Search Results for “büyükada”

Doğu Akdeniz Naval Exercise 2019

13 Nov 2019 2 Comments

Doğu Akdeniz 2019 -Eastern Mediterranean- naval exercise has started in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

The biannual exercise is organized by the Turkish Navy will be held between 9 and 20 November 2019. This year 16 nations are taking part in this exercise by various means. Some are sending observers (Azerbaijan, Brazil, Georgia, Italy, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico) some are sending ships, airplanes, and units (Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Canada, Pakistan, Romania, Jordan, USA, and Greece)

According to the press releases, 4700 personnel, 44 ships and submarines participating in this exercise.

Furthermore, the following institutions are taking part in the exercise:

Turkish Land Forces Command with attack and transport helicopters.
Turkish Air Force Command with fighter planes, airborne warning and control planes, and CBRN defense team.
Gendarmerie General Command with search and rescue teams.
Coast Guard Command with one OPV and various small vessels.
Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Transport, Maritime and Communications Ministry, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, and Turkish Red Crescent

An important part of the exercise will be the attempts to provide coastal safety during disasters by means of disaster and emergency operations, search and rescue, humanitarian aid and air sanitary evacuation procedures.

The most noteworthy aspect of the exercise is the fact that countries such as Greece and Italy are taking part in this exercise, although they are in a power struggle regarding the natural resources below the Eastern Mediterranean.

Here is the list of the participating units as far as I could find it. The list of foreign participants is complete but the names of 13 Turkish naval assets are missing.

Number	Name	Type	Nation	Fleet
42	BGS Verni	Frigate	Bulgaria
S-532	ITS Prini	Submarine	Italy
260	PNS Alamgir	Frigate	Pakistan
F-221	ROS Regele Ferdinand	Frigate	Romania
A-5329	ITS Vesuvio	Auxilliary	Italy	SNMCMG-2
M-268	TCG Amasra	Mine hunter	Turkey	SNMCMG-2
M-32	ESPS Sella	Mine hunter	Spain	SNMCMG-2
M-5557	ITS Numana	Mine hunter	Italy	SNMCMG-2
330	HMCS Halifax	Frigate	Canada	SNMG-2
A-14	ESPS Patino	Auxilliary	Spain	SNMG-2
F-103	ESPS Blas de Lezo	Frigate	Spain	SNMG-2
F-459	HS Adrias	Frigate	Greece	SNMG-2
F-491	TCG Giresun	Frigate	Turkey	SNMG-2
A-543	TCG Işın	Auxilliary	Turkey
A-580	TCG Akar	Auxilliary	Turkey
F-244	TCG Barbaros	Frigate	Turkey
F-490	TCG Gaziantep	Frigate	Turkey
F-491	TCG Giresun	Frigate	Turkey
F-494	TCG Gökçeada	Frigate	Turkey
F-495	TCG Gediz	Frigate	Turkey
F-497	TCG Göksu	Frigate	Turkey
F-500	TCG Bozcaada	Corvette	Turkey
F-501	TCG Bodrum	Corvette	Turkey
F-511	TCG Heybeliada	Corvette	Turkey
F-512	TCG Büyükada	Corvette	Turkey
L-402	TCG Bayraktar	Amphibious	Turkey
L-403	TCG Sancaktar	Amphibious	Turkey
M-265	TCG Alanya	Minehunter	Turkey
M-270	TCG Akçay	Minehunter	Turkey
P-334	TCG Rüzgar	Fast attack	Turkey
S-353	TCG Preveze	Submarine	Turkey

Filed under Mediterranean Tagged with Bulgarian Navy, Canadian Navy, Exercise, Italian Navy, Mediterranean, NATO, Pakistani Navy, Romanian Navy, SNMCMG-2, SNMG-2, Spanish Navy, US Navy

Turkish Naval Forces Day Commemorated With A Sail Parade

27 Sep 2019

The 27th September, the anniversary of the Battle of Preveza, is celebrated as the Turkish Naval Forces Day.

On 27th September 1538, a naval battle for the supremacy in the Mediterranean was fought between the Ottoman Navy commandeered by Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa and the fleet of a Christian alliance assembled by Pope Paul III and commandeered by Andrea Doria. With the victory at Preveza and the subsequent victory in the Battle of Djerba in 1560, the Ottoman Empire successfully repulsed the efforts of Venice and Spain, the two principal Mediterranean powers, to stop the Turkish drive to control the Mediterranean.

