More details emerge on Turkish LPD
Turkish shipbuilder SEDEF Gemi Insaati (part of the TURKON conglomerate) will cut steel on the Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC) landing platform dock (LPD) ship TCG Anadolu (L408) in May 2016.
Main build work will commence in September, at the company's shipyard located in the Tuzla district of Istanbul. The shipbuilder will construct the whole ship, including the hull and superstructure.
The contract to build the ship was awarded by the Turkish government on 7 May 2015, and became effective on 18 September when Turkey made an advanced payment. In line with the contract, which stipulates delivery 67 months after the first payment is made, commissioning is scheduled for 18 April 2021. SEDEF Gemi Insaati was selected for the build work on 26 December 2013.
Although the contract value has not been revealed, IHS Jane's understands from industry sources that the acquisition costs could amount to about EUR700 million (USD757.1 million). IHS Jane's has reported previously that the total programme cost, when including assets such as the craft to be embarked in the LPD, could reach up to EUR1.25 billion.
The conventional steel monohull design with the superstructure located on the starboard side of the flight deck is based on Spanish shipbuilder Navantia's Buque de Proyección Estratégica (BPE) design. However, while the Spanish Navy's landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel SPS Juan Carlos I (L61) and the two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Canberra-class LHDs (all three of which are based around the BPE design) have propulsion suites consisting of one GE Marine LM 2500 gas turbine engine, two MAN Diesel & Turbo 16V32/40 diesels, two Siemens SISHIP eSIPOD-T electric pods each with two propellers, and two thrusters, Turkey's LPD will have five diesels, alongside the pods and bow thrusters.
The Spanish and Australian ships are fitted with the Navantia Sistemas SCOMBA (Sistema de COMbate de los Buques de la Armada) and Saab 9LV Mk 4 combat management systems (CMSs) respectively. Anadolu , however, will feature the GENESIS-Advent CMS delivered by Turkey's state-run Hava Elektronik Sanayi (HAVELSAN) and the TNFC's Naval Research Center Command.
Navantia's contribution to the project is based around three activities. The first comprises design of the LPD and of the Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) vessels that will operate from it, as well as providing the technical specifications for the procurement of all materials and equipment. The second covers assistance and support during procurement and construction activities until final delivery. The third activity will see Navantia Motores deliver the diesels and Navantia Sistemas the integrated platform management system (IPMS), the latter together with Turkey's Aydin Yazilim ve Elektronik Sanayii AS (AYESAS).
There is an option for Turkey to procure Navantia's LCM-1E LCM: no decision has been taken as yet, although a determination on this matter by SEDEF Gemi Insaati is expected by the end of February.
To support construction operations in Turkey, Navantia is understood to be adopting lessons learned from the build of the two Australian Canberra-class ships. Ordered in November 2007, the ships were built in co-operation with BAE Systems Australia. However, on these ships the hulls up to the level of the flight deck were built in Spain, with BAE Systems Australia adding the superstructure and the combat and communications systems at its Williamstown yard in Victoria.
Anadolu 's main characteristics show Turkey's vessel to be similar to Spanish and Australian ships. The ship also will be fitted with Raytheon Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapon systems provided as government-furnished equipment under a Foreign Military Sale arrangement with the United States; four 12.7 mm STAMP and three 25 mm STOP remote weapon stations (all from Turkish state-owned company Aselsan); and anti-torpedo and other decoy systems.
Aselsan is responsible for delivering ship armaments, as well as its electronic warfare systems, radars (including the Thales SMART-S Mk 2), electro-optical sensors, and communications and navigation systems, with work totalling EUR127 million in value. HAVELSAN will deliver the CMS, the command-and-control (C2) and navigation systems, ship's systems including those for information distribution, CCTV, and message handling and integration services; this work will total EUR87 million in value. A number of other Turkish contractors and organisations are expected to be involved in the programme.
According to the latest details, the 231 m Anadolu will displace 27,436 tonnes as standard. It will have a top speed of 21 kt and a range of 9,000 n miles at 15 kt. The flight deck space, which includes six landing spots, totals 5,440 m 2 . The ship has a 1,165 m 2 well dock to enable landing craft and rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to be operated. The hangar space totals more than 900 m 2 . Deck space includes 1,410 m 2 for heavy cargo/vehicles and 1,880 m 2 for light cargo/vehicles.
The angled 'ski-jump' ramp at the bow can enable the launch of short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fixed-wing aircraft.
COMMENT
The LPD will provide Turkey with capacity to undertake a wide range of roles, such as transport and projection of amphibious forces, air operations, and support for operations other than war.
There are unconfirmed reports that Turkey is considering the acquisition of a second ship, to be named TCG Trakya .
Navantia and Spanish government efforts to demonstrate the strengths in the LPD design, including sending SPS Juan Carlos I to Istanbul in May 2011, have resulted in commercial success. The Turkish contract may also further demonstrate Spain's strengths in building this kind of ship.
TCG Anadolu(Anatolia)
TCG Trakya(Thrace)