When PLAN ships were passing through the Turkish Straits, a Turkish frigate was visiting China to return the favor.

TCG Gediz arrived in Hong Kong on 15 May and will stay there till 18 May. The visit of a Turkish warship to a Chinese port is equally rare as Chinese warships passing through the Turkish Straits.

The Turkish navy is paying a rare visit to Hong Kong and mainland waters this week, in a four-day trip that analysts describe as a shrewd move by the European nation to show its traditional allegiance to the West, but also its desire to build ties in Asia, particularly with China.

Last night, Turkey’s top diplomat in Hong Kong, Haldun Tekneci, hosted a reception aboard the frigate TCG Gediz, which docked on Friday in the country’s first naval visit for four years.

“We are super happy and we are so proud to see this warship because it has travelled so far,” he said, adding that the visit was a sign of growing relations with China and the East Asia region.

There was also a meeting at the People’s Liberation Army’s Hong Kong garrison – a courtesy call, Tekneci said – before they head to Qingdao , Shandong , tomorrow.

The TCG Gediz is making Asia the focus of a 122-day tour that started on April 1, taking in 14 nations with 18 stops in the region.

The China stops come at a sensitive time as Turkey’s planned purchase of a long-range missile defence system is still in limbo. It angered fellow Nato members over a 2013 deal to buy from a Chinese firm and has since agreed to look at versions offered by other countries while putting the Chinese deal on hold.

Nevertheless, Ankara’s relations with Beijing have grown significantly in recent years. In 2012, then vice-president Xi Jinping travelled to Turkey, resulting in deals worth US$4.3 billion across industries including finance, renewable energy and mining.

A conceptual drawing of Milgem-G class. Original photo by Arda Mevlütoğu. Enhancements by me.

During the IDEF 2015 12th International Defense Industry Fair, Turkish Navy shared the first conceptual drawing of the second generation of Milgem ships which are also called as Milgem-G

So, what do we see here?

Nothing unorthodox or groundbreaking or very experimental. From the outside the ship is an enlarged Milgem. The inside changes can only be speculated at this moment.

The hull is basically the same as the existing Milgem class ships. It is longer and heavier due to the increased weapon load and other design changes, but there appears no important changes either on the hull or on the superstructure.

The main gun is a 76mm with a stealth cupola. There is 16 canister VLS just behind the gun. As Turkish Navy uses Mk41 VLS system it is safe to say that the same system will be used in Milgem-G class. These canister will be loaded with ESSM missiles.

The forms of the bridge and the main mast is almost identical to the existing Milgem class only slightly enlarge. There will be a Smart-S Mk2 radar and ARES-2 ESM suit on the mast.

There are 16 anti ship missiles in the area between the main mast and the funnel. This is the twice the usual load of the existing anti ship missiles normally carried on Turkish warships. So not all the missiles will be Harpoon otherwise will be too expensive to procure and maintain 16 anti ship missiles.

The design of Milgem-G from the funnel till the end of the ship is identical to the Milgem. The only major difference is the close in weapon system. While the Milgem has the RAM anti-air missiles the Milgem-G has a Phalanx gun. The reason for this change might be the high cost of the RAM missile system compared to MK-15 Phalanx.

There are two remotely controlled guns on the both sides of the funnel. The details are sketchy but I expect the chaff, flare launchers and torpedo counter measure launchers to be on their existent places. There is no need to change their places.

The above mentioned are the external differences between the two generation of Milgem ships. The internal changes are very hard to tell at this time. But nevertheless I think one might safely say that the combat management system of the second generation will be an improved version of the first generation.

Once the design is completed and cast, the Under-secretariat for Defence Industries, will issue a request for information from Turkish shipyards. This will mark the start of the construction program of the second class of the Milgem ships.

F-495 TCG Gediz arrives at naval port Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, for a 3-day visit. Photo: Xinhua/Li Qian

The Chinese Jiangkai II (Type 054A) class frigate 550 Weifang in Istanbul.

