos of the rehearsal click here.

TCG Gediz arrives at Port Klang in Maleysia. Photo: Dzirhan Mahadir. Used with permission.

TCG Gediz at Port Klang in Maleysia. Photo: Dzirhan Mahadir. Used with permission.

TCG Gediz in Port Klang in Maleysia. Photo: Dzirhan Mahadir. Used with permission.

Turkish frigate TCG Gediz arrived in Port Klang in Malaysia on 3 May 2015. She will continue to her journey on 5 May 2015.

The frigate is on a commemorative cruise replicating the route of the ill fated deployment of the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul.