The first steel was cut for the fourth Milgem class corvette TCG Kınalıada on 8 October 2015.

The ceremony was held in Istanbul Naval Shipyard.

According to Turkish Navy press announcement the hull production of the third ship TCG Burgazada was finished 12 months before than planned, therefore the first steel of the TCG Kınalıada was cut 6 months ahead of the schedule.

TCG Burgazada will be launched in April 2016 and will be commissioned in 2019. TCG Kınalıada will be launched in December 2017 and will be commissioned in 2020.

What you see above may be the first published photo of the Turkish heavyweight torpedo Akya. I have found it in an online publication of Turkish Navy.

I believe the photo was at the first test firing of torpedo on 11 July 2013. The test firing was done from a surface platform where a 533mm torpedo tube was installed. The photo appears to be taken before loading the Akya into the torpedo tube.

The torpedo has an elliptic cone nose similar to contemporary German torpedoes. It is difficult to see if ther eis one set of propeller or two counter turning propellers. But at least for the test device there is no housing around the propellers.

The development an indigenous heavyweight torpdeo is going on for 5 years. In 2010 a contract was signed between Turkish Naval Research Center Command (ARMERKOM), Tübitak, Roketsan and Undersecretariat for Defense Industries for developing and prototyping of a heavy weight torpedo. The value of the contract was 24 million euros.

ARMERKOM has the lead in designing the 533mm torpedo named Akya, after a local fish. Tübitak is developing the sonar where as Roketsan is working on the warhead and guidance.

On 12 and 13 October 2015, the 7. Naval Systems Seminar was held in Ankara.

I am personally delighted to see this venue started as a one-man project turned to be an established organisation appreciated by everyone.

Turkish Navy was officially present in this year’s seminar. In previous years Turkish naval officers participated the event on their own without an official endorsement from the force.

It is interesting to notice the gradual changes happening in Turkish ship building industry through this event. This year for example Turkish shipyards decided not to attend with exception of Sedef Shipyard. Is this because the shipyards had to take part in IDEF Defence Fair in spring 2015 and used most of their budgets there, or is it because they know that there are no hot contested projects on the tables?

Saab making fun of LCS.

Most notable absentees were foreign companies and organisations such as UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation. UKTI DSO which was a prominent participant in early events was absent like US and German delegations and companies. Rolls Royce was the only British company present. After acquisition of Tognum they have become the major engine supplier in many Turkish naval projects. On the other hand the Spanish were there with their huge model LHD model and the Swedish with their smart presentations.

Large Turkish defence companies like Aselsan and Havelsan were also present since they are among the main sponsors of the Naval Systems Seminar, they did not have too much options.

Aselsan is enlarging its product range for naval applications. They offer a variety of devices from 3 dimensional radars to torpedo decoys; from EW suites to remote-controlled guns. Havelsan on the other end is offering mainly command and control and situational awareness solutions for naval applications.

The enthusiasm of the first years have turned in to a more sober mood. In the previpus events people were talking about the things they are going to do in the future. Now they are talking about the things they have done and leason learned by doing them.

For further reading:

6th Naval Systems Seminar

5th Naval Systems Seminar (Part II)

5th Naval Systems Seminar (Part I)

4th Naval Systems Seminar

3rd Naval Systems Seminar

One of the most interesting presentations of the 7. Naval System Seminar was done by Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (UDI). The topic of it was the future shipbuilding projects.

The organisers of Naval System Seminar prepare a CD containing the presentations done during it to be distributed to the participants which is a useful thing if you want to reread the presentation later at home.

However the UDI was either too lazy or too arrogant to send the presentation to the organisers so their presentation is not included in the CD. Therefore you have to content with the table I have preapred from my notes and memory.

There are 20 acquisition projects related to Turkish navy and Turkish coast guard. Of these 20 project UDI is working on 13 of them.

Romanian mine sweeper Sub Lieutenant Alexandru Axentel heading to Northern Aegean for Nusret 2015 Exercise.

Each year Turkish Navy organises a mine warfare exercise named after the famous minelayer Nusret.

