>Naval Exercise Deniz Yıldızı 2010 Has Ended

>The naval exercise Deniz yıldızı 2010 has ended. The exercise that started on 6th April had four phases.

The first phase from 6th April till 9th April was the deployment of the warships to their destinations. During this period ASW, AAW, ASuW exercises and underway replenishment training was conducted.

The second phase from 9th April till 12th April, covered the time in Turkish and foreign port visits. As reported earlier, Turkish warships visited Ereğli, Amasra, Sinop, Samsun, Giresun, Rize, Novorossiysk and Sevastopol during this period.

The third period between 12th and 15th April, consisted of the actual sea training with live firings. During this period Gabya class frigates F-490 TCG Gaziantep and F-497 TCG Göksu executed each one SM-1 MR Block VI missile firing. Interestingly these anti aircraft missiles were used in their secondary surface to surface mod as the target was a decommissioned mine sweeper.

The MEKO 200 Track I class F-241 TCG Turgutreis fired a Sea Sparrow RIM-7 M missile in surface mod as well. Further more the fast attack craft P-328 TCG Şimşek performed a Penguin Mk2 firing.

The last live firing during the exercise was made by a Sea Hawk helicopter with a AGM-114B Hellfire air to surface missile.

It was not clear in the press release of Turkish Navy whether all the ammunition was expended on just one target or on multiple targets. But there is a photo where damaged S class (MSS 289) mine sweeper on fire can be seen.

The last phase was redeployment to home ports.