Turkish Navy
Encyclopedia
The Turkish Navy
is the naval warfare
service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces
.
in the aftermath of World War I
, on November 3, 1918, the fleet commander of the Ottoman Navy
, Liva Amiral
Arif Pasha, ordered all flags to be struck on all warships lying in the Golden Horn
and the Ottoman Navy ceased to exist. The major surface combatants of the former Ottoman fleet (totalling 62,000 tons) were rendered inactive by the Allies
and in accordance with the terms of the Armistice of Mudros
, the warships were disarmed during the last week of 1918. The battleship Turgut Reis and the cruisers Hamidiye
and Mecidiye
were substantially limited and kept inactive inside the Golden Horn by the occupying forces. Due to its larger size, the battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim was transferred to the Gulf of Izmit on the grounds that she could adversely affect the sea traffic inside the Golden Horn; while her ammunition and guns were removed. During this period, only a small number of Ottoman Navy vessels were allowed by the Allies
to remain on active coast guard
duties and were released from internment on 26 February 1919; such as the torpedo boats Akhisar and Draç which patrolled the Sea of Marmara
, the gunboat Hızır Reis which patrolled the Gulf of İzmir
, and the minelayers Nusret and Tir-i Müjgan which conducted mine cleaning operations in the Gulf of Saros.
Before the Turkish War of Independence
began, the Bahriye Nazırlığı (Naval Ministry) sent the gunboat Preveze to Sinop
and the gunboat Aydın Reis to Trabzon
in February 1919 for surveillance, reconnaissance and patrol duties. However, a lack of coal to fuel their propulsion systems caused the Preveze and Aydın Reis to remain in harbour until the end of 1919. During the early stages of the Turkish War of Independence, these two gunboats did not return to Istanbul, despite heavy pressure from the Ottoman government and the Allies. Instead, they were placed under the command of the Turkish liberation forces
led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
and headquartered in Ankara
.
for participating in the Turkish War of Independence
. On 10 July 1920, the Directorate of Naval Affairs (Umur-u Bahriye Müdürlüğü) was founded in Ankara under the Ministry of National Defense and was given the duty of organizing and maintaining strategic logistical shipping through the Black Sea
in order to provide the Turkish liberation forces in Anatolia with weapons and other supplies. All existing naval institutions in the parts of Anatolia that were administered by the Ankara government were assigned to this Directorate. The Directorate of Naval Affairs was extremely successful in organizing local surface units and volunteers and in forming an intelligence network to discover the movements of the enemy ships. As a result, logistic transportation was carried out effectively. The Turkish Grand National Assembly
in Ankara made an agreement with the Soviet Union
to procure supplies for the Turkish liberation forces. Aydın Reis left from Samsun
(on 16 September 1920) and Preveze left from Trabzon
(on 30 September 1920) for Novorossiysk
in order to transport weapons, other supplies and financial aid to the Turkish liberation forces. The Trabzon Shipping Detachment, which was founded on 21 September 1920, was renamed as the Trabzon Naval Shipping Command with the directive issued by the Ministry of National Defense on 26 October 1920. On January 1, 1921, the Samsun
Naval Command was formed. In the subsequent stages of the Turkish War of Independence, due to the growing need for maritime shipping and the increase in the quantity and quality of the units and small ships, the organizational structure of the Directorate of Naval Affairs was gradually extended.
In the same period, a number of Turkish civilian seamen formed a group under the name of the Naval Aid Organization (Muavenet-i Bahriye). This group secretly obtained cannons, light weapons, ammunition, landmines and ordnance from the former Ottoman military warehouses in Istanbul that were under the control of the occupying Allies and sent them to the Turkish liberation forces in Anatolia with civil water transportation crafts.
and İzmit
(formed on 28 June 1921); the Naval Transport Detachment in Trabzon; the Naval Transport Command in Ereğli
; the Naval Detachment in Lake Eğirdir
; and the Naval Liaison Group in Fethiye
(formed on 16 March 1921.) During the War of Independence, Turkish naval forces transported 220,000 tons of weapons, ammunition and equipment to the land forces in Anatolia.
on 11 October 1922, the former Ottoman Ministry of the Navy (Bahriye Nazırlığı) building in the Kasımpaşa
quarter of Istanbul
, on the Golden Horn
, became the headquarters of the Istanbul Naval Command on 14 November 1922.
The establishment of the Ministry of the Navy (Bahriye Vekâleti) of the Republic of Turkey, headquartered in Ankara, was decided by the Grand National Assembly
on 29 December 1924, and Topçu İhsan Bey
(İhsan Eryavuz) was appointed the first (and only) Naval Minister of Turkey.
When the Republic of Turkey was established on 29 October 1923, the former Ottoman vessels that remained under Turkish control were as follows:
In active service: 2 cruisers (Hamidiye
, Peyk-i Şevket), 2 yachts (Ertuğrul, Söğütlü), 1 destroyer (Taşoz), 4 gunboats (Burak Reis, Hızır Reis, Kemal Reis, İsa Reis), 1 minelayer (Nusret), 1 aviso (Galata), 4 tugs and 7 motorboats.
Out of service (needing repair): 2 battleships (Yavuz Sultan Selim, Turgut Reis), 2 cruisers (Berk-i Satvet, Mecidiye
), 4 destroyers (Muâvenet-i Millîye
, Nümûne-i Hâmiyet, Basra, Samsun), 6 torpedo boats (Sultânhisar
, Yûnus, Akhisar, Draç, Mûsul, Berk Efşân), 1 gunboat (Sakız).
Preparations were made to carry out the maintenance and overhaul of small-tonnage warships (the three Taşoz class destroyers and the gunboats Burak Reis, Sakız, İsa Reis and Kemal Reis) and to make them combat-ready. Thus, the cruiser Hamidiye, which was planned to be employed as a Cadet Training Ship, was overhauled.
During the 1920s, a commitment to refurbish the battlecruiser TCG Yavuz (which remained in active service until 1950) as the centerpiece of the republic's fleet was the only constant element of the various naval policies which were put forward. The battlecruiser remained in İzmit
until 1926, in a neglected state: only two of her boilers worked, she could not steer or steam, and she still had two unrepaired scars from the mine damage in 1918. Enough money was raised to allow the purchase of a new 26000 tonnes (25,589.3 LT) floating dock
from the German company Flender, as Yavuz could not be towed anywhere without risk of her sinking in rough seas. The French company Atelier et Chantiers de St. Nazaire-Penhöet was contracted in December 1926 to oversee the subsequent refit, which was carried out by the Gölcük Naval Shipyard
. Since the Treaty of Lausanne
in 1923 required the disarmament of the Turkish Straits
, the infrastructures belonging to the Turkish Naval Forces on the Bosphorus (in Istinye
) and on the Golden Horn were transferred to Gölcük. In this period, Gölcük was designated as the main Turkish naval base.
The overhaul works of TCG Yavuz proceeded over three years (1927–1930); they were delayed when several compartments of the dock collapsed while being pumped out. Yavuz was slightly damaged before she could be refloated and the dock had to be repaired before the overhaul works could be resumed. The Minister of the Navy, İhsan Eryavuz
, was convicted of embezzlement in the resulting investigation which became known as the Yavuz-Havuz case (havuz meaning "dock" in Turkish naval engineering terminology.) The investigation revealed that Ihsan Eryavuz had reduced the insurance obligation of the French company (Atelier et Chantiers de St. Nazaire-Penhöet) from 5 million to 1.5 million Turkish liras, and was found guilty of fraud, which resulted in the abolition of the Ministry of the Navy on 27 December 1927.
On 2 November 1930, the Naval War College (Deniz Harp Akademisi) commenced training and education of Staff Officers at its facilities in the Yıldız Palace
. During World War II
, the naval schools were temporarily relocated from Istanbul
to Mersin
for security reasons and conducted education and training activities in this city.
In 1933, with the approval of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Gölcük was designated as the main base of the Turkish Navy. In the same year, the first new ship built at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard
, the tanker TCG Gölcük, was laid down, and launched the following year.
With the signing of the Montreaux Convention
in 1936, Turkey’s sovereignty over the Turkish Straits
was internationally recognized, and Fortified Area Commands were founded on the Bosphorus and Dardanelles
straits, with Naval Detachments assigned to these Commands.
After Turkey joined NATO on 18 February 1952, the Turkish Naval Forces were integrated into the organizational branches of the alliance.
In 1961, the Turkish Naval Forces Command was organized into four main subordinate commands: The Turkish Fleet Command, the Turkish Northern Sea Area Command, the Turkish Southern Sea Area Command and the Turkish Naval Training Command. In 1995, the Turkish Naval Training Command was renamed as the Turkish Naval Training and Education Command.