This year the exercise will be held between 21 and 27 October 2015, in Saros Bay, northern Aegean.

The aim of the exercise is to provide training for the planning and execution of mine warfare and to improve the interoperability in mine warfare, between warships from participant countries.

Turkish Navy will provide 14 warships, 6 planes and helicopters and one EOD team. Bulgarian, Romanian and Greek mine hunters/sweepers will also take part in the exercise.

The Romanian participant is Musca class mine sweeper Sub Lieutenant Alexandru Axente. The Bulgarian participant is Briz class mine sweeper Shkval. I have no information about the Greek participant yet.

Bulgarian mine sweeper Shkval heading to Northern Aegean for Nusret 2015 Exercise. Photo: Yörük Işık. Used with permission.

There will be EOD teams from Greece and Romania as well as an unmanned underwater vehicle team from US Navy taking part.

Further reading:

Nusret 2014

Nusret 2013

Nusret 2012

Nusret 2011

Nusret 2010

LHD-3 USS Kearsarge in Rote, Spain. Photo: US Navy

Today Turkish led amphibious exercise Egemen 2015 kicked off in Aegean Sea. This is the 3 simultaneous exercise Turkish naval units are taking part. The others are Trident Junction 2015 and Nusret 2015. The exercise will end on 28 October 2015.

Turkish Navy is participating with one frigate, two corvettes, four patrol boats, one submarine, one tank landing ships, 6 landing craft and numerous auxiliary vessels, two helicopters, one maritime patrol aircraft, one search and rescue aircraft and 1 amphibious marine infantry battalion. Turkish Air Force will contribute two F-16 fighter jets.

US Navy amphibious ship LHD-3 USS Kearsarge and on board deployed units from 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are going to take part in Egemen 2015 too.

The exercise will include tactical level training ashore and a combined amphibious landing, flexing all elements of amphibious warfare.

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit team, comprised of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington and embarked Marines from the 26th MEU. USS Oak Hill and USS Arlington are currently taking part NATO’s Trident Juncture 2015 Exercise off Spanish coast.

For further reading:

Egemen 2009 (Part I)

Egemen 2009 (Part II)

Egemen 2009 (Part III)

The hull of an old patrol boat. Photo: Alper Böler. Used with permission.

A commercial tug was towing this old hull of a former Turkish patrol boat to the Black Sea. As far as I know there are no ship breakers in Black Sea, this means she is about to get sunk.

The hull belonged to one of the 4 former Turkish gun boats TCG AB-21 to TCG AB-24. All of the fours were build in 1967 in USA by Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, WI. The first pair was delivered in late 1967 and the second pair in early 1968.

They stayed in Turkish service well beyond 2000’s. I have no record of their exact decommissioning dates but must be later than 2005.

Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Akar, on Board of TCG Büyükada, saluting TCG Heybeliada. Photo: Official Turkish Armed Forces Photo

The Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Hulusi Akar visited the Ada class corvette TCG Büyükada on 29 December 2015.

According to the Turkish General Staff website General Akar visited TCG Büyükada while she was deployed for Operation Mediterranean Shield.

Operation Mediterranean Shield initiated by Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean on 1 April 2006 was executed to:
Provide security of oil transportation in Ceyhan, terminal area for oil, and therefore contribute to the security of global energy,
Demonstrate presence against possible risks and threats existing in the eastern Mediterranean and disencourage it,
Support initiatives by NATO for maritime security in the region,
Show presence through possible maritime domain,

This visit didn’t receive the attention it deserved, from the Turkish media.

Since Turkey shoot down a Russian bomber when it violated Turkish airspace, the tensions in that part of the Mediterranean Sea are high.

The photo above shows that both Ada class corvettes TCG Heybeliada and TCG Büyükada are stationed in Eastern Mediterranean. The Ada class ships are the youngest combat ships in Turkish Fleet. They have very low radar cross sections, and advanced electronic support systems. These ships are the most suitable warships in our service to conduct shadowing operations without been seen and perform flag showing.

The existence of these capable warships in this high tension area clearly indicates the commitment of Turkish Navy.

