The Port Visit will last from 21to 24 February and forms part of an extensive Programme for the Group aimed at increasing cooperation and understanding between NATO and Algeria.

The visit will allow NATO units to foster relationships with civilian and military authorities and offers the opportunity for national authorities to apprise themselves of SNMCMG2’s capabilities and ongoing activities. During the visit, the crews will have an opportunity to visit historical and cultural sites.

This is the current composition of SNMCMG-2:

Click for the previous Algeria visit of SNMCMG-2

A Turkish Coast Guard AB-412 EP helicopter on board of SG-701 TCSG Dost. Official Turkish Coast Guard photo.

According to the official webpage of Turkish General Staff, the sea trials of the coast guard vessel SG-701 TCSG Dost is continuing. She was launched on 9th July 2010. The Turkish General Staff reported that on 7th February 2012 a Turkish Coast Guard AB-412 EP helicopter performed  take off and landing tests on board of TCSG Dost at day and night

TCSG Dost is the first ship of a batch of 4 ships at RMK Marine Shipyard. The second ship SG-702 TCSG Güven was launched in December 2010.

With the commissioning of these ships, Turkish Coast Guard will be able to perform search and rescue in sea state 5 and higher. These ships are the first Turkish Coast Guard vessels, that can support helicopter operations.

Based on Italian Commandante-Siro class, the ships have a displacement of 1,700 tons. Main features of the vessels: length 88.40 metres, breadth 12.20 metres, maximum speed 22 knots, range 3,000 nautical miles at a speed of 15 knots.

On 22 February 2012, in the early morning hours, one Turkish Type 209 / 1400 class submarine sailed through Bosphorus to Marmara Sea. Since Turkish Navy stooped painting the pennant number of the submarines on their hulls, it is impossible to identify each individual submarine anymore. While this new painting scheme helps the submarines to blend and prevents IR/FLIR/LLTV using trackers or electro-optic directors any high contrast target, it makes ship spotting difficult. All I can say is that this is not S-357 TCG Gür, as she is taking part in Proud Manta 2012.

With 6 Type 209/1200 and 8 Type 209/1400 class submarines in service, Turkey has the largest conventional submarine fleet in the NATO.

OAE started as a NATO members only operation but since 2004 non-NATO countries are welcomed to join. In the part years Russia, Ukraine, Morocco and Israel have made contributions to OAE in various forms.

According to a Jerusalem Post report Turkey prevented an Israeli plan to contribute an Israel Navy missile ship to a NATO’s OAE, in what would have been the first time Israel actively participated in one of the Western military alliance’s operations.

Diplomatic and defense officials told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that Turkey had decided to prevent Israeli participation in the Active Endeavor – following the Israel Navy raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 in which nine Turkish nationals were killed.Diplomatic officials said that ever since its success, Turkey had been seeking to scuttle greater Israeli participation in the alliance.

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In 2008, Israel sent a navy officer to sit at the operation’s headquarters in Naples and in late 2009, Defense Minister Ehud Barak submitted an official request to NATO to contribute a missile ship to the mission. In 2010, Israel and NATO signed an agreement that was supposed to pave the way for the ship’s participation.

“Israel’s navy anyhow patrols the Mediterranean and since we were interested in upgrading our ties with NATO, it made sense to offer to actively participate in the operation,” a senior government official said. “The Turks, though, torpedoed the move and refused to allow one of our ships to join.”

The it would be surprising if Turkey would not be objecting to Israels contribution given the current level of the relation between the two countries. But I personally do not think that Turkey can insist on its veto if other nations really want Israel in OAE. Turkey was not able to hinder the return of Greece and France to the alliance so this blocking of Israeli contribution may be symbolic.

Turkish newspaper Zaman reported that NATO considering an Israeli contribution to the alliance’s naval patrol in the Mediterranean, despite Turkey’s opposition.

NATO spokeswoman Carmen Romero said the offer is being evaluated “according to NATO procedures and operation requirements.”

In the past, Israeli warships and air force jets have joined in some NATO exercises, but Israel’s participation in the naval operation would the first time its armed forces have taken part in one of the alliance’s military operations.

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Israel is a member of the Mediterranean Dialogue, a NATO outreach program with seven friendly nations bordering on that waterway. Romero said the alliance is prepared to enhance practical cooperation with all partner nations in the region, including Israel.

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In Ankara, a Turkish foreign ministry official on Friday confirmed an Israeli news report that his nation, a key NATO ally and its only Muslim-majority member, has rejected Israel’s plan to contribute a navy frigate to the operation, which is aimed at curbing terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with government rules.

Dignataries official photo In front-Adm Bilgel and V Adm Mudimu at the back- R Adm Teuteberg, Col Alp, Capt Karacaoglu, Cdr Can and R Adm Higgs Photo: SAN

The Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Murat Bilgel made a visit to South Africa between 23rd and 26th January 2012.

According to the South African Navy website a framework agreement for bilateral cooperation between two navies was yielded during this visit. As long as the piracy problem on Horn of Africa exists, Turkish Navy will be present in the Indian Ocean to protect. Therefore it is a very logical move for Turkish navy to establish cooperation with regional navies.

