NATO released a video showing how the US SRDRS Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System deployed on Exercise Bold Monarch docked with the Turkish submarine S-356 TCG Anafartalar. You will see the Commanding Officer emerge into the rescue vehicle to pass a box of Turkish Delight to his rescuers in this demonstration of a successful... Continue Reading →
On Board Of SPS Juan Carlos 1
Today I was on board of the Spanish amphibious ship Juan Carlos 1 for a press conference and a guided tour of the ship. The attendance to the conference was higher than I have expected. The press conference started with the speaking of the commanding officer Captain Christopher Gonzalez-Aller Lacalle. He talked in general terms about... Continue Reading →
Turkish Navy Task Force Departed For Indian Ocean
On 30 May the Turkish Naval Task Force left Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris for a 70 day deployment in the Indian Ocean. The task force is composed of F-244 TCG Barbaros as flagship, F-492 TCG Gemlik, F-493 TCG Gelibolu and A-595 TCG Yarbay Kudret Güngör. Another Turkish frigate F-491 TCG Giresun is already in... Continue Reading →
Another Arrest In Sledgehammer
Yesterday, Air Force General Bilgin Balanlı was arrested. He is accused to be a part of the alleged Sledgehammer conspiracy. He is the highest ranking officer to be arrested in this case (yet) According to news reports his main crime might be to order periodic areal reconnaissance flights over a large farm turned into a private village... Continue Reading →
L-61 SPS Juan Carlos 1 Is In Town
The Strategic Projection Vessel of the Spanish Navy, L-61 SPS Juan Carlos 1 arrived in Istanbul for a 5 day visit, as reported earlier. My first impression of the ship is that she is big. She is huge.
What Shall We Do With Captured Pirate Earl-Aye In The Morning?
I was wondering for some time about the fate of the Somali pirates captured by Turkish Navy. The reason for my wondering was the simple fact that Turkish General Staff and Turkish Navy only informed about the arrests and there was no information available about the proceedings afterwards. Well sometimes the best information about our armed forces comes from... Continue Reading →
Greek Submarine Glavkos To Be Decommissioned
According to Greek newspaper Democracy, on 9 June 2011, the first Type 209 submarine of Greek Navy S-110 HS Glavkos will be retried after 40 years of service. This submarine was also the first Type 209 submarine ever constructed. Totally 57 Type 209 submarines were constructed for 11 different nations, making the Type 209 one of most successful diesel-electric submarine design... Continue Reading →
The Turkish Coast Guard Will Lose A Boat And Gain A Ship
The Turkish Coast Guard has donated one of the older patrol boats for an artificial reef. The boat will be sunk of the coast of Kas, Antalya to create a diving attraction and an artificial reef. Kaş is not only one of the most beautiful touristic spots in Turkey is also a good place for scuba diving. A few years ago one... Continue Reading →
Denizkurdu 2011 Naval Exercise Cancelled
Turkish General Staff announced today that Denizkurdu-2011 and Efes-2011 military exercise were cancelled. The very short, one sentence statement informed that there would be no Press Day for the exercises as they were canceled. As there are no further information available speculations grow ripe. The biannual Deniz Kurdu 2011 naval exercise started on 16 May... Continue Reading →
Russians Teach Ukrainians How To Escape From A Sunken Submarine
According to blog RusNavy Intelligence, Russian and Ukrainian navies conducted a submarine evacuation exercise together. Since Viktor Yanukovych’s election as Ukraine president, the cooperation between Russian and Ukrainian navies has grown considerably. Russia is actively helping Ukraine to maintain and renovate its only submarine U01 Zaporizya. The Foxtrot (Project 641) class Zaporizya is the only submarine... Continue Reading →
