New Photo Of TCSG Dost

The new patrol ship of Turkish Coast Guard, SG-701 TCSG Dost is being fitted at the pier of the RMK Shipyard, where she was build.

It is reported that she will start her sea trials in a few days may be even before the new year. The second ship of this class, SG-702 TCSG Güven was launched on 17th December 2010.

Look What The Net Dragged In

Last week a fishing boat operating of the coast of Hopa, Artvin found this in its net.

The 150 kilo, British made mine was tangled in the net as the fishermen were collecting the net. They have placed the mine on the deck of their boat and returned to the harbor.

The local security forces summoned an underwater EOD team  from Istanbul to inspected the mine. Later it was taken to military shooting range where it was destroyed by demolition charges.

Every year a couple of sea mines are found and destroyed in Turkey. This year alone in two different occasions a mine was found in Didim, and Karasu.

Click here for more photos.

UNIFIL Maritime Task Force

The composition of UNIFIL Maritime Task Force as 23 December 2010:

Pennant	Ship	County	Type
F-240	TCG Fatih	Turkey	Frigate
F-18	BNS Osman	Bangladesh	Frigate
P-911	BNS Madhumati	Bangladesh	Patrol Craft
A-516	FGS Donau	Germany	Tender
M-1093	FGS Auerbach	Germany	Minehunter
P-6130	FGS Hyaene	Germany	Fast Attack Craft
P-26	HS Degiannis	Greece	Fast Attack Craft
P-266	HS Machitis	Greece	Patrol Craft
368	KRI Frans Kaisiepo	Indonesia	Corvette

Modernization Project For Atılay Class Submarines Approved

On their latest meeting on 18th December 2010, Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) decided to start contract negotiations with STM for the upgrade of Type 209 Atılay class submarines.

According to the latest modernization project for the Type 209, Atılay Class submarines, the oldest two boats will be decommissioned as soon as the first Type 214 submarines enter into fleet.

The periscope, ESM / ECM and communication system of the existing boats will be upgraded. In order to keep costs down a modern purpose built Underwater Command and Control System integration is not planned in the project. These old boats are going to get some might punch though. It is planned to modify four of the torpedo tubes so that they can use Mk48 ADCAP Mod6 AT heavy weight torpedoes.

On the same meeting SSIK also decided to start an acquisition project of 600 tonnes vessels for Turkish Coast Guard. These vessels will be used for extended patrols in adverse sea conditions. There are no details about these vessels yet.

This is the third meeting of the SSIK in 2010.

In the first meeting in January it was decided to start contract negotiations for constructions of 2 LST’s.

In the second meeeting in June, it was decided to start contract negotiations for construction of submarine rescue ship (MOSHIP) and two rescue and towing ships (RATSHIP) with Istanbul Shipyard.

A Busy Day For Coast Guard

M/V Sea Bright aground in Antalya.

Yesterady, the continuing storms in Mediterranean Sea casued two ships to run aground in Antalya.

The first was Bolivian flagged M/V Sea Bright en route from Tarsus port in Adana to Egypt. She had 18 people on board when she was driven into the rocks by the sea in Antalya town. 17 were rescued but the cook is still missing.

This is the video of the rescue operations for M/V Sea Bright, from The Telegraph.



The second ship that run aground was Bolivian flagged M/V Rand. She was driven into the rocks in Adrasan Bay, Kemer, Antalya. The crew of 9 was rescued by Coast Guard helicopter.

This is the official Turkish Coast Guard video

Hürriyet Video'larını izlemek için Flash 7 veya daha yüksek eklenti yüklenmeniz gerekmektedir. Yüklemek için tıklayınız!!!

And this a map showing the approximate locations of the two shipwrecks.

A New Frigate For The Russian Black Sea Fleet

The new Project 11356 frigate for RBSF.
© RIA Novosti. Igor Zarembo

According to RIA Novosti, the construction of a Project 11356 Class frigate destined for the Russian Black Sea Fleet will start today at the Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.

Yantar won a tender to build three Project 11356 frigates in October. The Black Sea Fleet chief earlier told RIA Novosti the construction would begin in January 2011.

The frigate, with a displacement of 4,000 tons, will be equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

The Russian Navy chief, Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky, earlier said one or two Project 11356 frigates will join the Black Sea Fleet every year starting 2013.

There must a change of the plans at the Russian Naval HQ in the last few weeks. Previously it was reported that Russian Black Sea Fleet would receive six Admiral Gorshkov class (Project 22350) frigates, six Lada (Project 677) diesel submarines, two Ivan Gren class (Project 11711) large landing ships, four ships of other projects, modernized bombers Su-24M instead of obsolete versions, and ASW aircrafts, Il-38 instead of amphibious aircrafts Be-12 till 2020.

There were rumors that Russians were not very happy with the progress of the Admiral Gorshkov class. This might be one of the reasons why BSF is getting the Project 11356 class frigates (also better known as Talwar class), instead of Admiral Gorshokov's. The fact that the Talwar is a proven and successfully build design might have contributed to the change too.

