“TCG Piri Reis”: Flagship of Turkish New Type Submarine Programme
The construction of the “TCG Piri Reis” submarine was launched with a ceremony at Gölcük shipyard. The construction activities of the submarine will be conducted at Gölcük Shipyard Command. These New Type Submarines will have Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Systems different than the remaining eleven 209 Class submarines that were previously constructed at Gölcük Shipyard. These submarines will be capable of generating power through the fuel cell system as a result of hydrogen and oxygen tanks’ reaction. Therefore they will be able to remain underwater for 14 days without requiring atmospheric air.
The “steel cutting ceremony” of the Piri Reis Submarine that is to be constructed within the scope of “New Type Submarine Project” of Turkish Naval Forces took place on 8 October 2015 at Gölcük Shipyard Command with the participation of Naval Forces Commander Full Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu, Fleet Commander Full Admiral Veysel Kösele, Deputy Undersecretary of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries Serdar Demirel and many other invitees.
“TCG Piri Reis” Submarine’s first steel cutting was realized by Naval Forces Commander Full Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu. In his speech at the ceremony, Full Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu mentioned the importance of the construction of submarines with advanced technology and air independent propulsion system at Gölcük Shipyard and expressed that it will be an essential step for launching the National Submarine Project.
A total of six new typesof submarines will be constructed within the scope of the project will have an air independent propulsion system developed with hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and will be capable of conducting their operations for weeks underwater. The submarines named as Cebre class at the beginning of the project will be titled Reis class following the revisions to be made in the later stages of the project. With their entry into operation, these submarines with silent navigation capability will make significant contribution to the combat effectiveness of the Turkish Naval Forces. These six submarines with Air Independent Propulsion System are planned to be put into service between 2018-2024.
They will form the backbone of MILDEN programme
The New Type Submarines will be 66.3 metres inlength, a thousand and 854 tonnes of surface displacement and 2 thousand 13 tonnes of submerged displacement. It was informed that the submarines will be running with diesel fuel and able to function with batteries that could charge themselves. One of the most significant features of Piri Reis is that it that bears developed torpedo tubes that will be the guided missile firing capability. With the new type submarines’ entryinto the inventory, National Submarine (MILDEN) programme is planned to be launched with the infrastructure, experience and capabilities gained through the New Type Submarine programme.
