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

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Mavi Balina 2018 Naval Exercise Starts Tomorrow

28 Sep 2018 1 Comment

Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand seen here passing through Istanbul on 25th September 2018. She is going to take part in Mavi Balina Exercise.

Mavi Balina (Blue Whale) 2018 invitation naval exercise will be held between 28th September and 7th October in the eastern Mediterranean.  Turkish Navy will host ships, airplanes, helicopters, boarding teams and observers from, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. Furthermore Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) will take part in the exercise too.

Mavi Balina is a biannual anti-submarine warfare exercise. Participating units will have the opportunity to increase their readiness for actual operations and to increase their ability to perform joint operations.

Turkish Navy will participate with 4 frigates, 5 submarines, 2 corvettes, 1 replenishment ship, 1 patrol boat 3 maritime patrol planes, and 6 helicopters.  Airplanes from Turkish Airforce will also take part.

NATO Maritime Group Two will deploy the flagship The Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, the Spanish frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón, the Greek frigate HS Elli and one yet undisclosed Turkish frigate.

Pakistan will join with the frigate PNS Saif and one maritime patrol plane. Romania will deploy the frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand and one helicopter. One maritime patrol plane from US Navy will take part in the exercise too.

Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia NATO, and the United States will send 19 observers

18 visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) team members and 7 VBSS trainers from Azerbaijan are going to take part in Mavi Balina exercise. Their training will be evaluated by 3 men strong VBSS audit and evaluation team from NATO MARCOM.

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Mavi Balina 2016 Naval Exercise

20 Nov 2016 1 Comment

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Romanian corvette, Contraamiral Horia Macellariu on her way to the Mavi Balina 2016 ASW exercise.

Yesterday, on 19th November 2016, anti submarine warfare exercise Mavi Balina (Blue Whale) has started. The exercise led by Turkish Navy will be held in Eastern Mediterranean.

The aim of the exercise is to increase the submarine warfare and ASW skill of the participating units. Turkish Navy is taking part with 4 frigates, one corvette and 5 submarines. Besides Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada, Pakistan, Romania, Spain and USA are also taking part in the exercise with warships.

The list of the participating units:

Number Name Type Country
41 BNS Verni Frigate Bulgaria
339 HMCS Charlottetown Frigate Canada
260 PNS Alamgir Frigate Pakistan
256 ROS Contraamiral Horia Macellariu Corvette Romania
A-15 ESPS Cantabria Tanker Spain
A-580 TCG Akar Tanker Turkey
F-245 TCG Oruçreis Corvette Turkey
F-492 TCG Gemlik Frigate Turkey
F-493 TCG Gelibolu Frigate Turkey
F-496 TCG Gökova Frigate Turkey
F-497 TCG Göksu Frigate Turkey
F-503 TCG Beykoz Corvette Turkey
P-344 TCG Rüzgar Missile boat Turkey
P-345 TCG Poyraz Missile boat Turkey
S-351 TCG Doğanay Submarine Turkey
S-352 TCG Dolunay Submarine Turkey
S-354 TCG Sakarya Submarine Turkey
S-358 TCG Çanakkale Submarine Turkey
S-359 TCG Burakreis Submarine Turkey
64 USS Carney Destroyer USA

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After The Conclusion of Mavi Balina, Participants Start Their Port Visits

13 Nov 2014

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From left to right: USS Leyte Gulf, TCG Yarbay Kudret Güngör, USS Cole, TCG Kemalreis in Antalya. Photo: Mert Şekersoy. Used with permission.

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TCG Kemalreis in foreground and USS Cole in background in Antalya. Photo: Mert Şekersoy. Used with permission.

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USS Leyte Gulf, in Antalya. Photo: Mert Şekersoy. Used with permission

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HMCS Toronto and one Preveze class submarine of Turkish Navy arriving in Antalya. Photo: Mert Şekersoy. Used with permission.

As the Turkish led anti submarine warfare exercise Mavi Balina 2014 ends participating warships are starting their port visits in order to give their crews a rest.

Today Turkish warships, F-247 TCG Kemalreis, A-595 TCG Yarbay Kudret Güngör and one Preveze class submarine, Canadian frigate FFH-331 HMCS Toronto and US Navy warships CG-55 USS Leyte Gulf and DDG-67 USS Cole have arrived in Antalya.

In the meantime Turkish frigate TCG Gelibolu and submarine TCG Burakreis will start their port visit in Girne while the fast attack craft TCG Bora will visit Gazimağusa.

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UPDATED: Mavi Balina Anti Submarine Warfare Exercise Starts Tomorrow

7 Nov 2014 2 Comments

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TCG Batıray as seen in August 2014 in Istanbul. She is one of 4 Turkish submarines taking part in Mavi Balina ASW exercise.