I know this news is a bit dated but I have just come across on the SAN webs site.

A Framework Agreement for potential Bilateral Cooperation between the South African and Turkish navies was yielded when Commander of the Turkish Navy, Admiral Murat Bilgel visited South Africa as a guest of the Chief of the SA Navy (C Navy), V Admiral Johannes Mudimu from 23-26 January 2012. The Admiral was accompanied by a delegation consisting of his wife Mrs. B. Bilgel, Capt Nihat Karacaoğlu and Cdr Yϋksel Can but was also escorted by Turkish Defence Attaché Col Erdogan Alp and his wife. Their visit would encompass a tour of sights and scenes spanning over three provinces ensuring no splendid beauty of the country would be missed.

After a grueling seven hour flight from Istanbul to OR Tambo International Airport, Admiral Bilgel’s first port-of-call was an honorary visit to the Turkish Ambassador to SA Mr. Vakur Gökdenizler, before proceeding to SA Navy Headquarters for a courtesy call with C Navy. During the courtesy call, the two admirals discussed possible future engagements between the two navies. The Navy Staff Council then gave the visiting delegates a presentation on the inner workings of the SA Navy which was reciprocated by the Turkish delegates who also paid a courtesy call to Chief of the SANDF at Army Headquarters who was represented by A/C SANDF Lt Gen Masondo. The two counterparts discussed the similarities and challenges between Defence Forces and then exchanged gifts to honour the occasion. The hectic programme for visiting delegates was concluded by a relaxing dinner in the evening hosted by C Navy.

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The visit was a first of its kind of this magnitude between the two navies and was instrumental for paving the way for deeper ties between the two countries.

If you have heard it all ready, the Sledgehammer is the name of the  of an alleged Turkish secularist military coup plan which reportedly dates back to 2003. The trial for the criminal case has just started in 16 December 2010.

But during the 2010 there were a number of arrests during the investigation for the case. In February 2010, 95 people were detained. 86 of these were military personnel, 70 of them in active duty including 4 admirals. Most of them were released from custody in 2010. But after the hearing of 11 February 2011 the court decided to arrest 163 officers. Most of these 163 officers were arrested for the same case in 2010.

As today more than 347 officers (35 retired rest in active duty) including General İlker Başbuğ, who served as chief of the Turkish General Staff from 2008 to 2010, are behind bars.

There are many inconsistencies among the documents used for the Sledgehammer Indictment which prove that this evidence was fabricated and should not be valid. But the irrationality of the Sledgehammer allegations has failed to halt the case or to persuade the court to release the defendants pending the completion of their trial.

This is an excellent guide to Sledgehammer. and this is an excellent guide to the power struggle behind the whole thing.
The situation is especially dire for the Turkish Navy. 25 active duty admirals are imprisoned at the moment. Among them are commanders of the Northern Sea Area, Southern Sea Area, Submarine Group Command, Southern Task Force, Plans and Policy Department, Chief of Staff of the Fleet Command, Deputy Commander of Navy Personnel Department,  all important and key commands for the navy.

When he unexpected resigned from his post of Chief of General Staff, General Koşaner clearly indicated the negative effects of the long and indecisive legal process of the Sledgehammer case for the Turkish Armed Forces in general. All the active duty officers who are on trial right now, have lost their promotions as the Personnel Law of the Turkish Armed Forces prohibits an active officer who is on a trial to be promoted to a higher rank before he is acquitted.

What makes me sad is the fact that the fabric of the Turkish Armed forces has been tampered by this McCarthyism plot. Many fine, brilliant and cleaver officers are lost their way up as they are behind bars during the slow progressing criminal case.

The Sledgehammer case did not only put the traditional and carefully planned promotion scheme, build on hard work and loyalty in disarray, they have also created enough diversion and distraction of all services from their primary duty of national defence. The traditional promotion scheme of Turkish Armed Forces has the purpose like in all other armed forces to prepare officers for their next assignments and make sure that only deserving officers are allocated to their billets. For next couple of years many officers will be forces to take commands for which they are not fully prepared or not equipped. The damage of these interventions into the Turkish Armed Forces will haunt us for a long time in the future.

The whole process bears heavily on the families of the defendants too. The wives and children of the defendants are waiting their loved ones to return to their homes to continue with their normal life. The military families especially families of navy personnel are accustomed for long periods of deployments. But even these long deployments have a termination date. For the Sledgehammer case there no such date in sight.

Sun Tzu said: For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

The insert: IVan Bubnov of Igor Terokhin from Shipspotting.com

The Russian Boris Chilikin class fleet oiler Ivan Bubnov is in Syrian port Tartus since Friday.  She left her home port Sevastopol and passed through the Bosphorus on 22th January 2011. Since then she has been cruising in the Mediterranean.

One of my reader, Mr. Tom, was able to intercept  a couple message from her while she was off the Tartus. Her deployment to Syria makes it interesting. Why is she there? Will she resupply more Russian ships coming to Syria? Or is she there as a symbol of Russian solidarity for the Syrian regime?

We have only questions and no answers at this time.