It has been a while since I have last updated the order of battle for Turkish Navy. Here is the current one:

A detailed version of the above list:

Note 1: The construction of the first Type 214 class submarine TCG Pirireis has started on 10th October 2015.
Note 2: The second batch of 4 Ada class corvettes has been enlarged to the new İstif class frigates.
Note 3: Procurement of 4 (plus 6 optional) fast attack of local design armed with missiles is planned.
Note 4: Turkish Navy decommissioned a number of older patrol boats as new boats are commissioned. Thus the real number may less than 34.
Note 5: The procurement of 6 new mine sweepers is planned.
Note 6: The construction of the first LPD TCG Anadolu will start in Autumn 2016.
Note 7: 6 LCM and 2 LCAC may be procured with the LPD but the acquisition of these smaller vessels is not definite yet.
Note 8:Two oil tankers are constructed by a private shipyard. Additionally procurement of one fleet replenishment ship is planed.
Note 9: It is planned to acquire two sailing training ships.
Note 10: The AB-212 helicopter are most used for utility duties. 6 additional Seahawk have been ordered.

For more information about the future shipbuilding project for Turkish Navy and Turkish Coast Guard, here is an interesting read.

M-262 TCG Enez, sister ship to TCG Edremit. Photo: Devrim Yaylalı

The Engin class mine hunter, M-261 TCG Edremit has joined NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2. She will remain deployed till 24 April 2016. and will spend 72 days on sailing.

SNMCMG-2, under the Command of Turkish Navy, made a port visit to Izmir between 15 and 17 January 2015. The other port visits planed for SNMCMG-2 will be in Çanakkale, Erdek, İstanbul, Burgas, Batumi, Patras, Koper, Bar, Split, Venice, Bari and Toronto.

Between 20 and 27 February 2016, SNMCMG-2 will take part in Poseidon Naval Exercise organised by Bulgarian Navy. The task force will also take part in Exercise Ariadne, organised by Greek Navy between 4 and 13 March 2015.

This is the current composition of SNMCMG-2:

The ships of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 in one photo. From left to right: A-579 TCG Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Paşa, M-33 ESPS Tambre (inside), 62 BGS Shkval, M-261 TCG Edremit.

Turkish led NATO mine warfare task force Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 arrived in Istanbul for a port visit on 5th February 2016. The last time when the SNMCMG-2 visit the town was in July 2014.

The task force spend the previous week in Marmara Sea practising mine sweeping and hunting operations. Duration of  the port visit in Istanbul was not disclosed. But presumably the task force will leave Istanbul on 8th February or on 9th February latest and will sail to the Black Sea.

According to the previously announced schedule the task force will visit Georgian port Batumi and at the end of the month will take part in the Bulgarian led mine warfare exercise Poseidon. Currently the task force is made up with these ship:

The Romanian MoD announced that their mine sweeper 30 ROS Sub Lieutenant Alexandru Axente will join the task force. Since this mine sweeper is not present in Istanbul I believe she will participate when the task force is in the Black Sea.

The Spanish mine hunter is the only non Black Sea nation warship of the task force. Her presence in the Black Sea is subject to the rules of Montreux Convention. The convention limits the duration of stay of non Black Sea nation warships to 21 days.

M-261 TCG Edremit

62 BGS Shkval

On 5th February 2016, a Turkish Navy, Gür or Preveze class submarine was sighted passing through Bosphorus.

Since Turkish Navy stopped painting the pennant number of the submarines on their hulls, it is impossible to identify each individual submarine anymore. While this new painting scheme helps the submarines to blend and prevents IR/FLIR/LLTV using trackers or electro-optic directors any high contrast target, it makes ship spotting difficult.

On 10 February 2016, The Grand National Assembly of Turkey, extended the presence of Turkish Navy in  Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and adjacent seas.

The first bill allowing Turkish government to deploy Turkish Naval Forces for anti piracy operations was accepted in 10 February 2009. It was extended in one year periods ever since.