Today, the Turkish Navy numbers 48,600 active personnel; and the total fleet displacement appears to be approximately 259,000 ton
s.
were mostly built and commissioned before the First World War, and technological improvements in naval warfare
had left the Turkish Navy outdated in terms of equipment. To remedy this setback, the government of the Republic of Turkey embarked on a modernization program. First to be ordered were the two new submarine
s derived from the German Type UB III
and built by the German-owned Dutch shipyard IvS
in 1925, being commissioned as the Birinci İnönü and İkinci İnönü in 1928. These were swiftly followed by an order for two submarines from Italy
in 1930, which were named Sakarya and Dumlupınar, and commissioned in 1931 after an extremely fast build time at the Monfalcone Shipyard
of CRDA. The Navy also ordered four destroyer
s and three torpedo boat
s from Italian shipyards; namely the two Adatepe class destroyers
(Adatepe and Kocatepe), the two Tınaztepe class destroyers
(Tınaztepe and Zafer), and the three torpedo boats (Martı, Denizkuşu and Doğan), which were all commissioned in 1931. The Spanish-built submarine Gür
, a variant of the German Type IA
, was launched in 1930 and commissioned in 1936. Atatürk
also ordered the Ay class submarines which were variants of the German Type IXA
and were built by Krupp Germaniawerft
at the shipyards of Kiel
in Germany and Gölcük
in Turkey. Yıldıray was laid down in 1936, but its commissioning was delayed until 1946 due to the hardships of the Second World War. Saldıray was laid down in 1937 and commissioned in 1939, while Atılay was laid down in 1937 and commissioned in 1940.
, the Turkish Navy purchased the Oruç Reis class
submarines which were designed and built by the Vickers-Armstrong Shipbuilders in England. Murat Reis and Oruç Reis were laid down in 1939 and commissioned in 1942, while Burak Reis-II was laid down in 1939 and commissioned in 1946. Turkey also purchased four destroyers and two minelayers from England in 1939. The four Demirhisar class destroyers were namely Gayret
which was commissioned in 1940; and Demirhisar, Sultanhisar and Muavenet
which were commissioned in 1941.
, which was followed a few years later by Turkey's membership to NATO in 1952, the Turkish fleet acquired new warships and submarines from the United States
. Four Balao class submarine
s built by the General Dynamics Electric Boat Company joined the Turkish fleet and were commissioned in 1948. They were given the names of the previous Turkish submarines like , , and . These were followed by the three GUPPY class submarines, namely which was commissioned in 1958, alongside and which were commissioned in 1960; the GUPPY IA class submarine which was commissioned in 1972, the seven GUPPY IIA class submarines which were commissioned between 1971 and 1973 and named as (1971), (1971), (1971), (1972), (1972), (1972) and (1973); the two GUPPY III class submarines which were commissioned in 1974 and named as and , and the two Tang class submarine
s which were commissioned in 1980 and 1983, and named as (1980) and (1983).
Between 1949 and 1950, four U.S.-built Gleaves class destroyer
s were acquired; namely and in 1949, and and in 1950.
In 1959 four British-made M class destroyers
joined the fleet, namely TCG Alp Alslan (D-348)
, TCG Kılıç Ali Paşa (D-350)
, and TCG Piyale Paşa (D-351).
Between 1967 and 1969, a total of five U.S.-built Fletcher class destroyer
s were acquired by the Turkish Navy; namely the and in 1967, and the , and in 1969.
s from the United States, namely (1971), (1971), (1972), (1973), (1973), (1974), (1979), (1980), (1980) and (1982). In 1981 and 1982, two Carpenter class anti submarine destroyers
joined the fleet, namely (1981) and (1982). Carpenter class was a modified version of the Gearing class destroyer.
Turkish-built (modified Claud Jones class destroyer escort
) frigates and joined the fleet in 1971 and 1972, respectively. They were named after the late Ottoman torpedo cruisers Berk-i Satvet and Peyk-i Şevket, which also served the fleet of the Turkish Navy in its early years.
Still in 1971 and 1972, two U.S.-built Allen M. Sumner class destroyer
s, and , were acquired by the Turkish Navy.
s, which were built in Germany and Turkey. In the early 1970s, the Turkish Navy ordered six Atılay class (Type 209/1200) submarines, which were laid down between 1974 and 1988, and commissioned between 1976 and 1989, as Atılay (S-347) (1976), Saldıray (S-348) (1977), Batıray (S-349) (1978), Yıldıray-II (S-350) (1981), Doğanay (S-351) (1984) and Dolunay (S-352) (1989).
They were followed by the four Preveze class (Type 209T1/1400) submarines which were laid down between 1993 and 1998, and commissioned between 1994 and 1999, as Preveze (S-353) (1994), Sakarya (S-354) (1995), 18 Mart (S-355) (1998) and Anafartalar (S-356) (1999). The last four submarines, classified as the Gür class (Type 209T2/1400) were laid down between 2002 and 2006, and commissioned as Gür (S-357) (2003), Çanakkale (S-358) (2005), Burakreis (S-359) (2006) and II. İnönü (S-360) (2007).
At present, the Turkish Navy operates the largest fleet of German-designed submarines in the world.
s, namely Gelibolu (D-360) and Gemlik (D-361), joined the Turkish fleet.
During the modernization programme of the Turkish fleet in the mid 1980s, the first MEKO class frigates
, designed by the German shipbuilding company Blohm + Voss
and built in Germany and Turkey, were acquired. Four Yavuz class frigates (MEKO 200TN Track I)
were built; namely TCG Yavuz (F-240) which was launched in 1985 and commissioned in 1987, TCG Turgutreis (F-242) and TCG Fatih (F-241) which were launched in 1987 and commissioned in 1988, and TCG Yıldırım (F-243) which was launched in 1988 and commissioned in 1989.
These were followed by the two Barbaros class frigates (MEKO 200TN Track IIA)
, of which Barbaros was launched in 1993 and commissioned in 1997, and TCG Oruçreis (F-245) was launched in 1994 and commissioned in 1997. The final two ships are classified as the Salih Reis class frigates (MEKO 200TN Track IIB)
, of which TCG Salihreis (F-246) was launched in 1997 and commissioned in 1998, and TCG Kemalreis (F-247) was launched in 1998 and commissioned in 2000. These ships are equipped with the Mk.41 vertical launching system.
In the early 1990s Turkey acquired eight U.S.-built Knox class frigate
s. , , , were commissioned in 1993, while , , and were commissioned in 1994. Five ships of this class have been decommissioned between 2001 and 2005. Currently only TCG Zafer is still in active service.
In the late 1990s Turkey acquired eight Oliver Hazard Perry
(G class
) frigate
s from the United States. , and were commissioned in 1998; and were commissioned in 1999; was commissioned in 2000; was commissioned in 2002; and was commissioned in 2003.
(B class
) corvette
s were acquired from France. Bozcaada was commissioned in 2001; Bodrum, Bandırma, Beykoz and Bartın were commissioned in 2002; and Bafra was commissioned in 2003.
On 26 July 2005, construction of the first Milgem class corvette
, Heybeliada
, began at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard. A total of twelve Milgem class corvettes will be built for the Turkish Navy.
AAW
frigate
s, the acquisition of a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) and a total of six Type 214
AIP submarines were approved by the Turkish Ministry of Defense on 12 December 2006. The RfI issued for the LPD project states that the requirement is for one LPD carrying 4 Landing Craft Mechanics (LCM), 27 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV), 2 Landing Craft Personnel Vehicles (LCPV), 1 Commander Boat and 1 Rubber Hull Inflated Boat (RHIB). The Turkish Navy also plans to acquire 2 new Tank Landing Ships (LST), 8 new Tank Landing Crafts
(LCT), 16 new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) with ASW
capability, 2 new Rescue & Towing (R&T) ships, 1 new Submarine Rescue Mother Ship (MOSHIP), and a new Fleet Replenishment Tanker (FRT) class.
detachments and two special operations forces:
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
is the naval warfare
Naval warfare
Naval warfare is combat in and on seas, oceans, or any other major bodies of water such as large lakes and wide rivers.-History:Mankind has fought battles on the sea for more than 3,000 years. Land warfare would seem, initially, to be irrelevant and entirely removed from warfare on the open ocean,...
service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
.
Ottoman fleet after Mudros
Following the demise of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in the aftermath of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, on November 3, 1918, the fleet commander of the Ottoman Navy
Ottoman Navy
The Ottoman Navy was established in the early 14th century. During its long existence it was involved in many conflicts; refer to list of Ottoman sieges and landings and list of Admirals in the Ottoman Empire for a brief chronology.- Pre-Ottoman:...