I have updated and completed the list of the participating units:

F-494 TCG Gökçeada Frigate Turkey
F-495 TCG Gediz Frigate Turkey
F-497 TCG Göksu Frigate Turkey
F-511 TCG Heybeliada Corvette Turkey
F-512 TCG Büyükada Corvette Turkey
S-347 TCG Atılay Submarine Turkey
S-349 TCG Batıray Submarine Turkey
S-356 TCG Anafartalar Submarine Turkey
S-358 TCG Çanakkale Submarine Turkey
A-595 TCG Yarbay Kudret Güngör Tanker Turkey
F-247 TCG Kemalreis Frigate Turkey
F-208 FGS Niedersachsen Frigate Germany
FFH-333 HMCS Toronto Frigate Canada
CG-55 USS Leyte Gulf Cruiser USA
F-102 ESPS Almirante Juan De Borbón Frigate Spain
F-84 ESPS Reina Sofia Frigate Spain
DDG-67 USS Cole Destroyer USA
FFG-260 PNS Alamgir Frigate Pakistan
S-90 HMS Torbay Submarine United kingdom

According to Turkish Navy besides the above listed units one rapid analysis team from NATO MARCOM and observers from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chile, Georgia, Kuwait, Lebanon will participate in the exercise.

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Mavi Balina Anti Submarine Warfare Exercise Starts Tomorrow

5 Nov 2014

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Turkish Navy announced that the Mavi Balina Naval Exercise will start on 6 November 2014.

The naval exercise will be conducted in Eastern Mediterranean till 14 November 2014. The aim of the exercise is to provide the participants with submarine warfare and anti submarine warfare training.

Besides warships and submarines at least 7 ASW planes 9 ASW helicopters are going to take part in Mavi Balina too.
The below is the list of the participating warships and submarines:

F- TCG XXX Frigate Turkey
F- TCG XXX Frigate Turkey
F- TCG XXX Frigate Turkey
F-512 TCG Heybeliada Corvette Turkey
F- TCG XXX Corvette Turkey
S- TCG XXX Submarine Turkey
S- TCG XXX Submarine Turkey
S- TCG XXX Submarine Turkey
S- TCG XXX Submarine Turkey
A-595 TCG Yarbay Kudret Güngör Tanker Turkey
F-247 TCG Kemalreis Frigate Turkey
F-208 FGS Niedersachsen Frigate Germany
FFH-333 HMCS Toronto Frigate Canada
CG-55 USS Leyte Gulf Cruiser USA
F-102 ESPS Almirante Juan De Borbón Frigate Spain
F-84 ESPS Reina Sofia Frigate Spain
DDG-67 USS Cole Destroyer USA
FFG-260 PNS Alamgir Frigate Pakistan
S-90 HMS Torbay Submarine United kingdom

According to Turkish Navy besides the above listed units one rapid analysis team from NATO MARCOM and observers from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chile, Georgia, Kuwait, Lebanon will participate in the exercise.

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Update On Nusret 12 And Mavi Balina 12 Exercises

10 Nov 2012

The Mavi Balina 12 anti submarine warfare and Nusret 12 mine warfare exercises are continuing. The former is conducted in Eastern Mediterranean while the later is in Aegean Sea. My list of the order of battle for both exercises is still incomplete but I was able to get some help.

First I have received this photo. I thank my reader Mr Yıldırım for this photo.

A the superstructure of a sixth warship is visible at the right part of the photo. I am not able to tell exactly ship that is but I am confident that she is one of the two Rhein class tenders / training ships of the Turkish Navy A-577 TCG Sokullu Mehmet Paşa or A-579 TCG Cezayirli Hasan Paşa. TCG Sokullu Mehmet Paşa acted as the flagship of SNMCMG-2 earlier this year when the Turkish Navy was commanding the task force.

 Number Name Type Country
M-500 TCG Foça Mine Sweeper Turkey
M-501 TCG Fethiye Mine Sweeper Turkey
M-516 TCG Sığacık Mine Sweeper Turkey
M-1064 FGS Grömitz Mine Hunter Germany
M-5559 ITS Viareggo Mine Hunter Italy
M-111 HMS Blyth Mine Hunter UK
M-276 TCG Ayvalık Mine Hunter Turkey
A-57X TCG Unidentified Tender Turkey
M-61 HS Evniki Mine Hunter Greece

Second I have received this comment. I thank my reader Herr Leif for this information.