Turkish warship are  tasked with:

• Performing reconnaissance and patrol duties,
• Calling on ships suspected of piracy/ armed robbery, on the radio, boarding them if their flag country approves and interfering in accordance with the international law if the ship is not showing any flag,
• Escorting and protecting merchant ships,
• Helping merchant ships under attack of pirates/sea robbers,
• Intervening, stopping, neutralizing, and confiscating any vessels used by pirates/sea robbers, and using appropriate force if necessary,
• Arresting and detaining pirates/sea robbers and armed persons in these vessels,
• Accepting the representatives of the countries that will prosecute pirates/ armed robbers on board, for the preparations of judicial proceedings, according to the UN resolution 1851.
• Arresting and detaining, pirates/armed robbers on board until they are being handed over to the countries that will prosecute them,
• Turning in, the suspects of pirates/sea robbers with the exception of the case that these are Turkish citizens, to the authorities the nation where the pirates/sea robbers will be prosecuted,
• Executing all kinds of policing duties including interrogation, collecting evidence.

Apart from the two task force deployments in 2011 and 2014, since 2009 following Turkish frigates took part in anti-piracy operations in the region:

Turkey is participating to the DYMA 2016 with one CN-235 ASW plane, the submarine TCG Dolunay and a

One of the largest anti submarine warfare exercises organised by NATO has started to-day off the coast of Sicily.Exercise Dynamic Manta 2016 will be held in Central Mediterranean where the ports and airbases on the island will host ships, submarines and air planes. The exercise will end of 4th March 2016.

Submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, under the control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO), will join 4 surface ships from France, Italy and Spain. Host nation Italy is providing support from the Augusta Naval Base, Catania Harbour and the Sigonella Air Base in Catania.

To support the simulated multi-threat environment, 9 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Helicopters from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States will operate from Sigonella Air Base under the control of personnel from NATO Maritime Air Command (COMMARAIRNATO).

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.
NATO has not published a list of participants yet but I was able to find the names of the following units:

On 10th March 2016, a Turkish Navy, Ay class submarine was sighted passing through Bosphorus.
Since Turkish Navy stopped painting the pennant number of the submarines on their hulls, it is impossible to identify each individual submarine anymore. While this new painting scheme helps the submarines to blend and prevents IR/FLIR/LLTV using trackers or electro-optic directors any high contrast target, it makes ship spotting difficult.

Hetman Sahaidachny (left), TCG Salihreis (middle) Balta (right) in Istanbul.

TCG Salihreis (left) and Hetman Sahaidachny (right) in Istanbul. Photo: Deniz Yaman.

Ukrainian warships Hetman Sahaidachny and Balta made a short port visit to Istanbul today.

Both ships passed through Istanbul Strait on 7th March 2016 and sailed to main Turkish Navy base in Gölcük, Kocaeli. There the ships have conducted joint exercises with Turkish warships.

The frigate Hetman Sahaidachny and the degaussing ship Balta arrived on the morning of 10th March 2016 accompanied by Turkish frigate TCG Salihreis to Istanbul. Balta left for Ukraine in a few hours later whereas the frigate stayed longer. The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko who is in Turkey for an official visit, visited the frigate.

President Petro Poroshenko visited flagship of the Ukrainian Naval Forces Hetman Sahaidachny frigate that takes part in the common training with the Naval Forces of Turkey in the Sea of Marmara.
Commander of the sea campaign Dmytro Hlukhov and commander of the frigate Denys Ivanin demonstrated the equipment and mobile military hospital provided by the Turkish side.
Ukraine will receive 5 such hospitals. They will be relocated to the sectors of responsibility in the ATO area after the return of Hetman Sahaidachny frigate to Ukraine.
The President emphasized that such mobile hospitals were essentially important in the ATO area. He called them the evidence of partnership relations between the two states. “Earlier, we received them from the United States, Canada and Australia. It emphasizes strategic character of our relations,” the Head of State noted.

Later in the afternoon, Hetman Sahaidachny departed with two containers on her flight deck to Ukraine.

TCG Nusret, the replica of the Ottoman mine layer Nusret. She took part in the naval parade too. She is a commissioned ship in Turkish Navy.