, Liva Amiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Arif Pasha, ordered all flags to be struck on all warships lying in the Golden Horn
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is a historic inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of...
and the Ottoman Navy ceased to exist. The major surface combatants of the former Ottoman fleet (totalling 62,000 tons) were rendered inactive by the Allies
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
and in accordance with the terms of the Armistice of Mudros
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
, the warships were disarmed during the last week of 1918. The battleship Turgut Reis and the cruisers Hamidiye
Ottoman cruiser Hamidiye
HamidiyeThe name is also sometimes rendered as Hamidieh in English; see Gardiner and Gray, p. 389 and Halpern, p. 228. was an Ottoman cruiser that saw extensive action during the Balkan Wars and World War I...
and Mecidiye
Ottoman cruiser Mecidiye
The protected cruiser Mecidiye served in the Ottoman Navy in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. Sunk by a mine, it was salvaged and commissioned by the Russian Navy, before being returned to the Ottomans in 1918...
were substantially limited and kept inactive inside the Golden Horn by the occupying forces. Due to its larger size, the battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim was transferred to the Gulf of Izmit on the grounds that she could adversely affect the sea traffic inside the Golden Horn; while her ammunition and guns were removed. During this period, only a small number of Ottoman Navy vessels were allowed by the Allies
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
to remain on active coast guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
duties and were released from internment on 26 February 1919; such as the torpedo boats Akhisar and Draç which patrolled the Sea of Marmara
Sea of Marmara
The Sea of Marmara , also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, and in the context of classical antiquity as the Propontis , is the inland sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, thus separating Turkey's Asian and European parts. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Black...
, the gunboat Hızır Reis which patrolled the Gulf of İzmir
Gulf of Izmir
The Gulf of İzmir , formerly known as the Gulf of Smyrna, is a gulf on the Aegean Sea, with its inlet between the peninsula of Karaburun and the mainland area of Foça...
, and the minelayers Nusret and Tir-i Müjgan which conducted mine cleaning operations in the Gulf of Saros.
Before the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
began, the Bahriye Nazırlığı (Naval Ministry) sent the gunboat Preveze to Sinop
Sinop, Turkey
Sinop is a city with a population of 36,734 on İnce Burun , by its Cape Sinop which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known as Sinope...
and the gunboat Aydın Reis to Trabzon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
in February 1919 for surveillance, reconnaissance and patrol duties. However, a lack of coal to fuel their propulsion systems caused the Preveze and Aydın Reis to remain in harbour until the end of 1919. During the early stages of the Turkish War of Independence, these two gunboats did not return to Istanbul, despite heavy pressure from the Ottoman government and the Allies. Instead, they were placed under the command of the Turkish liberation forces
Turkish National Movement
The Turkish National Movement encompasses the political and military activities of the Turkish revolutionaries which resulted in the creation and shaping of the Republic of Turkey, as a consequence of the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I....
led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
and headquartered in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
.
Directorate of Naval Affairs
A large number of the naval officers and students of the Naval Academy went to AnatoliaAnatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
for participating in the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. On 10 July 1920, the Directorate of Naval Affairs (Umur-u Bahriye Müdürlüğü) was founded in Ankara under the Ministry of National Defense and was given the duty of organizing and maintaining strategic logistical shipping through the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
in order to provide the Turkish liberation forces in Anatolia with weapons and other supplies. All existing naval institutions in the parts of Anatolia that were administered by the Ankara government were assigned to this Directorate. The Directorate of Naval Affairs was extremely successful in organizing local surface units and volunteers and in forming an intelligence network to discover the movements of the enemy ships. As a result, logistic transportation was carried out effectively. The Turkish Grand National Assembly
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
in Ankara made an agreement with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to procure supplies for the Turkish liberation forces. Aydın Reis left from Samsun
Samsun
Samsun is a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey. It is the provincial capital of Samsun Province and a major Black Sea port.-Name:...
(on 16 September 1920) and Preveze left from Trabzon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
(on 30 September 1920) for Novorossiysk
Novorossiysk
Novorossiysk is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It is the country's main port on the Black Sea and the leading Russian port for importing grain. It is one of the few cities honored with the title of the Hero City. Population: -History:...
in order to transport weapons, other supplies and financial aid to the Turkish liberation forces. The Trabzon Shipping Detachment, which was founded on 21 September 1920, was renamed as the Trabzon Naval Shipping Command with the directive issued by the Ministry of National Defense on 26 October 1920. On January 1, 1921, the Samsun
Samsun
Samsun is a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey. It is the provincial capital of Samsun Province and a major Black Sea port.-Name:...
Naval Command was formed. In the subsequent stages of the Turkish War of Independence, due to the growing need for maritime shipping and the increase in the quantity and quality of the units and small ships, the organizational structure of the Directorate of Naval Affairs was gradually extended.
In the same period, a number of Turkish civilian seamen formed a group under the name of the Naval Aid Organization (Muavenet-i Bahriye). This group secretly obtained cannons, light weapons, ammunition, landmines and ordnance from the former Ottoman military warehouses in Istanbul that were under the control of the occupying Allies and sent them to the Turkish liberation forces in Anatolia with civil water transportation crafts.
Presidency of the Naval Department
On 1 March 1921, the Directorate of Naval Affairs was transformed into the Presidency of the Naval Department (Bahriye Dairesi Reisliği) and had control over the Naval Commands in Samsun, AmasraAmasra
Amasra is a small Black Sea port town in the Bartın Province, Turkey. The town is today much appreciated for its beaches and natural setting, which has made tourism the most important activity for its inhabitants...
and İzmit
Izmit
İzmit is a city in Turkey, administrative center of Kocaeli Province as well as the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. It is located at the Gulf of İzmit in the Sea of Marmara, about east of Istanbul, on the northwestern part of Anatolia. The city center has a population of 294.875...
(formed on 28 June 1921); the Naval Transport Detachment in Trabzon; the Naval Transport Command in Ereğli
Karadeniz Eregli
Karadeniz Ereğli is a city and district in Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black Sea shore at the mouth of the Kılıçsu River. Population is 98 545 as of 2009. The mayor is Halil Posbıyık .-Facts:...
; the Naval Detachment in Lake Eğirdir
Lake Egirdir
Eğirdir is the name of a lake and of the town situated on the shore of that lake in Turkey. The lake lies in the Turkish Lakes Region and is 186 kilometers north of Antalya...
; and the Naval Liaison Group in Fethiye
Fethiye
Fethiye is a city and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey with about 68,000 inhabitants .-History:...
(formed on 16 March 1921.) During the War of Independence, Turkish naval forces transported 220,000 tons of weapons, ammunition and equipment to the land forces in Anatolia.
Ministry of the Navy
Following the Armistice of MudanyaArmistice of Mudanya
The Armistice of Mudanya was an agreement between Turkey on the one hand, and Italy, France and Britain on the other hand, signed in the Ottoman town of Mudanya on 11 October 1922....
on 11 October 1922, the former Ottoman Ministry of the Navy (Bahriye Nazırlığı) building in the Kasımpaşa
Kasımpaşa (district)
Kasımpaşa is a quarter within the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is a low-lying area north of the Golden Horn in the European part of the city. Neighbouring quarters include Dolapdere and Kurtuluş.-History:...
quarter of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, on the Golden Horn
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is a historic inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of...
, became the headquarters of the Istanbul Naval Command on 14 November 1922.
The establishment of the Ministry of the Navy (Bahriye Vekâleti) of the Republic of Turkey, headquartered in Ankara, was decided by the Grand National Assembly
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
on 29 December 1924, and Topçu İhsan Bey
İhsan Eryavuz
İhsan Eryavuz also known as "Topçu" İhsan , Mehmet İhsan Bey was an officer of the Ottoman Army, and a politician of the Republic of Turkey...
(İhsan Eryavuz) was appointed the first (and only) Naval Minister of Turkey.
When the Republic of Turkey was established on 29 October 1923, the former Ottoman vessels that remained under Turkish control were as follows:
In active service: 2 cruisers (Hamidiye
Ottoman cruiser Hamidiye
HamidiyeThe name is also sometimes rendered as Hamidieh in English; see Gardiner and Gray, p. 389 and Halpern, p. 228. was an Ottoman cruiser that saw extensive action during the Balkan Wars and World War I...