To commemorate the day Turkish Naval Forces organized a sail parade through Istanbul. 8 warships and two special forces RHIB’s took part in the ceremony. All these ships minus TYCG Sancaktar are open for public on Friday afternoon and on Saturday in Istanbul. In all Turkey, 45 ships will be open for public to visit.

F-247 TCG Kemalreis the flagship of the Turkish Navy.

F-246 TCG Salihreis. She too has extra space and equipment to act as a flagship.

F-241 TCG Turgutreis. First-generation of MEKO 200 type frigates in service.

F-512 TCG Büyükada. The second Ada (Milgem) class corvette. She was launched 8 years ago on this day and commissioned 6 years ago again on this day.

F-511 TCG Heybeliada. The first indigenous warship constructed in Turkey. She was commissioned 8 years ago on this day.

L-403 TCG Sancaktar. The newest landing ship in inventory. She has extensive command and control facilities for land operations.

P-335 TCG Atak.

P-337 TCG İmbat. Both TCG Atak and TCG İmbat are the last generation of fast attack craft in the Turkish Naval Forces.

Filed under Bosphorus, Sighting, Turkey, Turkish Navy Tagged with Bosphorus, Turkey, Turkish Navy

An Afternoon On TCG Burgazada

7 May 2019

TCG Burgazada. The third Milgem class corvette.

During the IDEF 2019 defense exhibition last week I had the privilege to visit TCG Burgazada.

TCG Burgazada is the third of the four Ada class corvettes. She was commissioned on 4th November 2018 and is the newest warship of the Turkish Navy.

Turkish Navy always considered the first two ships as prototypes. The lessons learned in constructing and using these ships were to be incorporated in the subsequent ships as there were under construction. Thus TCG Burgazada is slightly updated compared to TCG Heybeliada and TCG Büyükada, though these changes are subtle and mostly not visible from the outside at all.

One exception is the new Aselsan Seaeye-Ahtapot electro-optic sensor on the aft mast while the previous ships use Aselflir 300. Aselflir 300 was originally designed for airborne platforms and was installed without much modification. Thus the mean time between regular maintenance is quite short for a maritime system and the whole sensor must be taken down for the maintenance. These shortcomings are rectified in Seaeye-Ahtapot and the operators are quite happy with its performance. But Aselsan needs to come up with a better and catchier name.

The other changes are under the skin. The main machinery has 10.000 more horsepower making TCG Burgazada faster than the other Ada class ships.

TCG Burgazada has Aselsan made Hızır countermeasure system for torpedo attacks. She is the first ship to be fitted with this system. The system consists of two decoy launchers on both sides of the funnel and one towed array and decoy. Though the system is very similar to Ultra built torpedo countermeasure system used on the other ships I believe the logistics of a locally built system is preferred by the end user.

One could still get “the new ship smell” when walking through the passageways.

I wish fair winds and following seas to TCG Burgazada and her crew.

Filed under Turkish Navy Tagged with Ada, Equipment, Exhibition, Milgem, Turkish Navy

Nusret 2018 Mine Warfare Exercise

16 Oct 2018 1 Comment

The Bulgarian mine hunter BNG Tsibar, seen here passing southbound through Istanbul on 10th October 2018 takes part in Nusret 2018 MCM exercise.

The Romanian hydrographic research vessel Cătuneanu is participating to the Nusret 2018 exercise too. Here is she seen passing through Istanbul on 13th October.

Mine warfare exercise Nusret 2018 has started in İzmir today. The exercise led by the Turkish Navy aims to provide training for the planning and execution of mine warfare and to improve the interoperability in mine warfare, between warships from participant countries.

The exercise is named after the famous minelayer Nusret. In even years the exercise is held in İzmir Bay and in odd years it is held in Çanakkale and Saros Bay.

This year 18 surface units including 4 Aydın class minehunters, 3 Edincik class minehunters, one minelayer, one corvette and one patrol boat from Turkish Navy, Standing Nato Mine Warfare Group 2 (SNMCMG-2) and Romanian hydrographic research ship are participating in the exercise. A detailed list of the participating units is at the bottom of this post.

One Turkish and one Romanian autonomous underwater vehicles teams and one Greek and one Romanian underwater explosive ordnance disposal units are also taking part in Nusret 2018.

The exercise has 3 phases. The first phase is the assembly of the participating units in the Port of İzmir. Followed by mine laying operation from one Turkish C-130 cargo plane and L-402 TCG Bayraktar. This phase is followed by active mine hunting warfare operations. The last phase will be a Photex of the participants and social and cultural activates among the crews to foster cooperation and mutual understanding.