TCG Amasra, having the Commodore on board, formed the lead section of the parade with TCG Nusret and TCG Akçakoca.

TCG Akçakoca

TCG Anafartalar, was one of the two submarines in the parade.

TCG Gür

TCG Salihreis, led the frigates and corvettes section.

TCG Göksu

TCG Büyükada.

TCG Bartın

TCG Mızrak, led the patrol boat section of the parade.

TCG Atak

TCG Tuzla

TCG Karabiga

TCSG-94. She and her sister TCSG-91 were part of the patrol boat section.

TCSG-91

TCG Akçay. She was open to public visit.

TCG Oruçreis. Like the mine hunter TCG Akçay she was too open for public visit. It must be a nice diversification from SNMG-2 duties in Northern Aegean.

This is one of the several coast guard boats, that provided close security during the ceremonies.

TCSG-23 was another coast guard boat that provided close security during the naval parade.

TCB-70 was the lead helicopter of the 3 units strong naval aviation display.

TCB-65

TCB-59

Turkish Coast Guard’s aviation branch send a 3 helicopter strong detachment for the commemorations. This is TCGS-504

TCSG-505

TCSG-502

Turkish Stars, the air display team of Turkish Airforce showed their skills. The display was not visible from where I was standing. But I have managed to take a photo one of the planes as they were leaving.

Like in previous years, on 18th March 2016, Turkish Navy organised a Naval Parade in Çanakkale Strait to commemorate Turkish Victory over the Allied Armada 101 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 aerobatics 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 Tekirdağ

TCG Karamürselbey

TCG İmbat

The annual naval exercise Deniz Yıldızı (Sea Star) has started in Black Sea today. The exercise will end on 5th April 2016.

The scope of the exercise shows that Turkish Navy intends to show a strong presence in the Black Sea. According to Turkish Navy website There will be live firings against high-speed airborne and seaborne targets. For me the most noteworthy aspect of this exercise will be the simultaneous port visits of Turkish naval units in Varna, Constanta, Odessa and Batumi. 4 out of 5 Black Sea nations will be visited on the next week-end on 3rd and 4th April 2016 by various Turkish warships. This is an impressive way of showing the flag, an important message.

The following ships along with two submarines were observed making a northbound passage through Bosphorus in the last couple days:

TCG Salihreis arriving in Varna, Bulgaria. Photo: Nikolay Zlatev.

The Deniz Yıldızı 2016 naval exercise continues in Black Sea. According to Turkish General Staff, 25 warships and submarine plus 11 aircraft and helicopter takes part in the exercise.

As reported earlier, over the weekend the ships conducted port visits in many cities both in country and abroad. Here is the list of the ships and the ports they have visited during the weekend:

On 4 April 1953, in the wee hours of the morning two Turkish submarines  TCG Dumlupınar and her sister boat TCG 1. İnönü,entered from the Aegean into the Dardanelles Strait, as the returning from the NATO naval exercise Blue Sea.

The Commodore of First Submarine Squadron was in command of the two submarines and he was on board of TCG Dumlupınar. When the submarine reached the Cape Nara, the narrowest point of the Strait the Swedish flagged cargo ship M/V Naboland collided with the submarine. The accident happened at 02:15 in the morning.

M/V Naboland rammed TCG Dumlupınar from starboard forecastle just aft of the forward diving planes. The submarine rolled to port with force of the impact and sunk immediately. 5 submariners who were in the sail at the time of the collision survived. Rest of the crew, 81 men, were trapped inside her hull. She sunk at the narrowest point of Dardanelles at 85 meters.

22 sailors trapped in the aft torpedo compartment were able to release the submarine’s sunk buoy. The rescuers above the water tried to give hope and moral but time was an enemy. Submarine rescue and salvage ships were rushed from the main naval base in Gölcük after the incident. But all efforts to reach the submarine and rescue the survivors failed cause of very strong water currents and insufficient equipment.

The last words from the submarine, before the currents tore the cable of buoy were: For our country.

Since that fateful day, on every 4th of April we remember those that have a watery grave were no rose will grow.