Specifications	Project 11365	Milgem
Displacement (tons)	4035	2000
Length (m)	124,80	99,00
Beam (m)	15,20	14,40
Draught (m)	4,20	3,60
Machinery	2 shaft gas turbines, 57,000 hp	2 shaft, diesels, gas turbine, 32,250 hp
Speed (knots)	32	29
Range (nm)	4500 (@18kts)	3500 (@15 kts)
Complement	180	93
Helicopter	1	1
Armament	Project 11365	Milgem
Antiship Missile	8 x SS-N-27	8 x Harpoon
Gun	1 x 100mm	1 x 76mm
Antiaircraft Missile	24 x SA-N-7	21 x RIM 116
Torpedo Tubes	4 x 533 mm	4 x 324 mm

When we compare the Project 11356 with Milgem, we see that both ships have similar capabilities in armament, though the ships are in different types and have considerable difference in dimensions.

One other important similarity is that both ships are designed with incorporated stealth features.

If everything goes as Russians have planned we will see modern warships in the Black Sea Fleet in the comming years.

I have expressed my personal opinion of the news about the rejuvenation of the BSF previously here, here, here and here.

On a related news however the Yantar Shipyard, the one that builds the Indian and Russian Project 11356 frigates asked for additional $100 million for completion of three frigates built by the yard for $1.6 bln under Indian Navy's order, and asked to postpone deadline of the contract execution.

This is definitely not a good omen.

Hat tip: Kobus.

TCG Güven Launched

SG-702 TCSG Güven  
Photo: www.denizhaber.com.tr

Yesterday, the second search and rescue ship for the Turkish Coast Guard Command SG-702 TCSG Güven was launched at RMK Marine Shipyard, Istanbul.

The first ship of the class, TCSG Dost, was launched in June 2010. She is currently being fitted aout at the same shipyard. She will begin with her HAT and SAT tests next week.

TCSG Güven is the second ship of the four ship programme that will supply Turkish Coast Guard with vessels, that can operate in sea state 5 and higher

These will be the first vessels operated by Turkish Coast Guard that can support helicopter operations.

SG-702 TCSG Güven  
Photo: www.denizhaber.com.tr

The backbone of Turkish Coast Guard is made of MRTP class fast interceptors and patrol craft. These boat have excellent speed and maneuverability but they do not have the range or helicopter support facilities required for mission with long range or long duration.

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.

These ships are the largest vessel Turkish Coast Guard, the future Border Police will operate.

TCSG-312 Upgraded With A STAMP

TCSG-312 with a new STAMP

Turkish Coast Guard craft TCSG-312 seems to have a brand new STAMP installed.

STAMP is a remote-controlled Stabilized Machine Gun Platform developed by Turkish defense contractor ASELSAN.

This fast response boat locally know as MRTP-33 class, was designed and build by Turkish Yonca-Onuk shipyard. Although there are 13 similar boats in service. Previously only one of them TCSG-307 had a STAMP installed.

When commissioned in October 2008, TCSG-312 was armed with a 20 mm manually aimed automatic gun like the rest of her class. Today's photo show that she has received a STAMP with (probably) a 12,7mm machine gun installed. The MRTP class boats can make 75 knots on calm seas and up to 60 knots on 3 sea force. It is impossible for anybody to stand on board  leave alone operating a gun. The STAMP was developed out of this neeed.

STAMP on Georgian patrol boat Sokhumi

Though made by a Turkish company the introduction of STAMP and STOP (Stabilised Gun Platform) into armed forces has been initially slow.
STAMP was exported to Georgia on board of a MRTP-33.

Two STAMP's are installed on board of Milgem Class  F-511 TCG Heybeliada and following ships as close-in weapon system.

Two STAMPS are installed on P-1200 class New Type Patrol Boats against asymmetrical threats.

Turkish Boats For Romanian Border Police Delivered

The five river partrol boats of SNR-17 class, constructed for Romanian Border Police were delivered last week.

Istanbul Shipyard (not to be mixed with Istanbul Naval Shipyard) was seleced by Romania to supply the boats back in January 2010. The total value of the project is estimated to be around 7,5 million euros.

The boats are equipped among standard navigation and mission devices with a FLIR system for night navigation, a portable Geiger counter, and explosives sensor.

Two of the boats will be stationed on Ukrainian, one on Moldavian, one on Hungarian and one on Serbian border.

Specifications:
Full length: 17,26 meters
Beam: 4,55 meters
Draft: 1,00 meter
Maximum speed: 25 knots

Here is a video about the boat from TRT, and here is one form the builder.

Although the scope of this project is not very big, these boats are the first Turkish exports to an European law enforcement agency. That is why this project is an important mile stone in Turkish naval shipbuild industry.

A Maritime Security Center of Excellence Being Established For Turkey

A protocol was signed between Turkish General Staff, Department of Strategy and Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs for the establishment of Maritime Security Center of Excellence. (MSCoE)

According to the protocol the aim of the MSCoE is to create synchronization among all real or legal entities that contribute to maritime security.

Turkish General Staff, Turkish Navy, Turkish Coast Guard, National Police will constitute the executive board during the establishment period.

MSCoE will develop projects and provide decision making support about maritime security, maritime domain awareness, marine technologies, early warning issues.