, Peyk-i Şevket), 2 yachts (Ertuğrul, Söğütlü), 1 destroyer (Taşoz), 4 gunboats (Burak Reis, Hızır Reis, Kemal Reis, İsa Reis), 1 minelayer (Nusret), 1 aviso (Galata), 4 tugs and 7 motorboats.
Out of service (needing repair): 2 battleships (Yavuz Sultan Selim, Turgut Reis), 2 cruisers (Berk-i Satvet, Mecidiye
Ottoman cruiser Mecidiye
The protected cruiser Mecidiye served in the Ottoman Navy in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. Sunk by a mine, it was salvaged and commissioned by the Russian Navy, before being returned to the Ottomans in 1918...
), 4 destroyers (Muâvenet-i Millîye
Muavenet-i Milliye
Muavenet-i Milliye or Muâvenet-i Millîye was a destroyer built for the Ottoman Navy prior to World War I. The ship is most notable for sinking the British pre-dreadnought battleship during the Dardanelles Campaign in World War I.- Naming :...
, Nümûne-i Hâmiyet, Basra, Samsun), 6 torpedo boats (Sultânhisar
Ottoman torpedo boat Sultanhisar
Sultanhisar was a torpedo boat of the Ottoman Navy. She was built in 1907 by Schneider & Cie in Chalon-sur-Saône, France, and transferred the same year to Turkey...
, Yûnus, Akhisar, Draç, Mûsul, Berk Efşân), 1 gunboat (Sakız).
Preparations were made to carry out the maintenance and overhaul of small-tonnage warships (the three Taşoz class destroyers and the gunboats Burak Reis, Sakız, İsa Reis and Kemal Reis) and to make them combat-ready. Thus, the cruiser Hamidiye, which was planned to be employed as a Cadet Training Ship, was overhauled.
During the 1920s, a commitment to refurbish the battlecruiser TCG Yavuz (which remained in active service until 1950) as the centerpiece of the republic's fleet was the only constant element of the various naval policies which were put forward. The battlecruiser remained in İzmit
Izmit
İzmit is a city in Turkey, administrative center of Kocaeli Province as well as the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. It is located at the Gulf of İzmit in the Sea of Marmara, about east of Istanbul, on the northwestern part of Anatolia. The city center has a population of 294.875...
until 1926, in a neglected state: only two of her boilers worked, she could not steer or steam, and she still had two unrepaired scars from the mine damage in 1918. Enough money was raised to allow the purchase of a new 26000 tonnes (25,589.3 LT) floating dock
Floating dock
A floating dock is a platform or ramp supported by pontoons. It is usually joined to the shore with a ramp that rests upon the dock on rollers, to adjust for the vertical movement of the dock...
from the German company Flender, as Yavuz could not be towed anywhere without risk of her sinking in rough seas. The French company Atelier et Chantiers de St. Nazaire-Penhöet was contracted in December 1926 to oversee the subsequent refit, which was carried out by the Gölcük Naval Shipyard
Gölcük Naval Shipyard
Gölcük Naval Shipyard is a naval shipyard of the Turkish Navy within the Gölcük Naval Base on the east coast of the Sea of Marmara in Gölcük, Kocaeli. Established in 1926, the shipyard serves for the building and the maintenance of military vessels...
. Since the Treaty of Lausanne
Treaty of Lausanne
The Treaty of Lausanne was a peace treaty signed in Lausanne, Switzerland on 24 July 1923, that settled the Anatolian and East Thracian parts of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. The treaty of Lausanne was ratified by the Greek government on 11 February 1924, by the Turkish government on 31...
in 1923 required the disarmament of the Turkish Straits
Turkish Straits
The term Turkish Straits refers to the two narrow straits in northwestern Turkey, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, that connect the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea on one side and the Aegean arm of the Mediterranean Sea on the other. They are conventionally considered the boundary between the...
, the infrastructures belonging to the Turkish Naval Forces on the Bosphorus (in Istinye
Istinye
İstinye is a neighbourhood in Istanbul, on the European side of the city. It is located between Emirgan and Yeniköy on the northwestern shore of the Bosporus, within the borough of Sarıyer. It is one of the finest seashore locations on the Bosporus where people walk around during the weekends....
) and on the Golden Horn were transferred to Gölcük. In this period, Gölcük was designated as the main Turkish naval base.
The overhaul works of TCG Yavuz proceeded over three years (1927–1930); they were delayed when several compartments of the dock collapsed while being pumped out. Yavuz was slightly damaged before she could be refloated and the dock had to be repaired before the overhaul works could be resumed. The Minister of the Navy, İhsan Eryavuz
İhsan Eryavuz
İhsan Eryavuz also known as "Topçu" İhsan , Mehmet İhsan Bey was an officer of the Ottoman Army, and a politician of the Republic of Turkey...
, was convicted of embezzlement in the resulting investigation which became known as the Yavuz-Havuz case (havuz meaning "dock" in Turkish naval engineering terminology.) The investigation revealed that Ihsan Eryavuz had reduced the insurance obligation of the French company (Atelier et Chantiers de St. Nazaire-Penhöet) from 5 million to 1.5 million Turkish liras, and was found guilty of fraud, which resulted in the abolition of the Ministry of the Navy on 27 December 1927.
Undersecretariat of the Sea
Following the dissolution of the Ministry of the Navy, the naval forces were reorganized under the Ministry of National Defense and on 16 January 1928 the Undersecretariat of the Sea (Deniz Müsteşarlığı) was established in order to undertake the duties of the former Ministry of the Navy. With this new reorganization, the Turkish Fleet Command was put under the command of the Turkish General Staff in terms of administration and logistics.On 2 November 1930, the Naval War College (Deniz Harp Akademisi) commenced training and education of Staff Officers at its facilities in the Yıldız Palace
Yildiz Palace
Yıldız Palace is a vast complex of former imperial Ottoman pavilions and villas in Istanbul, Turkey, built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was used as a residence by the Sultan and his court in the late 19th century.- Origin :...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the naval schools were temporarily relocated from Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to Mersin
Mersin
-Mersin today:Today, Mersin is a large city spreading out along the coast, with Turkey's second tallest skyscraper , huge hotels, an opera house, expensive real estate near the sea or up in the hills, and many other modern urban...
for security reasons and conducted education and training activities in this city.
In 1933, with the approval of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Gölcük was designated as the main base of the Turkish Navy. In the same year, the first new ship built at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard
Gölcük Naval Shipyard
Gölcük Naval Shipyard is a naval shipyard of the Turkish Navy within the Gölcük Naval Base on the east coast of the Sea of Marmara in Gölcük, Kocaeli. Established in 1926, the shipyard serves for the building and the maintenance of military vessels...
, the tanker TCG Gölcük, was laid down, and launched the following year.
With the signing of the Montreaux Convention
Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Turkish Straits
The Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits was a 1936 agreement that gives Turkey control over the Bosporus Straits and the Dardanelles and regulates military activity in the region. The Convention gives Turkey full control over the Straits and guarantees the free passage of...
in 1936, Turkey’s sovereignty over the Turkish Straits
Turkish Straits
The term Turkish Straits refers to the two narrow straits in northwestern Turkey, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, that connect the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea on one side and the Aegean arm of the Mediterranean Sea on the other. They are conventionally considered the boundary between the...
was internationally recognized, and Fortified Area Commands were founded on the Bosphorus and Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
straits, with Naval Detachments assigned to these Commands.
Naval Forces Command
The Turkish Naval Forces were represented under the title of the Naval Undersecreteriat at the Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara from 1928 to 1949. The historic decree of the Higher Military Council on 15 August 1949 led to the foundation of the Turkish Naval Forces Command (Deniz Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı.)After Turkey joined NATO on 18 February 1952, the Turkish Naval Forces were integrated into the organizational branches of the alliance.
In 1961, the Turkish Naval Forces Command was organized into four main subordinate commands: The Turkish Fleet Command, the Turkish Northern Sea Area Command, the Turkish Southern Sea Area Command and the Turkish Naval Training Command. In 1995, the Turkish Naval Training Command was renamed as the Turkish Naval Training and Education Command.
Today, the Turkish Navy numbers 48,600 active personnel; and the total fleet displacement appears to be approximately 259,000 ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s.
