ON BOARD OF TCG SANCAKTAR
I had the privileged the spend two nights and two days on board of the Turkish tank landing ship (LST- Landing Ship Tank) TCG Sancaktar between 22 and 24 May 2024.
The ship was taking part in the EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live Fire Exercise. I was able to witness the preparation on board and observe the life on the sea. TCG Sancaktar was one of the three large landing ship taking part in the exercise.
In 2006 the long terms amphibious ship acquisition goals of Turkish Navy were declared by then Commander Admiral Yener Karahanoğlu as following:
One LPD
Two LST’s
8 fast LCT’s
27 AAV/AAAV’s
For the LST’s a request for proposal was issued in May 2008. On 6 January 2010 ADİK Shipyard was declared as the winner of the bid.
The contract for the construction of new LST’s was signed in 2011. The value of the contract was 370 million Euros. The first ship TCG Bayraktar was delivered in February 2017. On 7th April 2018, TCG Sancaktar, the second ship of the class was handed over to Turkish Navy.
These ships can carry 20 MBT and between 24 – 60 vehicles. The closed parking area is 1100 square meters, and the open deck parking area is 690 square meters.
Thes ships have a bow and stern doors and a port side vehicles Access ramp. There is a moveable ramp inside the ship that allow lighter vehicles to be parked on the deck. There is also a turning platform to change the direction of heavier vehicles.
These ships have mine laying capability. The rails needed to move the mines are carried no board and placed on the vehicles deck in needed.
The ship must beach in order to launch the vehicles carried inside. These would be dismounted through the bow door and ramp. The Marine Assault Vehicles (MAV) can be launched from the stern door while still on high seas. The MAV can carry up to 21 troops including the commander, gunner and driver. Another means to carry the troops ashore are the LCVPs. The ship can carry up to 6 LCVPs on board. These have waterjets and can move up to 30 knots and can carry up to 60 troops and vehicles up to 8 tons.
For protection TCG Sancaktar is equipped with two Leonardo Single Fast Forty 40mm guns, two Raytheon Mk15 Phalanx Block 1B close in weapon system and two Aselsan Stamp remote controlled weapon station with 12,7mm machine guns.
There are two MKE made decoy launchers and two Aselsan Hızır torpedo countermeasures launchers.
The ship is equipped with one Thales Smart-S Mk2 air search radar, one Aselsan Alper LPI radar and two navigation radars. There is Aselsan ARES-2N electronic support measures system.
The ship has a flight deck but no hangar.
TCG Sancaktar can carry the HQ of the landing force and enables it to perform command and control activities.
In fact, during the EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live Fire Exercise, Commander, Amphibious Task Force (CATF) and Commander, Landing Force (CLF) and their command staff were on board of TCG Sancaktar. In July 2025 Turkey will take the command of the CATF/CLF command of all amphibious forces allowed to NATO missions by NATO members, for one year. TCG Sancaktar and TCG Anadolu are the only two ships in Turkish Navy currently capable of acting as the HQ for the NATO CATF/CLF.
On of the most important facilities TCG Sancaktar and her sister TCG Bayraktar have are the medical facilities. Consisting of one operating room, one X-ray room, one laboratory and one 10 bed intensive care unit. The medical facilities on TCG Sancaktar are enough to provide first aid, immediate lifesaving measures, and triage. Additionally, these facilities are adequate to perform emergency surgeries and essential post-operative management. After the condition of the patient is stabilized, she/he can be evacuated to a larger facility on land.
Both ships were deployed to Iskenderun after the devastating earthquake in February 2023 and stayed in the region for a long time. Their medical services have provided lifesaving operations. On board of TCG Bayraktar even two babies were delivered during those days.
During the EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live Fire Exercise, TCG Sancaktar with her sister TCG Bayraktar and TCG Anadolu made the main amphibious landing force and supported the landing operations conducted by Turkish Amphibious Infantry on board.
Inside the ship is very specious. The ship is constructed around the large vehicle deck that runs through the entire length of the ship. The superstructure houses the CIC, space for the HQ staff of the ATF and LF, and officers quartiers. The companionways are wide and not too steep allowing troops with their weapons and gears to move easily inside the ship. The ship has a crew of 146 and can carry mora than 400 soldiers
