IRIA News

Turkish Navy has taken the delivery of four new indigenously produced vessels. During a grand ceremony at the Sefine Shipyard on January 19, 2023, the Turkish Navy commissioned TCG Istanbul, TCG Derya, the logistics ship TCG Ustegmen Arif Ekmekci, and the unmanned surface vessel Marlin into its fleet.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was present at the ceremony where the Turkish navy took delivery of four locally produced ships. Turkey’s defense minister, chief of the General Staff, and the top naval officers were also present during the ceremony.

“Our naval strength is increasing with our ships. I wholeheartedly believe that we will achieve new successes in the coming period,” Erdogan said at the delivery ceremony at the Sefine Shipyard in Yalova, a coastal city located in northwestern Turkey on the eastern coast of the Sea of Marmara.

Erdogan emphasized that alongside the advancement and construction of UAVs and UCAVs, the Turkish defense industry will prioritize the development of diverse combat platforms for the navy. This encompasses unmanned and autonomous naval vehicles, submarine platforms, and aircraft carriers.

Second largest ship for Turkey

Following the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, TCG Derya now holds the position of the second-largest vessel in the Turkish Navy. With a capacity of 10,000 tons for fuel, 750 tons for fresh water, and 270 cubic meters for cargo, the ship measures 199.9 meters in length and 24.4 meters in width, boasting a displacement of 26,115 tons.

The other supply ship, the TCG Ustegmen Arif Ekmekci, is the second and last vessel of the country’s logistics support ship program. It is 106.51 meters long and 16.8 meters wide. Its displacement is 8,477 tons. Its two diesel engines can propel the ship to a maximum speed of 12.5 knots.

The ship also has ample space to accommodate a task force. It can carry eight standard ISO containers, 631 tons of potable water, 336 tons of JP-5 fuel, and 4,036 tons of F-76 fuel. There is also a medical facility for performing surgeries.

It has a large landing pad for helicopters, but no hangar nor replenishment-at-sea equipment. However, it can provide astern refueling to other ships.

Construction for this ship began in 2017 but was paused as the Selah Shipyard which won the original tender to build two ships went bankrupt. The local firm STM took over the project as the main contractor.

Istanbul-class frigate

The frigate TCG Istanbul is the first vessel of its class with three more ships currently under construction. The Turkish government has recently authorized four additional units for the same class of frigate bringing that total number to eight.

The frigate boasts a full-load displacement of 3,100 tons, measuring 113.2 meters in length, with a beam of 14.4 meters and a draft of 4.05 meters. It can reach a maximum speed of 29 knots and has a standard range of 6,000 nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots. Accommodating a crew of 125, the ship showcases impressive specifications.

The ship has been developed under the MILGEM indigenous warship program. The name of the project MILGEM emerged from the Turkish phrase ‘Mili Gemi’, which means ‘National Ship’. The national warship program is managed by the Turkish Navy. The project aims at developing multipurpose corvettes, frigates, and destroyers.

Unmanned surface vessel

The unmanned vessel Marlin was officially delivered to the Turkish Navy during the ceremony. The ship already has some experience on the water as it participated in NATO exercises last year. The 15-meter-long unmanned surface vessel has been jointly developed by Turkish defense giant Aselsan and the Sefine Shipyard.

The vessel is armed with a 12.7mm remote control weapons station and features electronic warfare technology. It has a range of 400 nautical miles. The vessel took part in the NATO exercises REPMUS 22 and Dynamic Messenger 22, both of which occurred in Portugal last year.