On 9. June 2017, a Panther helicopter of Bulgarian Navy collided with the frigate Drazki and crashed into the sea. The two of the 3 strong crew were rescued. The pilot unfortunately lost his life. Bulgarian Navy purchased 3 AS 565MB Panther helicopters from Airbus in 2011. The Panther has replaced older Soviet era helicopters... Continue Reading →
Russian Intelligence Gathering Ship Liman, Sunk Off The Coast Of Istanbul
On 27th April 2017 the Russian intelligence gathering ship Liman sunk off the coast of Istanbul. The Project 861 / Moma class ship of Russian Black Sea Fleet was approximately 17 nautical miles northwest of the northern entrance of Istanbul Strait when Togo flagged livestock carrier Youzarsif H hit Liman. The accident happened at 08.41 UTC... Continue Reading →
Comments On Live Firings Made During Deniz Yıldızı Exercise
Deniz Yıldızı 2017 naval exercise has ended on 7th April 2017 and participating warships are returning to their home bases. Live missile firings made this year’s event will one of the best remembered. During the second phase of the exercise between 31 March and 3 April, in total 6 warships and one submarine launched 8 missiles.... Continue Reading →
Turkish Navy Conducting Simultaneous Port Visits In 5 Countries
10 Turkish warships are conducting port visits in 5 different ports, in 5 different countries. The long needed rest came after the end of the first phase of naval exercise Deniz Yıldızı 2017. The exercise has started on 27 March and will end on 7 April. Of course the small size of the Black Sea helps.... Continue Reading →
Deniz Yıldızı 2017 Naval Exercise Has Started
The annual naval exercise Deniz Yıldızı has started in Black Sea on Monday. The exercise will end on, 7th April 2016. The scope of the exercise indicates, Turkish Navy's intentions showing a strong presence in the Black Sea. For me, the most noteworthy aspect of this exercise, will be the simultaneous port visits of Turkish... Continue Reading →
Poseidon 2017 Naval Exercise
Mine warfare exercise Poseidon, hosted by Romania is continuing in Black Sea The exercise has started on 5 March 2016 and will end on 15 March 2017. Exercise Poseidon began in 2015 as a bilateral Romanian-Bulgarian naval exercise. The host for the exercise alternates each year between Romania and Bulgaria. NATO Standing Groups regularly participate in exercises... Continue Reading →
SNMG-2 Ships Arrived In Samsun
Today, Spanish frigate ESPS Almirante Juan De Borbon and Canadian frigate HMCS St. John's constituting, Standing NATO Martime Group 2, Task Unit 2 arrived in Samsun, Turkey. The ships will stay in Samsun for 3 days. They have left Varna, Bulgaria on last Monday with the Bulgarian warship Reshitelni and spend the rest of the... Continue Reading →
Sea Shield 2017 Naval Exercise
Once again Romania is hosting Sea Shield naval exercise. The exercise will take place between 1st and 11th February 2017. The exercise started with the planning and familiarization phase which will end on 5th February. The participants have already arrived at the Romanian port Constanta for this year's exercise. Besides, Romania, Bulgaria, Canada, Spain, Turkey... Continue Reading →
Turkish Navy Helped Panamanian Flagged Merchant Ship
According to Turkish Navy press release, MEKO 200 class frigate TCG Yıldırım, evacuated crew from a stricken merchant ship. The Panamanian flagged merchant ship M/V Fom has suffered a severe engine problem, off the coast of Black Sea town Karadeniz Ereğlisi. The ship lost power and asked for assistance. TCG Yıldırım was dispatched to the... Continue Reading →
Turkish Navy Conducted An Exercise In The Black Sea
This week between 5th and 8th September 2016, Turkish Navy conducted an unannounced exercise in the Black Sea. During the week several Turkish warships of different types and some tugs towing practice targets were observed passing through Istanbul. Interestingly there was no official statement from Turkish Naval Forces or from Turkish General Staff about the exercise. Since some... Continue Reading →