The Chinese Jiangkai II (Type 054A) class frigate 547 Linyi in Istanbul.

The Fuchi class replenishment tanker Weishan Hu 887 in Istanbul.

I think we are witnessing a rare moment in naval diplomacy. Turkish and Chinese Naval Forces are conducting reciprocal port visits.

Turkish Gabya class frigate F-495 TCG Gediz arrived at a naval port in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, on May 22, 2015 for a 3-day visit. As reported earlier she is on an a commemorative deployment to honor the sunken Ottoman sail frigate Ertuğrul in Japan. Therefore TCG Gediz is visiting the same ports Ertuğrul visited 125 years ago.

While TCG Gediz is in China, 3 PLAN warships, 550 Weifang, 547 Linyi and 887 Weishan Hu arrived today in Istanbul for a port visit. The ships have passed through the Çanakkale Strait yesterday morning and arrived in Istanbul this morning. The duration of the port visit was not disclosed.

The Chinese do not talk much about the visit of the Turkish warship. And while the Turkish ship will be open to public visits, the Chinese ships in Istanbul are not open to visit, thought the Chinese allowed visitors on board, while they were in Russia earlier this month.

This double standard makes me, a very sad man.

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

According to media sources there are 49 warships taking part in Baltops 2015. The below list has 49 of them.

Engin class mine hunter of Turkish Navy, TCG Enez during Italian Minex 2015. Photo: Italian Navy.

M-262 TCG Enez, Engin class mine hunter from Turkish Navy is taking part in Italian mine warfare exercise Italian Minex 2015 as part of NATO SNMCMG-2.

The training involves all the staff and facilities of the strength of mine countermeasures based in La Spezia and forces European and NATO mine countermeasures, including Spain, Germany, France, Greece, Slovenia, Turkey and the participation of observers from different Nations such as Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, the United States, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The purpose of the exercise is to train the staff, employed on board and ashore, to plan and conduct effective remediation of the seabed by working in a scenario that plays, as realistically as possible, a situation of crisis in which the threat is not It is predictable. The task force will be able to make a complete mapping of the seabed are able to discover, locate and identify any object visually / threat present beneath the surface.

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

TCG Gediz, the first Turkish warship to dock in Manila. Photo: Philippines Navy

On 15 June 2015, F-495 TCG Gediz becomes the first Turkish warship to dock in Manila, Philippines.

This 4 day visit in Manila will foster the bilateral ties of the two nations.

The Turkish Navy ship was met by the BRP Silang Patrol Gunboat (PG14) near Corregidor and escorted it to the port area in Manila.

“A meeting procedure is a customary Navy event observed internationally where the host’s ship meets with the visiting ship and escorts it to their port of call,” said Navy public affairs office chief Commander Lued Lincuna.

A port briefing aboard the Turkish vessel on security, safety and health was given by Philippine Navy personnel after the ship’s arrival.

The commanders of the ship will meet senior officials of the Philippine Navy and other top level military officers. There will also be tours, goodwill games, receptions and other professional exchanges as part of the port visit.

TCG Gediz is on a 122-day deployment covering 18 ports in 14 countries. It began its deployment on April 1 as it commemorated the 125th anniversary of the sinking of the Frigate Ertugrul en route to Japan

The group photo of the Ukrainian and Turkish participants on board of frigate Hetman Sahaidachny. Photo: Turkish Navy.

The mobile training team of the Multinational Maritime Security Center of Excellence (MARSEC COE) trained the vessel boarding and inspection team of Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaidachny.

The training was held between 15 and 18 June 2015, in Odessa Naval Base and on board of the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny.

The MARSEC COE is based in Aksaz Naval Base, in Marmaris Turkey, with the mission to support UN, NATO, partner countries and maritime security stakeholders by providing subject matter expertise on comprehensive approach with all levels and aspects of maritime security. Turkey provides 64 percent of the manning.