Interwar years
The aging warships inherited from the Ottoman NavyOttoman Navy
The Ottoman Navy was established in the early 14th century. During its long existence it was involved in many conflicts; refer to list of Ottoman sieges and landings and list of Admirals in the Ottoman Empire for a brief chronology.- Pre-Ottoman:...
were mostly built and commissioned before the First World War, and technological improvements in naval warfare
Naval warfare of World War I
Naval warfare in World War I was mainly characterized by the efforts of the Allied Powers, with their larger fleets and surrounding position, to blockade the Central Powers by sea, and the efforts of the Central Powers to break that blockade or to establish an effective blockade of the United...
had left the Turkish Navy outdated in terms of equipment. To remedy this setback, the government of the Republic of Turkey embarked on a modernization program. First to be ordered were the two new submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s derived from the German Type UB III
German type UB III submarine
The Type UB III submarine was a class of U-boat built during World War I by the Kaiserliche Marine.UB III boats carried 10 torpedoes and were armed with one 88 mm deck gun. They carried a crew of 34 and had a cruising range of around 9,000 miles...
and built by the German-owned Dutch shipyard IvS
NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw
NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw , usually contracted to IvS, was a Dutch dummy company set up by the Reichsmarineamt after World War I in order to maintain and develop German submarine know-how and to circumvent the limitations set by the Treaty of Versailles...
in 1925, being commissioned as the Birinci İnönü and İkinci İnönü in 1928. These were swiftly followed by an order for two submarines from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1930, which were named Sakarya and Dumlupınar, and commissioned in 1931 after an extremely fast build time at the Monfalcone Shipyard
Cantiere Navale Triestino
CANT was an Italian aviation company which originally specialised in building naval aircraft, formed in 1923 as part of the CNT...
of CRDA. The Navy also ordered four destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s and three torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s from Italian shipyards; namely the two Adatepe class destroyers
Adatepe class destroyer
The Adatepe class destroyer or Kocatepe class destroyer were two destroyers built for the Turkish Navy by the Italian company, Ansaldo of Genoa in 1931....
(Adatepe and Kocatepe), the two Tınaztepe class destroyers
Tinaztepe class destroyer
The Tinaztepe class were two destroyers built in Italy for the Turkish Navy in the 1930s.These ships were versions of the contemporary Italian Folgore class destroyer or Freccia class destroyer and were purchased while being built for the Italian Navy. In contrast with other Italian destroyers...
(Tınaztepe and Zafer), and the three torpedo boats (Martı, Denizkuşu and Doğan), which were all commissioned in 1931. The Spanish-built submarine Gür
TCG Gür (1936)
TCG Gür was a German-designed submarine built in 1929-30 by the Echevarrieta y Larrinaga Shipyard in Cádiz, Spain, and bought by the Turkish Navy in 1935 where it served until 1947...
, a variant of the German Type IA
German Type I submarine
The Type I U-boat was the first post-World War I attempt by the German Kriegsmarine to produce an ocean going submarine. Only two Type IAs were built, but the decision to halt production on further boats is believed to be because of political decisions and not because of major faults in the Type I...
, was launched in 1930 and commissioned in 1936. Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
also ordered the Ay class submarines which were variants of the German Type IXA
German Type IXA submarine
The German Type IXA submarine was a sub-class of the German Type IX submarine built by the German Navy between 1937 and 1938. These U-boats were designed between 1935 and 1936 and were intended to be fairly large ocean-going submarines...
and were built by Krupp Germaniawerft
Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft
Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft was a German shipbuilding company, located in the harbour at Kiel, and one of the largest and most important builders of U-boats for the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I and the Kriegsmarine in World War II.-History:The company was founded in 1867 by Lloyd Foster, as...
at the shipyards of Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
in Germany and Gölcük
Gölcük Naval Shipyard
Gölcük Naval Shipyard is a naval shipyard of the Turkish Navy within the Gölcük Naval Base on the east coast of the Sea of Marmara in Gölcük, Kocaeli. Established in 1926, the shipyard serves for the building and the maintenance of military vessels...
in Turkey. Yıldıray was laid down in 1936, but its commissioning was delayed until 1946 due to the hardships of the Second World War. Saldıray was laid down in 1937 and commissioned in 1939, while Atılay was laid down in 1937 and commissioned in 1940.
World War II
Following the death of Atatürk in 1938 and during the Second World War years under the presidency of İsmet İnönüIsmet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
, the Turkish Navy purchased the Oruç Reis class
Oruç Reis class submarine
The Oruç Reis class submarines were ordered by the Turkish Navy from the British company Vickers in 1939. They were similar to the British S class submarines, but slightly smaller. They had the S class machinery but only four bow torpedo tubes...
submarines which were designed and built by the Vickers-Armstrong Shipbuilders in England. Murat Reis and Oruç Reis were laid down in 1939 and commissioned in 1942, while Burak Reis-II was laid down in 1939 and commissioned in 1946. Turkey also purchased four destroyers and two minelayers from England in 1939. The four Demirhisar class destroyers were namely Gayret
HMS Ithuriel (H05)
HMS Ithuriel was an I-class destroyer laid down as Gayret for the Turkish Navy by Vickers Armstrong Naval Construction Works at Barrow-in-Furness on 24 May 1939, but taken over by the Royal Navy on the outbreak of the Second World War whilst still under construction.Launched on 15 December 1940 and...
which was commissioned in 1940; and Demirhisar, Sultanhisar and Muavenet
HMS Inconstant (H49)
HMS Inconstant was an I-class destroyer laid down as TCG Muavenet for the Turkish Navy by Vickers Armstrong Naval Construction Works at Barrow-in-Furness on 24 May 1939, purchased in September 1939 by the Royal Navy, launched on 24 February 1941 and commissioned on 24 January 1942.Inconstant...
which were commissioned in 1941.
Post World War II
Immediately after the end of the Second World War and with the declaration of the Truman DoctrineTruman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a policy set forth by U.S. President Harry S Truman in a speech on March 12, 1947 stating that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to prevent their falling into the Soviet sphere...
, which was followed a few years later by Turkey's membership to NATO in 1952, the Turkish fleet acquired new warships and submarines from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Four Balao class submarine
Balao class submarine
The Balao class was a successful design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 122 units built, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlier Gato class, the boats had slight internal differences...
s built by the General Dynamics Electric Boat Company joined the Turkish fleet and were commissioned in 1948. They were given the names of the previous Turkish submarines like , , and . These were followed by the three GUPPY class submarines, namely which was commissioned in 1958, alongside and which were commissioned in 1960; the GUPPY IA class submarine which was commissioned in 1972, the seven GUPPY IIA class submarines which were commissioned between 1971 and 1973 and named as (1971), (1971), (1971), (1972), (1972), (1972) and (1973); the two GUPPY III class submarines which were commissioned in 1974 and named as and , and the two Tang class submarine
Tang class submarine
The Tang class submarines were a product of the Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program , which incorporated German U-boat technology into the United States Navy's submarine design...
s which were commissioned in 1980 and 1983, and named as (1980) and (1983).
Between 1949 and 1950, four U.S.-built Gleaves class destroyer
Gleaves class destroyer
The Gleaves-class destroyers were a class of 66 destroyers of the United States Navy built 1938–1942, and designed by Gibbs & Cox. The first ship of the class was the USS Gleaves . The U.S. Navy customarily names a class of ships after the first ship of the class; hence the Gleaves class...
s were acquired; namely and in 1949, and and in 1950.
In 1959 four British-made M class destroyers
L and M class destroyer
The L and M class was a class of sixteen destroyers which served in the British Royal Navy during World War II. The ships of the class were launched between 1939 and 1942.-Design details:...
joined the fleet, namely TCG Alp Alslan (D-348)
HMS Milne (G14)
HMS Milne was a M-class destroyer of the Royal Navy which served during World War II.She was built by Scotts, of Greenock, laid down 24 January 1940, launched 30 December 1941 and completed 6 August 1942....
, TCG Kılıç Ali Paşa (D-350)
HMS Matchless (G52)
HMS Matchless was a M-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during World War II.-External links:...
, and TCG Piyale Paşa (D-351).
Between 1967 and 1969, a total of five U.S.-built Fletcher class destroyer
Fletcher class destroyer
The Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939 as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types...
s were acquired by the Turkish Navy; namely the and in 1967, and the , and in 1969.
1970s
Starting from 1971, the Turkish Navy acquired a total of ten U.S.-built FRAM I Gearing class destroyerGearing class destroyer
The Gearing class was a group of 98 destroyers built for the US Navy during and shortly after World War II. The Gearing design was a minor modification of the immediately preceding Allen M. Sumner class...
s from the United States, namely (1971), (1971), (1972), (1973), (1973), (1974), (1979), (1980), (1980) and (1982). In 1981 and 1982, two Carpenter class anti submarine destroyers
USS Carpenter (DD-825)
USS Carpenter was a of the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant Commander Donald M. Carpenter .Carpenter was laid down on 30 July 1945 at Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas; launched on 28 September 1945, and sponsored by Mrs. Donald M. Carpenter, widow of the ship's namesake...
joined the fleet, namely (1981) and (1982). Carpenter class was a modified version of the Gearing class destroyer.
