Photos Of Russian Warship Bora

12 May 2013 1 Comment

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The Russian Dergach class corvette 615 RFS Bora in Bosphorus.

As reported earlier last week we had an unusual guest. The Russian Dergach class air cushion corvette 615 RFS Bora made her maiden foreign visit to Istanbul during the IDEF 2013 defense exhibition.
I don’t know if the ship has received any visitors, as she was docked almost 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from the exhibition center.

I was able to take the photos of RFS Bora on her very last moments in Istanbul, during her deployment back to Russia. The ship is heavily armed with 8 SS-N-22 Sunburn supersonic missiles, one 76mm gun, two 30mm close in weapon systems and SA-N-4 Gecko SAM missiles. I was not on board so I have no idea about the inside of the ship but judging the size and the armaments and sensors she is carrying I do not think that there is much space left for the crew to live.

With her foils inside the water she can make up to 56 knots. It is not  an easy feature to accelerate a 1000 ton warship to speeds as high as this.
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Jean Bart In Istanbul

1 May 2013 Leave a comment

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D-615 FS Jean Bart arriving in Istanbul, on 30 April 2013

After visiting Novorossiysk and Varna, the French destroyer D-615 FS Jean Bart arrived for a 3 day visit.

FS jean Bart is very similar in operational capabilities with her 40 SM-1 MR surface to air missiles fired by the Mk-13 launcher and Smart Mk2 3D radar to the Turkish Navy Gabya class frigates.

She looks old and tired. Her crew must have a hard time in keeping her in good shape.

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TCG Tarsus Sighted

24 Apr 2013 2 Comments

P1204 TCG Tarsus

P-1204 TCG Tarsus

On 23 April 2013 I have sighted the 4 boat of the Tuzla class patrol boats P-1204 TCG Tarsus.

She was returning from sea trial. It is interesting to note that while she is manned by naval personnel and under the command of  an officer she returned to the builder’s yard. The ASW rocket launcher at aft seem to be not installed.

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Shalatein In Istanbul

29 Mar 2013 1 Comment

Egyptian supply ship A-230 Shalatein in Istanbul.

Egyptian supply ship A-230 Shalatein in Istanbul.

The Egyptian replenishment tanker A-230 Shalatein is in Istanbul for an official visit for an undisclosed duration.

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Russian Warships Azov And Saratov Passed Through The Bosphorus

4 Feb 2013 2 Comments

Ropucha class large landing ship 151 Azov on her northbound passage through Bosphorus

Ropucha class large landing ship 151 Azov on her northbound passage through Bosphorus

Alligator class large landing ship 150 Saratov on her northbound passage through Bosphorus.

Alligator class large landing ship 150 Saratov on her northbound passage through Bosphorus.

After the ending of the largest(!) naval exercise of recent history Russian units started to return to their home ports.

Today two large landing ships, Alligator class large landing ship 150 Saratov and Ropucha class large landing ship 151 Azov passed through the Bosphorus on their way back to home. Later during the day the replenishment tanker Ivan Bubnov passed through the Bosphorus too.

I am waiting for the Slava class cruiser Moskva and Kashin class destroyer Smetlivy to pass in a few days.

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A Submarine Spotted

27 Dec 2012 2 Comments

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On 26 December 2012, in the early morning hours, one Turkish Type 209/1400 class submarine sailed through Bosphorus to Marmara Sea. Since Turkish Navy stopped painting the pennant numbers of the submarines, it is impossible to identify each individual submarine anymore. While this new painting scheme helps the submarines to blend and prevents IR/FLIR/LLTV using trackers or electro-optic directors any high contrast target, it makes ship spotting difficult.

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Republic Day 2012

29 Oct 2012 7 Comments

Today is the 89th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

It is a custom of Turkish Navy to send a couple of warships to port cities and open them for public visiting.

This year F-240 TCG Yavuz and F-496 TCG Gökova are in Istanbul.

The 76mm gun of F-496 TCG Gökova. Note the “Tiger” logo, this is new.

The business end of F-496 TCG Gökova. Mk-13 launcher with a training SM-1 missile and the newly installed Mk-48 VLS with ESSM missiles.