Number	Name	Type	Country
32	BGS Tsibar	Minehunter	Bulgaria
M-645	FS Orion	Minehunter	France
A-513	FGS Rhein	Auxillary	Germany
M-62	HS Evropi	Minehunter	Greece
5555	ITS Termoli	Minehunter	Italy
	ROS Catuneanu	Hydrographic Vessel	Romania
M-34	ESPS Turia	Minehunter	Spain
F-512	TCG Büyükada	Corvette	Turkey
L-401	TCG Bayraktar	Minelayer / LST	Turkey
M-264	TCG Erdemli	Minehunter	Turkey
M-20X	TCG Edincik	Minehunter	Turkey
M-262	TCG Enez	Minehunter	Turkey
M-263	TCG Erdek	Minehunter	Turkey
M-265	TCG Alanya	Minehunter	Turkey
M-266	TCG Amasra	Minehunter	Turkey
M-268	TCG Akçakoca	Minehunter	Turkey
M-270	TCG Akçay	Minehunter	Turkey
P-1206	TCG Karşıyaka	Patrol boat	Turkey

For further reading:
Nusret 2017
Nusret 2016
Nusret 2015
Nusret 2014
Nusret 2013
Nusret 2012
Nusret 2011
Nusret 2010

Filed under Aegean, Exercise, Turkish Navy Tagged with AUV, Bulgarian Navy, Exercise, Greek Navy, Mines, NATO, Romanian Navy, SNMCMG-2, Turkish Navy

The Participants of Mavi Balina 2018 Naval Exercise

7 Oct 2018

TCG Bandırma (left) and TCG Gemlik (right) receiving fuel underway from replenishment ship TCG Akar. Photo: Turkish Navy

Mavi Balina (Blue Whale) 2018 invitation naval exercise is going to end today with a post-exercise briefing in Aksanz Naval Base in Marmaris.

Mavi Balina is a biannual anti-submarine warfare exercise where the participating units had the opportunity to increase their readiness for actual submarine warfare operations.

Here is a list of the surface units took part in the exercise:

Number	Name	Type	Country
F-245	TCG Oruçreis	Frigate	Turkey
F-490	TCG Gaziantep	Frigate	Turkey
F-491	TCG Giresun	Frigate	Turkey
F-492	TCG Gemlik	Frigate	Turkey
F-493	TCG Gelibolu	Frigate	Turkey
F-502	TCG Bandırma	Corvette	Turkey
F-512	TCG Büyükada	Corvette	Turkey
P-1204	TCG Tarsus	Patrol Boat	Turkey
A-580	TCG Akar	Tanker	Turkey
F-804	HNLMS De Ruyter	Frigate	Netherlands
F-105	ESPS Cristobal Colon	Frigate	Spain
F-253	PNS Saif	Frigate	Pakistan
F-211	ROS Regele Ferdinand	Frigate	Romania

Filed under Exercise, Mediterranean, Turkish Navy Tagged with ASW, NATO, Pakistani Navy, Romanian Navy, SNMG-2, Submarines, Turkish Navy, US Navy

Notes On Deniz Yıldızı 2018 Naval Exercise

1 Apr 2018 1 Comment

On 26 March 2018 Turkish Navy started its spring exercise Deniz Yıldızı 2018. Ships departed from their ports and the first phase of the exercise was held in the Marmara Sea. On 27 March 2018 Turkish warships passed northbound through Istanbul and continued the exercise in the Black Sea. The exercise will end on 5th April

Though it has not been officially announced, the decommissioned oiler ex Binbaşı Saadetin Gürcan, that was observed being towed to the Black Sea in February is believed to be sunk as a target.

This weekend these warships are dispersed all over the ports in the Black Sea for a well earned weekend break. Turkish warships are simultaneously visiting Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, and Ukraine. It is neither an easy nor a simple act of sending 8 warships to foreign cities for port visits and small scale exercises at the same time.

The list of the warships taking part in the exercise and their port of call for the weekend is below:

Number	Name	Type	Port	Country
S-360	1. İnönü	Submarine	Varna	Bulgaria
P-1207	Tekirdağ	Patrol Boat	Varna	Bulgaria
A-578	Darıca	Tug	Varna	Bulgaria
F-242	Fatih	Frigate	Batumi	Georgia
P-343	Volkan	Fast Attack Craft	Batumi	Georgia
F-504	Bartın	Frigate	Constanta	Romania
P-331	Kalkan	Fast Attack Craft	Constanta	Romania
			Novorossiysk	Russia
			Novorossiysk	Russia
A-572	Yüzbaşı İhsan Tulunay	Tanker	Giresun	Turkey
F-240	Yavuz	Frigate	Hopa	Turkey
P-341	Martı	Fast Attack Craft	İğneada	Turkey
S-350	Yıldıray	Submarine	Karadeniz Ereğli	Turkey
A-580	Akar	Tanker	Karadeniz Ereğli	Turkey
F-245	Oruçreis	Frigate	Rize	Turkey
F-247	Kemalreis	Frigate	Samsun	Turkey
S-349	Batıray	Submarine	Samsun	Turkey
F-243	Yıldırım	Frigate	Sinop	Turkey
F-500	Bozcaada	Corvette	Trabzon	Turkey
P-335	İmbat	Fast Attack Craft	Trabzon	Turkey
P-336	Zıpkın	Fast Attack Craft	Zonguldak	Turkey
F-246	Salihreis	Frigate	Odessa	Ukraine
F-512	Büyükada	Corvette	Odessa	Ukraine

It is interesting to note that Novorossiysk, Russia was declared the fifth foreign port of call by Turkish Navy on 16th March 2018, in the pre-exercise press release. However, Novorossiysk was not mentioned by the daily dispatch of Turkish General Staff on 31st March 2018, as one of the ports where Turkish Navy ships are conducting a visit.

On the other hand, the same dispatch mentioned 23 warships are taking part in the Deniz Yıldızı exercise but only disclosed names and location of 21 warships. So there could be two warships conducting a port visit in Novorossiysk, Russia or not.

Another interesting thing to note is the absence of Gabya ex-Perry class frigates. Turkish Navy operates 8 Gabya class frigates. None was observed to pass to the Black Sea recently.

Here are the photos of some of the participants:

A-572 TCG Yüzbaşı İhsan Tulunay.

A-580 TCG Akar

F-243 TCG Yıldırım. Note the new ESM mast.

F-245 TCG Oruçreis

F-247 TCG Kemalreis

F-500 TCG Bozcaada

F-504 TCG Bartın. Both TCG Bozcaada and TCG Bartın have their original MM-38 Exocet missiles still installed.

F-512 TCG Büyükada

TCG İmbat

P-343 TCG Volkan

Filed under Black Sea, Turkish Navy Tagged with Black Sea, Exercise, Port visit, Turkish Navy

Comments On Live Firings Made During Deniz Yıldızı Exercise

8 Apr 2017 2 Comments

Deniz Yıldızı 2017 naval exercise has ended on 7th April 2017 and participating warships are returning to their home bases.

Live missile firings made this year’s event will one of the best remembered.

During the second phase of the exercise between 31 March and 3 April, in total 6 warships and one submarine launched 8 missiles.

Below is the official video from the live missile firings made during Deniz Yıldızı 2017. Watch the video and then read my comments further below.

What do we see?

The submarine TCG Çanakkale performed the first ever submerged UGM-84 Harpoon missile launch in Turkish Navy.
Furthermore the corvette TCG Heybeliada fired a RGM-84F Harpoon Blok II missile capable of striking targets on land also a first for Turkish Navy.
Frigates TCG Gökçeada, TCG Fatih, TCG Barbaros, corvette TCG Büyükada and fast attack craft TCG İmbat, conducted surface to air missile firings.
An unidentified missile -probably RGM-84F Harpoon Block II but nor certainly- hit a specially constructed target area.

What do we not see?

The sinking of ex USS Duncan. She was towed to the Black Sea on 26 March to be used as a target. Was she even used?
The rumored firing of a Mk-24 Tigerfish torpedo. Turkish Navy had a bad experience with Tigerfish in 2001. Did the history repeated itself?
The impact of the second Harpoon missile, if the impacting missile on the video is indeed a Harpoon. If not, we don’t see impacts of both Harpoons.
Firings made from land to the sea. The navtex broadcasts of Directorate General of Coastal Safety and the NOTAM broadcasts of Directorate General of Civil Aviation mentioned that missile firings from land toward sea.

Filed under Black Sea, Turkish Navy Tagged with Black Sea, Exercise, Turkish Navy

Turkish Navy Conducting Simultaneous Port Visits In 5 Countries

4 Apr 2017 2 Comments

TCG Oruçreis arrives in Varna. Photo: Nikolay Zlatev.

10 Turkish warships are conducting port visits in 5 different ports, in 5 different countries.

The long needed rest came after the end of the first phase of naval exercise Deniz Yıldızı 2017. The exercise has started on 27 March and will end on 7 April.