Turkish-built (modified Claud Jones class destroyer escort
Claud Jones class destroyer escort
The Claud Jones class destroyer escorts were four ships built for the US Navy in the late 1950s. These ships were a Diesel version of the earlier Dealey class and were designed with the aim of producing a cheaper ship suitable for rapid production in wartime. These ships also had reduced armament...
) frigates and joined the fleet in 1971 and 1972, respectively. They were named after the late Ottoman torpedo cruisers Berk-i Satvet and Peyk-i Şevket, which also served the fleet of the Turkish Navy in its early years.
Still in 1971 and 1972, two U.S.-built Allen M. Sumner class destroyer
Allen M. Sumner class destroyer
The Allen M. Sumner class was a group of 58 destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Another twelve ships were completed as destroyer minelayers...
s, and , were acquired by the Turkish Navy.
Type 209 submarines
The Turkish Navy has 14 non-nuclear German-designed Type 209 submarineType 209 submarine
The Type 209 is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine developed exclusively for export in the late 1960s by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany...
s, which were built in Germany and Turkey. In the early 1970s, the Turkish Navy ordered six Atılay class (Type 209/1200) submarines, which were laid down between 1974 and 1988, and commissioned between 1976 and 1989, as Atılay (S-347) (1976), Saldıray (S-348) (1977), Batıray (S-349) (1978), Yıldıray-II (S-350) (1981), Doğanay (S-351) (1984) and Dolunay (S-352) (1989).
They were followed by the four Preveze class (Type 209T1/1400) submarines which were laid down between 1993 and 1998, and commissioned between 1994 and 1999, as Preveze (S-353) (1994), Sakarya (S-354) (1995), 18 Mart (S-355) (1998) and Anafartalar (S-356) (1999). The last four submarines, classified as the Gür class (Type 209T2/1400) were laid down between 2002 and 2006, and commissioned as Gür (S-357) (2003), Çanakkale (S-358) (2005), Burakreis (S-359) (2006) and II. İnönü (S-360) (2007).
At present, the Turkish Navy operates the largest fleet of German-designed submarines in the world.
1980s
In 1983 two German-built Köln class frigateKöln class frigate
The ships of the F120 Köln class of frigates were the first major warships built in Germany after World War II.They were the world's first ships to feature a combined diesel and gas propulsion system. The ships received numerous refits during their long careers with new electronics and torpedo tubes...
s, namely Gelibolu (D-360) and Gemlik (D-361), joined the Turkish fleet.
During the modernization programme of the Turkish fleet in the mid 1980s, the first MEKO class frigates
MEKO
The MEKO family of warships was developed by the German company Blohm + Voss.MEKO is a registered trademark. The portmanteau stands for "Mehrzweck-Kombination" . It is a concept in modern naval shipbuilding based on modularity of armament, electronics and other equipment, aiming at ease of...
, designed by the German shipbuilding company Blohm + Voss
Blohm + Voss
Blohm + Voss , is a German shipbuilding and engineering works. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; there were plans to sell 80% of Blohm + Voss to Abu Dhabi Mar Group, but talks collapsed in July 2011.-History:It was founded on April 5, 1877, by Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss as a...
and built in Germany and Turkey, were acquired. Four Yavuz class frigates (MEKO 200TN Track I)
Yavuz class frigate
The Yavuz class are a group of four frigates that were built for the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO family of modular warships; in this case the MEKO 200 design...
were built; namely TCG Yavuz (F-240) which was launched in 1985 and commissioned in 1987, TCG Turgutreis (F-242) and TCG Fatih (F-241) which were launched in 1987 and commissioned in 1988, and TCG Yıldırım (F-243) which was launched in 1988 and commissioned in 1989.
1990s to 2000s
Barbaros class frigate
The Barbaros-class frigates are the most modern frigates in the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. Two ships were built in Germany and two in Turkey with German assistance...
, of which Barbaros was launched in 1993 and commissioned in 1997, and TCG Oruçreis (F-245) was launched in 1994 and commissioned in 1997. The final two ships are classified as the Salih Reis class frigates (MEKO 200TN Track IIB)
Barbaros class frigate
The Barbaros-class frigates are the most modern frigates in the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. Two ships were built in Germany and two in Turkey with German assistance...
, of which TCG Salihreis (F-246) was launched in 1997 and commissioned in 1998, and TCG Kemalreis (F-247) was launched in 1998 and commissioned in 2000. These ships are equipped with the Mk.41 vertical launching system.
In the early 1990s Turkey acquired eight U.S.-built Knox class frigate
Knox class frigate
Knox class frigates were United States Navy warships, originally laid down as ocean escorts , but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.A sub-class of the Knox class was built, commonly referred to as...
s. , , , were commissioned in 1993, while , , and were commissioned in 1994. Five ships of this class have been decommissioned between 2001 and 2005. Currently only TCG Zafer is still in active service.
In the late 1990s Turkey acquired eight Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate
The Oliver Hazard Perry class is a class of frigates named after the American Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the naval Battle of Lake Erie...
(G class
G class frigate
The G class is one of the frigate classes of the Turkish Navy. They are extensively modernized versions of ex-Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigates, mainly designed for air defense with a weapons configuration that is optimized for general warfare.-Modernization:The G class frigates...
) frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s from the United States. , and were commissioned in 1998; and were commissioned in 1999; was commissioned in 2000; was commissioned in 2002; and was commissioned in 2003.
2000s
Between 2001 and 2003 a total of six French-built D'Estienne d'Orves classD'Estienne d'Orves class
The A69 type Avisos are small warships mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions . Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions...
(B class
B class corvette
B class corvette is a warship class of the Turkish Navy, all ex-D'Estienne d'Orves class A69 type Aviso corvettes, mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defense and ocean escort missions...
) corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s were acquired from France. Bozcaada was commissioned in 2001; Bodrum, Bandırma, Beykoz and Bartın were commissioned in 2002; and Bafra was commissioned in 2003.
On 26 July 2005, construction of the first Milgem class corvette
Milgem
The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi , is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which is to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its...
, Heybeliada
TCG Heybeliada (F-511)
TCG Heybeliada is the lead ship of the Ada class anti-submarine warfare corvettes. TCG Heybeliada was named after the Naval High School of the Turkish Navy located in Heybeliada island, Turkey...
, began at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard. A total of twelve Milgem class corvettes will be built for the Turkish Navy.
Projects
Plans to build a total of four TF-2000 classTF-2000 class frigate
The TF-2000 class frigate is a projected anti-air warfare frigate currently undergoing development by the Turkish Naval Institute. The class will provide survivability in the presence of aerial threat and also support mission functions such as command control and communication, reconnaissance,...
AAW
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s, the acquisition of a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) and a total of six Type 214
Type 214 submarine
The Type 214 is a diesel-electric submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH . It features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion system using Siemens polymer electrolyte membrane hydrogen fuel cells...
AIP submarines were approved by the Turkish Ministry of Defense on 12 December 2006. The RfI issued for the LPD project states that the requirement is for one LPD carrying 4 Landing Craft Mechanics (LCM), 27 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV), 2 Landing Craft Personnel Vehicles (LCPV), 1 Commander Boat and 1 Rubber Hull Inflated Boat (RHIB). The Turkish Navy also plans to acquire 2 new Tank Landing Ships (LST), 8 new Tank Landing Crafts
Landing craft tank
The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later...
(LCT), 16 new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) with ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
capability, 2 new Rescue & Towing (R&T) ships, 1 new Submarine Rescue Mother Ship (MOSHIP), and a new Fleet Replenishment Tanker (FRT) class.
Structure
In 1961, the Turkish Naval Forces Command was organized into four main subordinate commands: The Turkish Fleet Command, the Turkish Northern Sea Area Command, the Turkish Southern Sea Area Command and the Turkish Naval Training Command. In 1995, the Turkish Naval Training Command was renamed as the Turkish Naval Training and Education Command.- Fleet Command
- Surface Action Group Command, Gölcük Naval BaseGölcük Naval BaseGölcük Naval Base is the main base of the Turkish Navy on the east coast of the Sea of Marmara in Gölcük, Kocaeli. It is the principal base for logistic support with various facilities stretched over of land....
