F-492 TCG Gemlik is continuing her Far East tour. The frigate left TNTG in mid July and proceeds alone. She made port visits in Medan Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Singapore, Shanghai China and Japan.
TCG Gemlik made two visits Japan. The first visit was to the small fishery town of Kushimoto and the southern tip of Honshu island.
This town has a special place in Turkish history. On the stormy night of 18 September 1890 the three masted Turkish frigate Ertuğrul hit the rocks of the coast of Kushimoto and sunk. 553 sailors parished only 63 survived. the frigate was returning to tUrkey after completing a goodwill visit to Japan. This tragedy created a bond between the two nations. There is a Memorial for Ertuğrul in Kushimoto and a Turkish Museum.
Every five year Turkish Navy sends a warship to Japan to commemorate the tragedy. This is why the first port visited by TCG Gemlik was Kushimoto.
After Kushimoto, TCG Gemlik sailed to Tokyo for a port visit between 9th and 12th August.
The frigate has left Japan and has arrived today in Pusan South Korea where she will stay till 18th August.
For more photos from TCG Gemlik’s visit to Tokyo, click here.
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