Of course the small size of the Black Sea helps. But Turkey is the only Black Sea nation that can perform such a diplomatic show of force. It is not a small event to do port visits in 5 different nations at the same time.

This is the list of the ships doing port visits. Most of them will be open for public to visit.

Name	Type	Port	Country
TCG Oruçreis	Frigate	Varna	Bulgaria
TCG Tuzla	Patrol Boat	Varna	Bulgaria
TCG Kalkan	Fast Attack Craft	Batumi	Georgia
TCG Yıldırım	Frigate	Batumi	Georgia
TCG Turgutreis	Frigate	Constanta	Romania
TCG Yıldız	Fast Attack Craft	Constanta	Romania
TCG Büyükada	Corvette	Novorossiysk	Russia
TCG Barbaros	Frigate	Novorossiysk	Russia
TCG Heybeliada	Corvette	Odessa	Ukraine
TCG Gaziantep	Frigate	Odessa	Ukraine

Filed under Black Sea, Turkish Navy Tagged with Black Sea, Bulgaria, Exercise, Georgia, OOTW, Port visit, Romania, Russia, Ukraine

Deniz Yıldızı 2017 Naval Exercise Has Started

29 Mar 2017 3 Comments

The hull of ex USS Duncan will be on the receiving end of at least one UGM-84 Sub Harpoon missile or one Tigerfish torpedo.

The annual naval exercise Deniz Yıldızı has started in Black Sea on Monday. The exercise will end on, 7th April 2016.

The scope of the exercise indicates, Turkish Navy’s intentions showing a strong presence in the Black Sea.

For me, the most noteworthy aspect of this exercise, will be the simultaneous port visits of Turkish naval units in Varna, Constanta, Odessa, Novorossiysk and Batumi. All Black Sea nations, will be visited on the next week-end on 3rd and 4th April 2017. This is an impressive way of showing the flag, an important message.

According to Turkish General Staff website, there will be a Harpoon Block II test firing, from a ship to a land based target. This is going to be a first for Turkish Navy.

Furthermore one live UGM-84 Sub Harpoon missile and one live Mk-24 Tigerfish torpedo will be tested too. Ex USS Duncan that was towed last week, will likely be on the receiving end at least one of them.

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

Number	Name	Type
A-595	TCG Yarbay Kudret Güngör	Tanker
A-XXX	TCG XXX	Tanker
A-XXX	TCG XXX	Tanker
F-240	TCG Yavuz	Frigate
F-241	TCG Turgutreis	Frigate
F-242	TCG Fatih	Frigate
F-243	TCG Yıldırım	Frigate
F-244	TCG Barbaros	Frigate
F-245	TCG Oruçreis	Frigate
F-247	TCG Kemalreis	Frigate
F-490	TCG Gaziantep	Frigate
F-494	TCG Gökçeada	Frigate
F-496	TCG Gökova	Frigate
F-505	TCG Bafra	Corvette
F-511	TCG Heybeliada	Corvette
F-512	TCG Büyükada	Corvette
M-260	TCG Edincik	Mine hunter
M-263	TCG Erdek	Mine hunter
NL-125	TCG Osmangazi	Landing ship
P-1200	TCG Tuzla	Patrol Boat
P-12XX	TCG XXX	Patrol Boat
P-330	TCG Kılıç	Fast Attack Craft
P-331	TCG Kalkan	Fast Attack Craft
P-335	TCG İmbat	Fast Attack Craft
P-336	TCG Zıpkın	Fast Attack Craft
P-341	TCG Martı	Fast Attack Craft
P-348	TCG Yıldız	Fast Attack Craft
S-349	TCG Batıray	Submarine
S-353	TCG Preveze	Submarine
S-358	TCG Çanakkale	Submarine
S-3XX	TCG XXX	Submarine

Filed under Black Sea, Turkish Navy Tagged with Black Sea, Exercise, Port visit, Turkish Navy

18 March 2017 Naval Parade

20 Mar 2017 2 Comments

On 18th March 2017, to commemorate the Turkish Victory over the Allied Armada 102 years ago a naval parade was held in Çanakkale.

10 ships two Ada class corvettes, 6 fast attack craft and 2 patrol boats took part in this years parade which was followed by a beautiful show of Turkish Air Force’s air demonstration team Turkish Stars.

The ships arrived in three rows. The east row was made of TCG Tufan, TCG Zıpkın and TCG Yıldız. The main row consisted of TCG Büyükada, TCG Heybeliada, TCG Türkeli and TCG Karabiga, all locally made warships. The west row had TCG Kılıç, TCG Mızrak and TCG Martı.