This photo shows TCG Batıray in August 2014. She is a sister boat to TCG Dolunay and TCG Doğanay.

Last week Turkish project management company STM Mühendislik, announced that they have finished the modernization project of two Turkish Ay class submarines.

As reported in earlier in this blog, in March 2010 Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) decided to upgrade two  Atılay class submarines and one year later the contract was signed with STM.

Atılay class is based on German  Type 209 design and they are the oldest submarines in Turkish silent service. The oldest one was commissioned 34 and the newest one 20 years ago. Last year S-348 TCG Saldıray was decommissioned.

The newest two boats, S-351 TCG Doğanay and S-352 TCG Dolunay received an extensive modernization. The old Kollmorgen periscopes were replaced with Zeiss periscopes either SERO 400 or OMS 100. Furthermore a new inertial navigation system from Raytheon and the ARES-2N ESM system from Aselsan have replaced the existing ones.

It was planned to modify four of the torpedo tubes so that they can use Mk48 ADCAP Mod6 AT heavy weight torpedoes. But the press release made from STM omits any mention about this. The modernization project led by the STM remains significant in a way that for the first time in the history of Turkey, a civilian company has been appointed as a main-contractor of a navy submarine project.

On 25 June I was at the northern entrance of the Bosphorus for a day trip. At first the sound of the aircraft engine did not grab my attention but the blooming parachutes did.

The plane is a CASA CN-235 cargo plane, very similar to the ASW planes of the Turkish Navy. But the lack of the MAD boom and the radar receivers on top clearly indicates that this plane is the cargo version. The place where the jumps were made is close to a training facility of Turkish Naval special forces. Thus I assume that it was them who jump out of the plane.

TCG Enez (left) and TCG Barbaros (right) on their way to Varna. Both are taking part in Breeze 2015 exercise with NATO SNMCMG-2 task force.

Bulgaria is hosting Breeze 2015 naval exercise from 3 to 12 July 2015. According to Bulgarian minisry of Defence 30 warships from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey and USA will take part.
Bulgaian Navy will contribute with 15 combat and auxiliary ships and boats, two helicopters and more than 1,000 personnel.

The main objective of the exercise is to improve the interoperability and interaction between the Navy included therein countries by practicing their participation in Operation in response to the crisis. Nineteenth edition of “Breeze” will contribute to improving cooperation in multinational environment with 21 state organizations, institutions and agencies from four ministries, local authorities and non-governmental and private organizations. Within the exercise will obtain certification of a ship of the Navy the Republic of Bulgaria – mine hunter “Tsibar” according to the methodology for assessment of NATO MAREVAL. Host of “Breeze 2015″ Point is basing Varna Naval Base – Navy. July 6 (Monday) at 15.00. To 18.00. Of foreign warships based at Port Varna and Port Varna will be open to the citizens and visitors.

As usual, I have tried to find information about the participants. This is the list as far as I could compiled.

TCG Atılay passing through Istanbul, on her way to the Sea Shiel 2015 naval exercise in Romania. Photo: Alper Böler. Used with permission.

The Romanian led naval exercise Sea Shield 2015 has started on 20 July 2015.

The exercise will last till 24 July 2015 and is aimed at developing international cooperation in the defense area with similar structures of NATO member and partner states to strengthen and develop common procedures for battle.

Anti submarine warfare training is an important aspect of the exercise. The Turkish submarine S-347 TCG Atılay is acting as the hunter and the hunted. Turkey is the only NATO country that has operational submarines in the Black Sea. TCG Atılay is the first foreign submarine to visit Constanta in 7 years.

Of the other NATO countries Bulgaria has decommissioned its sole Romeo (Project 633) class BNS Slava in 2011 and terminated Bulgaria’s submarine force after 94 years. And Romania has one Kilo (Project 636) class submarine ROS Delfinul, which is in reserve status.