These ships look very impressive from this point of view

F-240 TCG Yavuz.

TCG Yavuz and TCG Gökova weren’t the only ships opened to the public. Below is a map from the official website of Turkish Navy showing all the ships and the one submarine for the public to visit. 

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First Photos Of The Interceptor Craft Built For The Qatar Navy

23 Sep 2012 Leave a comment

Q42, one of the 3 MRTP 16 class interceptors Yonca Onuk Shipyard is building for Qatar Naval Forces, escorted by one MRTP 19 class boat of Turkish Coast Guard.

During the Dimdex 2012 maritime defence exhibition in Qatar, it was announced that the Turkish shipyard Yonca Onuk has signed a contract with Qatar Armed Forces. According to the contract Turkish shipyard is building 3 MRTP 16 class interceptors and 3 MRTP 34 class fast patrol boats for the Qatar Naval Forces. This is the second contract Yonca Onuk has signed in the Gulf Region. Their  first customer was the United Arab Emirates for 34 boats.

These are probably the first photos of the MRTP 16 class taken. The craft is not armed but there is a platform just at the aft end of the cabin where a remotely controlled stabilized gun mount can be installed.

Q42, one of the 3 MRTP 16 class interceptors Yonca Onuk Shipyard is building for Qatar Naval Forces.

Q42 from a different angle.

SG-23 TCSG 23. Turkish Coast Guard’s Kaan 19 class boat escorting the Qatari craft.

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Russian Submarine Alrosa Passed Through Bosphorus

19 Sep 2012 2 Comments

Russian submarine Alrosa passing through Bosphorus.

It was like a scene from the old cold war comedy “The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming“. You don’t see an active duty Russian submarine passing through your neighborhood everyday. So it was a big day for me.

The Kilo class Russian diesel – electric submarine Alrosa came from the Marmara Sea and passed by the Topkapı Place and entered into the Bosphorus. She is on her way to her homeport Sevastopol.

Alrosa departed the Baltic town of Kronstadt in late August where she was laid up for scheduled overhaul since July 2011.

In November 2011 during training she suffered serious engine problem and had to be towed back to Sevastopol. She was repaired and later took part in NATO’s largest submarine rescue exercise Bold Monarc 2011 off the coast of Spain.

Alrosa (originally Varshavyanka), a Kilo-class Project 877 diesel submarine, entered service in December 1990. It was renamed Alrosa in 2004 after it was “adopted” by Russia’s largest diamond company of the same name. She is the only submarine in active service with the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Russian submarine Alrosa passing through Bosphorus.

Russian submarine Alrosa passing through Bosphorus.

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On Board Of F-511 TCG Heybeliada

2 Sep 2012 2 Comments

On 30th August 2012 for the Victory Day celebrations two warships F-245 TCG  Oruçreis and F-511 TCG Heybeliada made a port visit in Istanbul. Both ships were open to the public and I had the opportunity and privilege to visit the first ship of the Milgem class corvettes, TCG Heybeliada.

The visitors were not allowed to take photos on board thus I have no photo from the interior of the ship.

F-511 TCG Heybeliada, the first ship of the Milgem class corvettes

F-511 TCG Heybeliada, the first ship of the Milgem class corvettes

F-511 TCG Heybeliada, the first ship of the Milgem class corvettes

From left to right: RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher, ASELFlir 300, 12.7 mm Aselsan STAMP Stabilized Machine Gun Platform, Sea Sentor Surface Ship Torpedo Defense launcher.

From left to right: RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher, ASELFlir 300, 12.7 mm Aselsan STAMP Stabilized Machine Gun Platform, Sea Sentor Surface Ship Torpedo Defense launcher. Two laser warning receivers are also visible.

From left to right: Sea Sentor Surface Ship Torpedo Defense launcher and the panel that hides the RGM-84 Harpoon missiles.

SMART-S Mk2 3D radar and ARES-2N EW antennas

The bridge and the STING EO Mk2.

Oto Melera 76mm gun in a stealth housing.

AselFLIR 300, optical director

Sea Sentor ship torpedo defense launcher and one laser warning receiver

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