TCG Anadolu

History
Turkey
Name:	TCG Anadolu
Namesake:	Anatolia
Ordered:	1 June 2015
Builder:	Sedef Shipbuilding, Inc.
Laid down:	30 April 2016[1][2][3]
Launched:	Expected launch in 2021[1][2][3]
Identification:	Pennant number: L-408[2][3][4]
Status:	Under construction since 30 April 2016
General characteristics
Class and type:	Anadolu-class LHD / light aircraft carrier
Length:	232 m (761 ft)[4]
Beam:	32 m (105 ft)[4]
Draught:	6.9 m (23 ft)[1]
Propulsion:	5 x 8000 KW Man Diesel Generators, 2 x 11 MW Siemens SiPOD , 2 x 1500 KW Bow Thruster[4]
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)[4]
Range:	9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)[4]
Complement:	4 x LCM or 2 x LCAC[1]
Sensors and processing systems:	SMART-S Mk.2 S-band 3D radar, GENESIS-ADVENT Combat Management System, IRST, IFF, TDL, VMF, SATCOM, LWR, DDS, Torpedo Defense System[1]
Armament:	5 x Aselsan 25mm STOP 2 x Phalanx CIWS 1 x RAM
Aircraft carried:	6 x F-35B[1][2][3][4] 4 x T-129 ATAK[4] 8 x As532 or CH-47F[4] 2 x S-70B Seahawk[4] 2 x Anka or Bayraktar UAV/UCAV[2]
Notes:	The ship can be configured as a light aircraft carrier or as an amphibious assault ship. It will have the ability to sustain and operate F-35B if Turkey purchases the type.[1][2][3][4]

TCG Anadolu (L-408) is a planned amphibious assault ship (LHD) of the Turkish Navy that can be configured as a light aircraft carrier.^[1][2][3][4] It is named after the peninsula of Anatolia (Turkish: Anadolu) which forms the majority of the land mass of Turkey. The construction works began on 30 April 2016 at the shipyard of Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul and is expected to be completed in 2021.^[1][2][3] The vessel is intended to meet the various needs and requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, such as sustaining long-endurance, long-distance military combat or humanitarian relief operations; while acting as a command center and flagship for the Turkish Navy.^[2]

The Sedef–Navantia consortium won the tender for the LPD/LHD project of the Turkish Navy and TCG Anadolu (L-408) will use the same design as that of the Spanish ship SPS Juan Carlos I (L-61). All of the ship's weapons system will be procured by Turkish firms Aselsan and Havelsan.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} The ship will feature a Turkish combat management system, namely the GENESIS-ADVENT,^[11][12][13] which will be integrated by Aselsan and Havelsan.^[14]

Navantia will provide design, technology transfer, equipment and technical assistance to Sedef Shipyard of Turkey for the design and development of TCG Anadolu (L-408), which is classified as a Light Aircraft Carrier/LHD by Turkish Lloyd.^[15][16]

It will be capable of operating the F-35B STOVL stealth multirole combat aircraft.^[1][2][3][4]

History

Design and specifications

SPS Juan Carlos I (L-61) in Istanbul, Turkey, May 2011.

In December 2013, the Turkish LPD/LHD program was originally estimated to cost €375 million ($500 million).^[17] According to the original plan, the Turkish Navy wanted a slightly shorter flight deck without the ski-jump ramp in front, to be optimized for use with only helicopters.^[18]

However, the Turkish Navy later changed its plan and opted for a fully equipped flight deck with the ski-jump ramp in front, after deciding to purchase F-35B STOVL aircraft.^{[18][19][1][2][4]} Turkey is a Level 3 partner in the Joint Strike Fighter program and the Turkish Air Force will get the F-35A CTOL version. The Turkish version of the LHD will be capable of operating up to 12 F-35Bs and 12 helicopters in "light aircraft carrier" configuration.^[18] The dimensions of the final design are: 231 meters (length), 32 meters (beam), 6.8 meters (draught), and 58 meters (height).^[18] Its displacement will be 24,660 tons (in "light aircraft carrier" mission configuration) or 27,079 tons (in "LHD" mission configuration).^[18] Its maximum speed will be 21.5 knots (in "light aircraft carrier" configuration) or 29 knots (in "LHD" configuration);^[18] while its maximum range will be 9000 miles at economical speed.^[18] It will have a 5,440m² flight deck and a 990m² aviation hangar which can accommodate either 12 medium size helicopters or 8 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters.^[18] (When the aviation hangar and the light cargo garage are unified, the ship can carry up to 25 medium size helicopters.^[18] Alternatively, the ship can carry up to 12 F-35B and 12 helicopters.^[18] Six more helicopters can be hosted on the flight deck of the ship.^[18]) Additionally, the ship will have a 1,880m² light cargo garage for TEU containers and 27 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV);^[18] a 1,165m² dock which can host four Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) or two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), or two Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP);^[18] and a 1,410m² garage for heavy loads, which can host 29 Main Battle Tanks (MBT), Amphibious Assault Vehicles and TEU containers.^[18] The ship's crew will consist of 261 personnel: 30 officers, 49 NCOs, 59 leading seamen and 123 ratings.^[18]

Construction

The final contract for the construction of the ship was signed with the Navantia-Sedef consortium on 7 May 2015.^{[18][19][20][21]} The commissioning of the ship is scheduled for 2021,^{[18][19][20][21]} and the estimated cost of the ship according to the final specifications is $1 billion.^[18] The construction works began on 30 April 2016 at the shipyard of Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul.^[1][2][3][4]

See also

• Spanish ship Juan Carlos I
• Canberra-class landing helicopter dock

References