Standing NATO Maritime Group One is taking part in this exercise while SNMCMG-2 has left the Black Sea on 14 July 2015.

Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaidachny is also taking part in this exercise.

Below is the list of the participants to this exercise:

The construction of the third Ada type corvette is proceeding. Here without her bow on 17 July 2015.

In less time a months time the bow was finished. Here on 7 August 2015.

The construction of the third Ada class (Milgem) corvette Burgazada is proceeding. The fabrication of her hull is almost finished with the pre-fabrication of her superstructure proceeding.

The two photos above are taken from a commercial airplane 3 weeks apart. The proceeding of the construction is visible. It appears that the ship will be ready to launch for the next year.

Turkish and Montenegrin divers before Turkish mine hunter TCG Akçakoca before an underwater ship inspection. Photo: WO ARTIGUES of HQ MARCOM

The Turkish led NATO mine warfare task force Standing NATO MCM Group 2 is continuing its presence in the Adriatic Sea.

Last week the ships of the task force made passing exercise with the Croatian Naval units LM-51 HRVS Korcula,  RTOP-42 HRVS Dubrovnik and RTOP-21 HRVS Sibenik and visited Spit port.

The task force is now in Bar, Montenegro and is conducting small scaled joint exercises to enhance interoperability with the Montenegrin Navy through shared training activities,

TCG Bozcaada arriving Odessa for Sea Breeze 2015 exercise. Photo: Igor More.

The Ukrainian led exercise Sea Breeze 2015 finished today. The exercise had stared on 31 August 2015 and had a land and a sea phase.

Warships from Romania, Turkey, USA and Ukraine has participated to the sea phase of the exercise. The exercise was attended by 2,5 thousand military personnel not only from the United States and Ukraine, but also from Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, the UK, Romania, Sweden, Turkey and Moldova. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the purpose of the exercise is to develop of a multinational security operations in crisis region.

This is the list of the participating ships. The number of the ships was vague. Some publications cited 19 ships other 14 ships. Some even wrote that there would be submarines. But since Turkish Navy did not deployed a submarine to this exercise the anti submarine warfare training had to be done by a simulator.

TCG Yıldırım in Çanakkale in March 2015. She is taking part in Dynamic Manta with SNMG-2

The largest anti submarine warfare exercise NATO holds in the Mediterranean has started in Italy.

The exercise Dynamic Manta formerly known as Noble Manta kicked on 12 September 2015 in Sicily. The Augusta Naval Base and the Sigonella Air Base in Catania are full with participating naval and air units.

Submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, will join 5 surface ships from France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the United States. To support the simulated multi-threat environment, 7 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Helicopters from Canada, France, Italy, Turkey and the United States will operate from Sigonella Air Base

The aim of this exercise is to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance their interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills, with due regard to safety. During the exercise, an analysis team of ASW experts (In-stride Debrief Team) will be located in Sigonella Air Base. The team will analyse anti-submarine warfare events real time and will provide debriefs to ships, submarines and aircrews. It allows crew to accelerate their process, make adjustments, improve the performance and boost the anti-submarine warfare readiness.

As usual I have tried to find out the participating naval units. It the next few days with the emerge of more information regarding the exercise I hope to complete the list. Thanks to Victor M.S. Barreira for detailed info on participating surface units.

Any corrections and additions are welcomed.

TCG Yıldırım in Çanakkale in March 2015. She is taking part in Dynamic Manta with SNMG-2

The largest anti submarine warfare exercise NATO holds in the Mediterranean has started in Italy.

The exercise Dynamic Manta formerly known as Noble Manta kicked on 12 September 2015 in Sicily. The Augusta Naval Base and the Sigonella Air Base in Catania are full with participating naval and air units.

Submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, will join 5 surface ships from France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the United States. To support the simulated multi-threat environment, 7 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Helicopters from Canada, France, Italy, Turkey and the United States will operate from Sigonella Air Base

The aim of this exercise is to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance their interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills, with due regard to safety. During the exercise, an analysis team of ASW experts (In-stride Debrief Team) will be located in Sigonella Air Base. The team will analyse anti-submarine warfare events real time and will provide debriefs to ships, submarines and aircrews. It allows crew to accelerate their process, make adjustments, improve the performance and boost the anti-submarine warfare readiness.

UPDATE: As usual I have tried to find out the participating naval units and I have succeed it with the exception of the US submarine. Thanks to Victor M.S. Barreira and D_Mitch, for detailed info on participating surface units.

Any corrections and additions are welcomed.

The first ship of the new landing ship class TCG Bayraktar will be launched by ADIK Shipyard on 3rd October 2015. Her construction started 17 months ago.

The contract for the construction of a new LST’s was signed between Ministry of Defence and ADIK_Furtrans shipyard on 11 May 2011. The value of the contract is 370 million Euros. It took almost two years for the shipyard to find the 370 million Euro credit to cover the project as required by the contract.

The first steel was cut on 14 May 2014 at ADİK Shipyard. The first ship is called as TCG Bayraktar replacing the old TCG Bayraktar, a LST-511 class landing ship which is out of commission.

The new landing ships will have a crew of 129 and will carry 350 soldiers. The ships will have a citadel to protect the crew from effects of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
The closed parking area is 1100 square meters and the open deck parking area is 690 square meters sufficient for approximately 20 main battle tanks and between 24 – 60 vehicles.

The armament consists of 2 single barreled 40mm Oto Melara guns, 2 Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, 2 machine guns on a stabilized remote-controlled chassis.
The ships will have a Smart Mk2 3D air/surface search radar (which not common for an amphibious ship) 2 AselFLIR 300D EO director, torpedo counter measures systems, laser warning receiver and Link 16/22 system. All these sensors and weapons will be controlled by a 5 consoles of GENESIS CMS.

It has been told that with the first payment by Turkey, the contract of th LPD project come into effect.

The contract was signed on 7 May 2015 during the IDEF 2015.  According to Jane’s Naval International, with receipt of the first payment, construction work on the ship is scheduled to begin one year from now, with delivery scheduled for 2021.

Turkish Preveze (Type 209/1400) class submarine S-353 TCG Preveze in Durrës, Albania. Photo: Albanian Armed Forces.

Turkish submarine TCG Preveze made a 3 day port visit in Durrës, Albania. She was returning from the NATO exercise Dynamic Manta 2015 in Italy.

The submarine set sail for this deployment on 3 September 2015.

Pursuant to the Plan of Cooperation between the Albanian and the Naval Forces of Turkey, arrived for a visit in Durres port, the submarine “TCG Preveza S – 353”. The Purpose of this visit is Cooperation and joint training between Our Force and the Turkish Navy Marine. Turkish ship Was escorted to our territorial waters from small sailing motorboat R – 118, with commander kapitenllejtënant. Alket Cullhaj. In the dock 4 port Durres ND “TCG Preveza” Was Received by staff of Naval Flotilla, Representatives of the Authority and Durres Port Security, Military Police, Private Entities, etc.

While it is not usual for submarines to visit foreign ports, Durrës has been a prefered stop over for Turkish submarines in the last few years:

2014: TCG Sakarya

2013: TCG Anafartalar

2010: TCG Dolunay

Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu, making the first ceremonial welding.

Turkish Navy reported that the construction of TCG Pirireis the first Type 214 class submarine has officially started.

There was a ceremony at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard were the construction will be done. This is a big event actually which was not served to the mass media which I find it a little bit odd. The construction of a new submarine the first of its class deserves a bigger public attention. I assume that the silent service wanted the ceremony to be true to their motto.

On 2nd July 2009, a contract was signed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW), Kiel, a company of ThyssenKrupp Technologies, and MarineForce International LLP (MFI), London, for the delivery of six material packages for the construction of Class 214 submarines to Turkey.

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.