It was like a scene from the old cold war comedy "The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming". You don't see an active duty Russian submarine passing through your neighborhood everyday. So it was a big day for me. The Kilo class Russian diesel - electric submarine Alrosa came from the Marmara Sea and passed by... Continue Reading →
On 30th August 2012 for the Victory Day celebrations two warships F-245 TCG Oruçreis and F-511 TCG Heybeliada made a port visit in Istanbul. Both ships were open to the public and I had the opportunity and privilege to visit the first ship of the Milgem class corvettes, TCG Heybeliada. The visitors were not allowed... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, after the command handover ceremony in Gölcük Naval Base, the 5 ships participating to this activation of the BlackSeaFor sailed away to their next port of call Trabzon, Istanbul. In order to this they had to pass through Bosphorus, where I was expecting them, as you can see from the photos above.
All warships of the 11th Chinese naval escort task force of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are all present and accounted for. The activities of the destroyer Quingdao 113 and the frigate Yantai 538 were easier to follow and to report. But the replenishment tanker Weishan Hu 877 was unaccounted for since... Continue Reading →
I love how it feels when the things turn out more or less as the way you have planned. Since I first heard yesterday, that two PLAN warships passed through the Dardanelles and are heading for the Black Sea I was thinking in my head How I could intercept them at a suitable point in Istanbul with a good... Continue Reading →
Their southbound passage through the Turkish Straits, a fortnight ago was with much fanfare and media attention. Their return to their home was as silent as a thief sneaking into a house. I must admit that the Russian have a very good understanding of how to play the PR game and they are good at... Continue Reading →
Although Istanbul is on a very busy maritime city, we seldom witness so many naval action in one day and see so many different warships from different countries at the same time. There were three frigates of NATO's SNMG-2, five coast guard vessels from five Black Sea nations, one Japanese coast guard training ship plus various Turkish naval and coast guard vessels. It... Continue Reading →
On 30th May 2012, the Russian Kashin class destroyer Smetlivy returned from her deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean. She was send to the region to show Russian support to the Syrian regime and to show flag. As this photo shows there was less smoke on the water this time.
The NATO Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 consisting of F-805 HNLMS Eversten and FGS F-208 Rheinland Pfalz has left Istanbul on 25 May 2012. They will stop at Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris, before heading to Gulf of Aden to continue NATO's anti piracy operation, Operation Ocean Shield. But as the photo above show we... Continue Reading →
I am posting a few more photos from F-805 HNLMS Evertsen. I must confess that I am very impressed with the cleanliness of her lines. she is the one of the few ships that I have ever seen that has such an uncluttered superstructure. As the flagship of SNMG-1 she will sail to Gulf Of... Continue Reading →
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