, KocaeliKocaeli ProvinceKocaeli Province is a province of Turkey. Its capital is İzmit, which is sometimes referred to as Kocaeli itself. The largest town in the province is now Gebze. The traffic code is 41. The province is located at the easternmost end of the Marmara Sea, especially on the Gulf of İzmit. Because of... - Submarine Group Command
- Fast Patrol Boat Group Command, IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
- Mine Warfare Group Command, Erdek Naval BaseErdek Naval BaseErdek Naval Base is a base of the Turkish Navy on the south coast of the Sea of Marmara south-east of Erdek in Balıkesir Province. It is the principal base for mine warfare vessels.- Operations :...
, BalıkesirBalikesir ProvinceBalıkesir Province is a province in midwestern Turkey, having coastlines on both the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Its adjacent provinces are Çanakkale to the west, İzmir to the southwest, Manisa to the south, Kütahya to the southeast, and Bursa to the east. The provincial capital is Balıkesir City... - Logistic Support Group Command, Gölcük Naval BaseGölcük Naval BaseGölcük Naval Base is the main base of the Turkish Navy on the east coast of the Sea of Marmara in Gölcük, Kocaeli. It is the principal base for logistic support with various facilities stretched over of land....
, Kocaeli - Naval Aviation Group Command, Cengiz Topel Naval Air StationCengiz Topel Naval Air StationCengiz Topel Naval Air Station , aka Topel Airport or formerly Cengiz Topel Air Base, is a Turkish Navy air station located east of İzmit in Kocaeli Province, Turkey. The airport is in joint use for military and civil...
, Kocaeli
- Surface Action Group Command, Gölcük Naval Base
- Northern SeaBlack SeaThe Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
Area Command, Istanbul- Istanbul StraitBosporusThe Bosphorus or Bosporus , also known as the Istanbul Strait , is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with the Dardanelles...
Command - Çanakkale StraitDardanellesThe Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
Command - Naval HydrographyHydrographyHydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
and OceanographyOceanographyOceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
Division Command - Naval Museum Command, Istanbul
- Istanbul Strait
- Southern SeaMediterranean SeaThe Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
Area Command, İzmirIzmirIzmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
- Naval infantry BrigadeBrigadeA brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
Command, FoçaFoçaFoça is town and district in Turkey's İzmir Province.The town of Foça is situated at about north by northwest of İzmir city center. The district also has a township with own municipality named Yenifoça , also along the shore and at a distance of from Foça proper...
- AmphibiousAmphibious warfareAmphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
Group Command, Foça
- Amphibious
- Naval infantry BattalionBattalionA battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
Command, İzmir - Accompaniment and Patrol Boats Flotilla
- Aksaz Naval Base Command, Aksaz Naval BaseAksaz Naval BaseAksaz Naval Base is a base of the Turkish Navy on the south-east coast of the Aegean Sea in Marmaris, Muğla. In addition to the military buildings, the base houses apartment-like barracks and social facilities stretched over of land...
, MarmarisMarmarisMarmaris is a port city and a tourist resort on the Mediterranean coast, located in southwest Turkey, in Muğla Province.Marmaris' main source of income is tourism. Little is left of the sleepy fishing village that Marmaris was just a few decades ago after a construction boom in the 1980s...
- Naval infantry Brigade
- Naval Training and Education Command, Istanbul
- Naval AcademyTurkish Naval AcademyThe Turkish Naval Academy is a four year co-educational military academy located in the district of Tuzla in Istanbul. Its mission is to develop cadets mentally and physically for service as commissioned officers in the Turkish Navy...
, TuzlaTuzla (district)Tuzla is a small town, a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey on the Asian side of the city beyond Kartal and Pendik. Tuzla is on a headland on the coast of the Marmara Sea, at the eastern limit of the city. The mayor is Şadi Yazıcı .-History:...
, Istanbul - Naval High School, Heybeliada, Istanbul
- Karamürselbey Training Centre Command, YalovaYalovaYalova is a city located in northwestern Turkey, on the eastern coast of the Sea of Marmara, and is the capital of the Yalova Province. Yalova has a city population of 92,166, while the population of the Yalova Province is 202,531. as of 2009...
- Naval Academy
Marines and Special Forces
The Turkish Navy maintains several Marines and Special Operations units. These include the Amphibious Marines Brigade (Amfibi Deniz Piyade Tugayı), several commandoCommando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
detachments and two special operations forces:
- Amphibious Marines Brigade - (Amfibi Deniz Piyade Tugayı) consisting of 4,500 men based in FoçaFoçaFoça is town and district in Turkey's İzmir Province.The town of Foça is situated at about north by northwest of İzmir city center. The district also has a township with own municipality named Yenifoça , also along the shore and at a distance of from Foça proper...
near İzmirIzmirIzmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, three amphibious battalions, an MBTMain battle tankA main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
battalion, an artilleryArtilleryOriginally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
battalion, a support battalion and other company-sized units. - Su Altı TaarruzSu Alti TaarruzSu Altı Taarruz is one of two special operations units of the Turkish Navy ....
- (S.A.T.) (Underwater Attack). The missions of the Su Altı Taarruz (SAT) include the acquisition of military intelligence, amphibious assault, counter-terrorism and VIP protection. - Su Altı SavunmaSu Alti SavunmaSu Altı Savunma is one of two special operations units of the Turkish Navy ....
- (S.A.S.) (Underwater Defense).
Main equipment
| TURKISH NAVY | |
| Submarines (14 in service) | |
| 4 | Gür class Type 209T2/1400 Type 209 submarine The Type 209 is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine developed exclusively for export in the late 1960s by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany... submarine Submarine A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability... |
| 4 | Preveze class Type 209T1/1400 Type 209 submarine The Type 209 is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine developed exclusively for export in the late 1960s by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany... submarine |
| 6 | Atılay class Type 209/1200 Type 209 submarine The Type 209 is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine developed exclusively for export in the late 1960s by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany... submarine |
| Frigates (17 in service) | |
| 2 | Salihreis class Barbaros class frigate The Barbaros-class frigates are the most modern frigates in the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. Two ships were built in Germany and two in Turkey with German assistance... (MEKO 200 TN IIB MEKO 200 The MEKO 200 is a frigate design by the Blohm + Voss shipyard of Germany, as part of the MEKO family of warships.-Anzac class :... ) frigate Frigate A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"... |
| 2 | Barbaros class Barbaros class frigate The Barbaros-class frigates are the most modern frigates in the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. Two ships were built in Germany and two in Turkey with German assistance... (MEKO 200 TN IIA MEKO 200 The MEKO 200 is a frigate design by the Blohm + Voss shipyard of Germany, as part of the MEKO family of warships.-Anzac class :... ) frigate |
| 4 | Yavuz class Yavuz class frigate The Yavuz class are a group of four frigates that were built for the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO family of modular warships; in this case the MEKO 200 design... (MEKO 200 TN I MEKO 200 The MEKO 200 is a frigate design by the Blohm + Voss shipyard of Germany, as part of the MEKO family of warships.-Anzac class :... ) frigate |
| 8 | G class G class frigate The G class is one of the frigate classes of the Turkish Navy. They are extensively modernized versions of ex-Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigates, mainly designed for air defense with a weapons configuration that is optimized for general warfare.-Modernization:The G class frigates... (Ex-Oliver Hazard Perry class Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate The Oliver Hazard Perry class is a class of frigates named after the American Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the naval Battle of Lake Erie... ) frigate (under GENESIS modernization project) |
| 1 | Tepe class (Ex-Knox class Knox class frigate Knox class frigates were United States Navy warships, originally laid down as ocean escorts , but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.A sub-class of the Knox class was built, commonly referred to as... ) frigate (other 7 ships of this class retired) |
| Corvettes (7 in service) | |
| 1 | Ada class Milgem The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi , is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which is to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its... corvette (a total of 8 will be built as part of the Milgem Milgem The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi , is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which is to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its... project) |
| 6 | B class B class corvette B class corvette is a warship class of the Turkish Navy, all ex-D'Estienne d'Orves class A69 type Aviso corvettes, mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defense and ocean escort missions... (D'Estienne d'Orves class D'Estienne d'Orves class The A69 type Avisos are small warships mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions . Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions... A-69 type Aviso) corvette |