One another interesting ship spotting of this weekend was the sight of NL-125 TCG Osman Gazi in Iskenderun port. NL-125 TCG Osmangazi is the biggest amphibious ships of Turkish Navy. And until the two LST ships under construction at ADIK Shipyard join the Navy, she is also the newest.

She was launched in 1990 and commissioned in 1994. She is the third generation of indigenous designed large amphibious ships and has all the design characteristics of Turkish large landing ships. She can carry 900 troops and 15 main battle tanks. In 2011, she underwent an extensive modernization in Alaybey Naval Shipyard in Izmir. This modernization done by Turkish Navy changed the ship considerably.

Her deployment to Eastern Mediterranean creates only more questions.

The commander of SNMCMG-2, Capt. Abdülhamit Şener during the press conference. Photo: http://www.tunisia-live.net

As reported earlier this week the NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group 2 started a 5 day port visit in La Goulette, Tunisia on 9th February.

The task force’s commander Captain Abdülhamit Şener from Turkish Navy hosted a press conference for the Tunisian media on board of his flagship A-577 TCG Sokullu Mehmet Paşa.

After conducting a training exercise with Tunisian Navy the task force will proceed first to Algeria, later to Morocco.

Captain Abdulhamit Sener, an officer in the Turkish Navy and leader of the group, conveyed today in a press conference held on board the Turkish flagship “Mehmetpasa” that mines are a danger to the whole world, given that 45% of transportation operations worldwide happen through the sea.

“And we still have mines left from WWII,” he added. The multinational force conducts regular operations in the Mediterranean to destroy old mines.

The minesweeping process of the fleet includes 3 main steps: localization and classification, identification, and finally neutralization. This year’s group is made of allied forces from the Turkish, Italian, Spanish and British Navies.

Abdulhamit Sener made clear that this annual visit “does not have any political implications.”

Asked about the reasons for this visit to Tunisia, just when the situation in the Arab world is not stable, Abdulhamit Sener replies: “Our visit has been scheduled since last year. We are here as part of cooperation and dialogue with Tunisia. We will conduct an exercise scenario with two oil Tunisian next Monday off the coast of Tunisia. “ This exercise is to train ships to avoid the mines at sea. The five minesweepers, which dropped anchor at the port of La Goulette have on board nearly 300 sailors. 

The ship’s captain said that during the missions of the group, sometimes the frigate still mines dating from World War II “But we have not found any during our visit in Tunisia,” he said before He added: “Moreover, we no longer find mine recent Mediterranean … But there are threats of mines both in the Mediterranean and around the world.” 

Asked about the political significance of this trip, the ship’s commander denies any involvement in political affairs, but said that NATO has long been courteous relations with Tunisia and that intentions are more technical “and pacifists “, as is the case of the exercise scheduled next Monday. It should be remembered that Tunisia is a member of the Mediterranean Dialogue of NATO since 1994. The ship’s captain also adds, that vessels are dependent have not participated in the military mission that took place last year against the Gaddafi regime in Libya.  

M-268 TCG Akçakoca.

NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group 2 will start a 5 day port visit in La Goulette, Tunisia today.

Captain Abdulhamit Sener from the Turkish Navy is leading the SNMCMG2, and will also chair a press conference scheduled for Friday, February 10^th, on board the flagship “Mehmetpasa.”

The mission of this NATO group is to protect shipping lanes against the threat of sub-surface mines. Their secondary mission is to conduct scientific research about the Tunisian marine environment.

This visit will provide the NATO crew with an opportunity to communicate the nature of their activities to Tunisian authorities and visit historical and cultural sites of Tunis and its suburbs as well.

The relations between Tunisia and NATO date back to 1994, when Tunisia joined the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue – a forum of cooperation between NATO and seven non-NATO countries on the Mediterranean. The forum aims at “contributing to regional security and stability, achieving better mutual understanding and dispelling any misconceptions about NATO among dialogue countries,” according to the mission statement posted on NATO’s website.

This is the current composition of SNMCMG-2:

Russian destroyer Admiral Tributs. Photo: EUNAVFOR.

The Turkish flagship of NATO’s  Standing Maritime Group 2 F-491 TCG Giresun took part in a joint replenishment at sea exercise with EUNAVFOR and Russian ships in Gulf of Aden.

According to the EU Navfor press release the Europeans showed their replenishment at sea skills first and later watched how Russians do it.

The flagship of EUNAVFOR,  A-14 SPS Patiño refueled the Turkish frigate later, the exercise was repeated by the Russian flagship Admiral Tributs with the Russian tanker Pechenga.

Unfortunately EUNAVFOR press corps did not made any photos during this trilateral  exercise.

During the morning (of 31th January 2012) , the EU NAVFOR and NATO ships demonstrated to several Russian observers on-board the two Flagships a RAS manoeuvre where the ships steer parallel courses only 40 – 50 metres apart while passing fuel between the ships. In the afternoon, the same challenging seamanship exercise was performed by the Russian Task Force units, this time watched by EU NAVFOR and NATO observers

The exercise was coordinated to improve the interoperability among ships from different forces that operate in the Horn of Africa countering Somali pirates.