 Number Name Type Country
F-217 FGS Bayern Frigate Germany
F-570 ITS Maestrale Frigate Italy
F-495 TCG Gediz Frigate Turkey
DDG-98 USS Forrest Sherman Destroyer USA
F-252 PNS Shamsheer Frigate Pakistan
F-244  TCG Barbaros Frigate Turkey
Unidentified Turkey
Unidentified Turkey
S- Unidentified Submarine Turkey
S- Unidentified Submarine Turkey
S- Unidentified Submarine Turkey

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About Nusret 12 And Mavi Balina 12 Exercises

7 Nov 2012 3 Comments

Turkish Navy is conducting two naval exercises simultaneously. One is Nusret 2012 mine warfare exercise is held in the Aegean with the participation of NATO’s SNMCMG-2 and Turkish, Greek and US naval units. Below is the order of battle for this exercise as far as I could find.

 Number Name Type Country
M-500 TCG Foça Mine Sweeper Turkey
M-501 TCG Fethiye Mine Sweeper Turkey
M-516 TCG Sığacık Mine Sweeper Turkey
M-1064 FGS Grömitz Mine Hunter Germany
M-5559 ITS Viareggo Mine Hunter Italy
M-111 HMS Blyth Mine Hunter UK
M-276 TCG Ayvalık Mine Hunter Turkey
Unidentified USA
M-61 HS Evniki Mine Hunter Greece

The second naval exercise Mavi Balina 2012 is held in Eastern Mediterranean with the participation of NATO’s SNMG-2, Pakistani, US and Turkish naval units and airplanes. According to Turkish Navy the total number of participants is 8 surface units and 3 submarines. Below is the order of battle for this exercise as far as I could find.

 Number Name Type Country
F-217 FGS Bayern Frigate Germany
F-570 ITS Maestrale Frigate Italy
F-495 TCG Gediz Frigate Turkey
DDG-98 USS Forrest Sherman Destroyer USA
F-252 PNS Shamsheer Frigate Pakistan
Unidentified Turkey
Unidentified Turkey
Unidentified Turkey
S- Unidentified Submarine Turkey
S- Unidentified Submarine Turkey
S- Unidentified Submarine Turkey

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Pakistani Warship Will Take Part In Turkish Naval Exercise Mavi Balina 12

4 Nov 2012 2 Comments

Tomorrow Turkish and Pakistani navies will start a joint naval exercise off the coast of Turkey. The exercise called Mavi Balina 12 will start on 5th November and will end on 14th.

Pakistan Navy ship “PNS Shamsheer” will be visiting Aksaz Naval Base Marmaris and Antalya harbour from 5 to 14 November and will participate in joint exercise “Mavi Baline-12” with the Turkish Navy.

 Pakistan Navy P3C-Orion aircraft will also participate in the exercise from Dalaman,said a statement received here Saturday from Ankara.

 The ship will stay at Aksaz Naval Base from 5-8 November and at Antalya from 12-14 November. The vessel is a multi-mission frigate and embarks a Z9EC helicopter.

 PNS Shamsheer is the second ship of SWORD Class Frigates and forms mainstay of Pakistan Navy surface combatants. Installation of state of the art weapons and sensors onboard makes her an extremely versatile warship with tremendous firepower to effectively thwart possible threats at sea.

Mavi Balina exercise is fast transforming into an important regional forum to promote Collaborative Maritime Security and interoperability.

The presence of a number of major navies and various senior delegations from important countries is indicative of the fact that Mavi Balina is evolving into a common forum for both Western and Eastern nations, to share, discuss and propose solutions for Collaborative Maritime Security which is one of the critical contemporary maritime challenges.

PNS Shamsheer participation in this exercise will further strengthen existing bilateral relations.

 

PNS Shamsher is the second ship of the Chines build Zulfiquar F-22P class frigates in Pakistani Navy. I don’t know whether the participating Pakistani P-3C Orion ASW plane is one of the survivors of the attack on PNS Mehran base in 2011 or one of the new ones USA has given to Pakistan in 2012.

H/T: Dave Shirlaw from Sea Waves.

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>NATO’s Comments On Mavi Balina 2010

28 Nov 2010

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SNMG-2 in formation. Official NATO photo.

NATO released her version of exercise Mavi Balina 2010.

Antalya, Turkey. From 1 to 11 November the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2(SNMG2) took part in the Turkish exercise MAVI BALINA. This annual exercise aims to train units and staff in planning and conducting anti submarine warfare and submarine warfare and support their preparations for real world operations. During the 11 day period many assets were available for the exercise. Several submarines, airplanes and over 12 surface vessels from 6 different nations contributed to the success of the exercise.

SNMG2, commanded by Commodore Michiel B. Hijmans (Royal Netherlands Navy), formed one of the four task groups, providing the Turkish staff in charge of the exercise with a challenging and complex environment for their planning and command training.

After many hours of escorting ships through hostile waters and keeping the adversaries at bay, most of the units entered Antalya harbour for the final phase of the exercise. After the port visit SNMG2 will continue her efforts for Operation Active Endeavour during an East Mediterranean surge.

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