The decision to create a Center of Excellence for Maritime Security issues is a major development. It is a clear and obvious sign that Turkey like many other maritime nations is focusing to the maritime domain and the opportunities and dangers its hiding.  It will take time for the MSCoE to establish itself as an accepted institution for maritime affairs but if it works as planed it can add much value to the over Turkish maritime policies.

Seaforth World Naval Review 2011

The 2011 edition of Seaforth World Naval Review has been published.

Though it was launched just 3 years ago, it has established a good reputation among enthusiast, researchers and students of maritime issues.

For the first time, this edition has an 8 page chapter devoted to the current operations and ship acquisition projects of Turkish Navy and it was written by yours truly.

I am very exited to see my name to be listed as a contributor among some of the most influent and prolific writers on naval subjects such as Norman Friedman, Scott Truver, Mrityunjoy Mazumdar and Conrad Waters.

My contract with the publisher forbids me to publicize what I have written, here in my blog. But I can mention the highlights:

• ‘G’ Class Frigate Modernisation
• The Milgem Corvette Project
• Coastal Patrol Boats
• Coast Guard Search And Rescue Ships
• Aip-Equipped Submarines
• Amphibious Ship Acquisitions

I have enjoyed writing about Turkish Navy for Seaforth NRW very much, so I hope you will enjoy reading it.

The book can be bought from amazon.com or directly from Seaforth Publishing.

Wikileaks And Turkish Navy

When every important institution was some how effected by these cable it would be foolish to assume that Turkish Navy would be left out.

According to one cable send by US Ambassador MR. Tafft from Kyiv the former Ukrainian President Mr. Kuchma thinks that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is not a match against the Turkish Navy.

8. (C) Kuchma downplayed the strategic importance of the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF), saying it could dispatch a ship to scare Georgia, but would be no match for the Turkish fleet. Since Ukraine must now pay the "world price" for gas, said Kuchma mischievously, Ukraine should insist that Russia pay the "world price" (i.e., "what the Americans have to pay for bases") to homeport its BSF in Sevastopol. The question of Sevastopol is above all an emotional/nostalgia issue for Russians ("the city of Russian glory"), and they will never quit hoping to get it back. Kuchma said he once told Moscow Mayor Luzhkov that Ukraine would agree to return Sevastopol to Russia -- provided the U.S. returned Alaska to Russia, and Russia returned the Kurile Islands. to Japan and Kaliningrad to Germany.

Well this more or less a just a statement of the obvious. The Russian Black Sea Fleet as is inferior to Turkish Navy but combined with other Fleets Russian Navy is still a very worthy advisory that Turkey would not want to confront. Especially, when we are buying so much natural gas from them.

The alleged cable is tagged as following and is here to read.:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KYIV 000190 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ENRG, MARR, UP, RS SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT KUCHMA ON UKRAINIAN ELECTION, FOREIGN POLICY

But I was not able to find it among the other cables in cablesearch.org. So for me this is still unconfirmed.

USS Ross In Istanbul

USS Ross, in Istanbul.

Arleigh Burke class destroyer DDG-71 USS Ross is in Istanbul, for a 3 day long port visit.

The ship is docked to the commercial port of Istanbul on Friday and will leave the town tomorrow.

She was been deployed in the Mediterranean for the last 7 months. And according to news reports she will return to USA after leaving Istanbul.

USS Ross will be upgraded during fiscal 2012 to RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) capability in order to function as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.

International Staff Of CTF-151

RADM Ertuğrul, the previous commander of CTF-151
and his flag staff

This is from the US 5th Fleet CMF web site and show the international nature of the anti piracy forces very well.

For the past three months the Turkish Navy was at the helm of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), the multi-national counter-piracy mission of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

A small but dedicated team of international naval personnel was embarked aboard the flagship TCG Gaziantep to join task force commander Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugrul and his command staff, the majority of whom were drawn from the Turkish Navy, with the more senior officers having attended the prestigious naval college in Istanbul.

“The flag staff are essentially a floating headquarters,” said Captain Rafet Oktar, the CTF-151 Chief of Staff charged with bringing together the various command and control functions. “We coordinate the various elements of the task force such as ships and aircraft, we plan current and future operations and we provide specialist advice to the Commander.”

...

RADM Ertugrul said “I was proud to lead an international staff, at the head of an international task force, patrolling international waters. CTF-151 is effective as a force for good in the region precisely because of our mutual understanding, cooperation and shared commitment to tackling the serious problem of piracy.

“My international staff added to the diversity of my command team through the backgrounds, experience and abilities they each brought with them. In turn, it was also an opportunity them to hone their skills further through cooperation with my Turkish staff.”

Click here for the whole text.

Obviously Turkish Navy is benefiting from taking part in anti piracy operations in many ways:

• First and foremost Turkish Navy is offering protection and comfort to the Turkish ships and crews passing through the regions.
• Turkish Navy is gaining know-how on commanding multinational staffed task forces that operate away from the home waters in.
• Turkish Navy is fulfilling its share in international naval operations thus showing other nations that it is a serious partner in such cases and developing bilateral cooperation.