| Fast attack craft Fast Attack Craft Fast Attack Craft are small, fast, agile and offensive warships, that are armed with anti-ship missiles, guns or torpedoes. These are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the sea-keeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel... and missile boat Missile boat A Missile Boat is a small craft armed with anti-ship missiles. Being a small craft, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming an inexpensive navy... (27 in service) |
|
| 6 | Kılıç II class Kiliç class fast attack craft The Kılıç Class is one of the Fast Attack Craft / Missile Boat classes of the Turkish Navy. It is defined as a corvette by Lürssen Werft, the German designer of the vessel.... fast attack craft Fast Attack Craft Fast Attack Craft are small, fast, agile and offensive warships, that are armed with anti-ship missiles, guns or torpedoes. These are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the sea-keeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel... / missile boat Missile boat A Missile Boat is a small craft armed with anti-ship missiles. Being a small craft, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming an inexpensive navy... |
| 3 | Kılıç class Kiliç class fast attack craft The Kılıç Class is one of the Fast Attack Craft / Missile Boat classes of the Turkish Navy. It is defined as a corvette by Lürssen Werft, the German designer of the vessel.... fast attack craft / missile boat |
| 2 | Yıldız class Yildiz class fast attack craft The Yıldız Class is one of the Fast Attack Craft / Missile Boat classes of the Turkish Navy.Designed by Lürssen Werft in Germany, these ships are almost identical with the Rüzgar and Doğan classes, having the same hull, machinery and weapons; but are fitted with better combat control systems and... fast attack craft / missile boat |
| 4 | Rüzgar class Rüzgar class fast attack craft The Rüzgar class is one of the Fast Attack Craft / Missile Boat classes of the Turkish Navy.Designed by Lürssen Werft in Germany, these ships are almost identical to the Yıldız and Doğan classes, having the same hull, machinery and weapons; but are lighter and faster. All four ships of the class... fast attack craft / missile boat |
| 4 | Doğan class Dogan class fast attack craft The Doğan Class is one of the Fast Attack Craft / Missile Boat classes of the Turkish Navy.Designed by Lürssen Werft in Germany, these ships are almost identical with the Yıldız and Rüzgar classes, having the same hull, machinery and weapons... fast attack craft / missile boat |
| 8 | Kartal class fast attack craft / missile boat |
| Patrol craft (16 in service) | |
| 6 | AB-25 class (Türk tipi) patrol craft Patrol boat A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments... |
| 4 | PGM71 class patrol craft |
| 5 | K class patrol boat Patrol boat A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments... |
| 1 | T class patrol boat |
| Mine Warfare Vessels (20 in service) | |
| 6 | Aydın class A class minehunter (Turkey) The A Class is a class of minehunter vessels in the Turkish Navy. In 1999, the German shipyards Lürssen and Abeking & Rasmussen were contracted to build six Frankenthal class ships for the Turkish Navy, a business worth US$ 630 million... mine hunters Minehunter Minehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines... |
| 5 | Engin class mine hunters |
| 4 | F class mine sweepers Minesweeper (ship) A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:... |
| 5 | S class mine sweepers |
| Amphibious Warfare Vessels (45 in service) | |
| 1 | Osman Gazi class Osman Gazi class The Osman Gazi class landing ship, tank consists of one amphibious warfare ship that was built for the Turkish Navy in the early 1990s. The ship, the NL125 Osman Gazi, remains in service.... landing ship, tank Tank landing ship Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore.... |
| 2 | Saruca Bey class landing ship, tank |
| 2 | Ertuğrul class landing ship, tank |
| 24 | Ç-117 class landing craft, tank Landing craft tank The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later... |
| 16 | Ç-302 class landing craft mechanized Landing Craft Mechanized The Landing Craft Mechanized or Landing Craft Mechanical was a landing craft designed for carrying vehicles. They came to prominence during the Second World War when they were used to land troops or tanks during Allied amphibious assaults.... |
| Tankers (13 in service) | |
| 2 | Akar class fleet support ship |
| 2 | Albay Hakkı Burak class oil tanker |
| 3 | Binbaşı Sadettin Gürcan class oil tanker |
| 1 | Taşkızak class oil tanker |
| 2 | Van class water tanker |
| 3 | Söğüt class water tanker |
| Transport Ships (2 in service) | |
| 1 | Iskenderun class logistics ship |
| 1 | Karadeniz Ereğli class dry cargo ship |
| Training & School Ships (10 in service) | |
| 2 | Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Paşa class training ship (Ex-German Rhein class tender) |
| 8 | E class training boat |
| Salvage Ships (3 in service) | |
| 1 | Kemer class salvage assistance ship (Ex-French Mercure class) |
| 1 | Işın class salvage ship (Ex-US Diver class) |
| 1 | Akın class submarine rescue ship (Ex-US Chanticleer class) |
| Tugs (6 in service) | |
| 1 | Darıca class offshore tug |
| 1 | Gazal class offshore tug (Ex-US Navajo class) |
| 1 | Akbaş class offshore tug |
| 1 | Değirmendere class offshore tug boat (Ex-French Tenace class) |
| 1 | Aksaz class offshore tug (Ex-German Wustrow class (Type 414) harbour tug) |
| 1 | İnebolu class offshore tug (Ex-US Powhatan class fleet ocean tug) |
| Survey Ships (3 in service) | |
| 1 | Çeşme class hydrographic and oceanographic research ship |
| 1 | Çubuklu class hydrographic and oceanographic research ship |
| 1 | Deney class scientific research ship |
| Helicopters & Naval Aircraft (75 in service) | |
| 10 | ATR 72-500 ASW/ASuW MPA ATR 72 The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliner built by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR. ATR and Airbus are both built in Toulouse, and share resources and technology... |
| 9 | CASA CN-235 ASW/ASuW MPA CASA CN-235 The CASA/IPTN CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engined transport plane that was jointly developed by CASA of Spain and IPTN of Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. Its primary military roles include maritime patrol, surveillance, and air transport... |
| 7 | TB-20 Socata TB |-Specifications :-Specifications :-See also:... Training Aircraft |
| 24 | Sikorsky S-70B2 Seahawk ASW/ASuW Helicopters |
| 3 | AB-204 Naval Warfare Naval warfare Naval warfare is combat in and on seas, oceans, or any other major bodies of water such as large lakes and wide rivers.-History:Mankind has fought battles on the sea for more than 3,000 years. Land warfare would seem, initially, to be irrelevant and entirely removed from warfare on the open ocean,... ASW/ASuW/EW/SAR Helicopters |
| 14 | AB-212 Naval Warfare Naval warfare Naval warfare is combat in and on seas, oceans, or any other major bodies of water such as large lakes and wide rivers.-History:Mankind has fought battles on the sea for more than 3,000 years. Land warfare would seem, initially, to be irrelevant and entirely removed from warfare on the open ocean,... ASW/ASuW/EW/SAR Helicopters |
| 8 | AB-412 EP Bell 412 The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:... SAR Search and rescue Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations... Helicopters |
| FUTURE SHIPS | |
| Submarines | |
| 6 | Type 214 Type 214 submarine The Type 214 is a diesel-electric submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH . It features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion system using Siemens polymer electrolyte membrane hydrogen fuel cells... AIP Air-independent propulsion Air-independent propulsion is a term that encompasses technologies which allow a submarine to operate without the need to surface or use a snorkel to access atmospheric oxygen. The term usually excludes the use of nuclear power, and describes augmenting or replacing the diesel-electric propulsion... submarine (+6 approved on 12 December 2006) |
| Frigates | |
| 4 | TF-2000 class TF-2000 class frigate The TF-2000 class frigate is a projected anti-air warfare frigate currently undergoing development by the Turkish Naval Institute. The class will provide survivability in the presence of aerial threat and also support mission functions such as command control and communication, reconnaissance,... frigate (+4 AAW Anti-aircraft warfare NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces... frigates approved on 12 December 2006) |
| 4 | TF-100 class frigate (a total of 4 will be built as part of the Milgem Milgem The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi , is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which is to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its... project) |
| Corvettes | |
| 7 | Ada class Milgem The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi , is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which is to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its... corvette (a total of 8 will be built as part of the Milgem Milgem The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi , is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which is to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its... project) |
| Patrol boat Patrol boat A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments... |
|
| 16 | New ASW Anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines.... OPV class |
| Amphibious Warfare Vessels | |
| 1 | New LPD/LHD class (+1 approved on 12 December 2006) |
| 2 | New LST class (+2 approved on 12 December 2006) |
| 8 | New LCT class (+8 approved on 12 December 2006) |
| Tankers | |
| 0 | New Fleet Replenishment Tanker (FRT) class |
| Salvage Ships | |
| 2+ | Submarine Rescue Mother Ship (+1 approved) |
| 2+ | Rescue & Towing Ship (+2 approved) |
See also
- List of Turkish Navy ships
- Ottoman NavyOttoman NavyThe Ottoman Navy was established in the early 14th century. During its long existence it was involved in many conflicts; refer to list of Ottoman sieges and landings and list of Admirals in the Ottoman Empire for a brief chronology.- Pre-Ottoman:...
- List of Commanders of the Turkish Naval Forces