The NATO Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) ships have arrived in Istanbul for a three-day port visit. The group is currently under the command of Rear Admiral Francesco Iavazzo of the Italian Navy, embarked on his flagship ITS Carlo Bergamini. The task group consists of the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS St. John’s and the... Continue Reading →
Türkiye’s Naval Diplomacy Reaches Across a Divided Libya
Libya has long been one of the sharpest points of division in Turkish foreign policy. For years, Ankara stood firmly behind the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, clashing directly with the forces of General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). Turkish military intervention in early 2020 tipped the balance on the battlefield:... Continue Reading →
Al Fulk: Qatar’s Unique Multi-Role Amphibious Ship
The Qatar Emiri Naval Forces’ landing platform dock (LPD) Al Fulk is currently in Istanbul, where it arrived on 16 August for a port visit that will continue until 21 August. The stop offers Turkish naval observers a chance to see firsthand one of the most unusual and ambitious ship designs to emerge in recent... Continue Reading →
French Warships in Turkish Ports: A Sign of Rapprochement or Strategic Calculations?
The French Fremm-class frigate Aquitaine arrived in Antalya this morning for a port visit. I am not a fan of the French Navy’s newly adopted policy of erasing the ships' pennant numbers. While information about the ships’ deployments is available on the internet and through other media, this removal of pennant numbers only makes life... Continue Reading →
TCG Yıldırım Visited Georgia
TCG Yıldırım conducted a port visit in Batumi Georgia last week. According to the Georgian Coast Guard, the purpose of the visit is to conduct a Self Evaluation Level-2 (SEL-2) of the vessels Ochamchire and Dioskuria of the Coast Guard Department of the Border Police of Georgia within the framework of the NATO Operational Capability Concept... Continue Reading →
Smallest Flagship Is Making A Port Visit In Istanbul
The German Frankentahl class mine hunter M-1064 FGS Grömitz is conducting a port visit in Istanbul. She is the first foreign warship to visit Istanbul this year. FGS Grömitz left her homeport Kiel, in early January and as the flagship of the NATO Standing Maritime Group Two Task Unit 01, she is taking part in... Continue Reading →
SNMCMG-2 Entered The Black Sea
Between 20 and 23rd September the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) made a port visit in Istanbul. The task force consisting of The flagship ESPS Rayo, Turkish minehunter TCG Edincik and Italian minehunter ITS Viareggio were berthed at the Sarayburnu quay. After this short break, the task force sailed through Istanbul and entered... Continue Reading →
HMS Defender and HNLMS Eversten In Istanbul
Two warships attached to the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG) has arrived in Istanbul on 8th June for a 5-day port visit. HMS Defender a Type 45 class destroyer and HNLMS Eversten a De Zeven Provinciën class frigate are conducting a visit in Istanbul before proceeding to the Black Sea as advertised by... Continue Reading →
TCG Çanakkale Arrived In Durrës
TCG Çanakkale arriving in Durrës. Photo: Durrës Port Authority The Turkish submarine TCG Çanakkale is making a 3 day port visit in Durrës, Albania.The submarine took part in NATO exercise Dynamic Manta 21 and was returning home. Turkish warship, especially submarines regularly visit Durrës.As far as I know, the following Turkish naval units were in... Continue Reading →
Albanian Patrol Vessels Visit Izmir
In mid-July, ALS Oriku arrived in İzmir, Turkey to replace her sister ALS Butrinti and. The 42,8 meter long, boats have 260 tons of displacement. Their 20mm remotely controlled gun turrets were installed in 2018. ALS Butrinti has patrolled on behalf of NATO Standing NATO Maritime Group Two Task Unit 01 since January 2018. Her... Continue Reading →
