Reis-class submarine explained

The Reis-class submarines are a group of six license built submarines based on the Type 214 submarine for the Turkish Navy.

Project history

On 28 December 2006, the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries of the Turkish Ministry of National Defense issued a request for proposal, which was revised on 12 July 2007. By 22 November 2007, companies such as the DCNS of France, Navantia of Spain, and a German/British consortium consisting of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) and Marine Force International LLP (MFI) had submitted proposals. After completing the evaluation process, the decision was announced on 22 July 2008 to start contract negotiations first with HDW/MFI. By August 2008, the negotiations started. The diesel-electric Type 214 submarine of ThyssenKrupp featuring an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system was selected, and the program begin was set to early 2009.

The contract between the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and the HDW/MFI consortium was signed on 2 July 2009. Amounting to 2.06 billion, the project came into force on 22 June 2011. The submarines are to be built at Gölcük Naval Shipyard with material packages supplied by the HDW/MFI. The shipyard's capability is to be improved regarding the construction and outfitting of the submarines.

The Turkish defense industry companies ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, MilSOFT, Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. (STM), Koç Information and Defense, TÜBİTAK Defense Industries Research and Development Institute, and Meteksan Defense, as well as marine industry companies Gürdesan, AYESAŞ, Sirena Marine, Arıtaş, İ-Marine, are involved in the project as subcontractors.

Production

The production of the Reis-class, formerly Cerbe-class, submarines takes place in two large hangars, Block A and B, of the Submarine Production Plant ("Denizaltı İmalat Fabrikası") at Gölcük Naval Shipyard. Block A is for welding works of submarine hull sheets and putting them together, while Block B is used for assembly and outfitting works and can accommodate three boat at one time.

For the six submarines, the chosen names are TCG Pirireis, TCG Hızırreis, TCG Muratreis, TCG Aydınreis, TCG Seydialireis and TCG Selmanreis, after the 16th-century Ottoman Navy admirals Piri Reis, Kurtoğlu Hızır Reis, Murat Reis the Elder, Aydın Reis, Seydi Ali Reis and Selman Reis. Two submarines, the from 1960 to 1973 and the form 1980 to 2004, were formerly named TCG Pirireis.

The first submarine, the TCG Pirireis, was laid down at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard with the welding ceremony taking place on 28 September 2015. The construction of three other Reis-class submarines, namely TCG Hızırreis, TCG Muratreis and TCG Aydınreis, followed. On 22 December 2019, TCG Pirireis was launched and put into a dry dock for outfitting. While the construction of three laid-down vessels was in progress, the first welding of the fifth submarine, the TCG Seydialireis, took place the same day. The lead submarine began sea trials in December 2022.[1]

The six submarines of the class are planned for delivery to the Turkish Navy at one year intervals beginning with the lead boat in 2023. [2]

Characteristics

The Reis-class submarines are Type 214 submarines featuring air-independent propulsion (AIP) using fuel cell technology. The boats are able to deploy heavyweight torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and to lay mines.

Submarines in class

!Name!Pennant!Builder!Laid down!Launched!Commissioned!Status
PiriReisS-330Gölcük Naval Shipyard2015March 2021Under sea trials. Expected to be commissioned in 2024.[3]
HızırReisS-331Gölcük Naval Shipyard201725 May 2023Launched.[4]
MuratReisS-332Gölcük Naval Shipyard201824 June 2024Towed to the floating dock.[5]
AydınReisS-333Gölcük Naval Shipyard2019Under construction.[6]
SeydialiReisS-334Gölcük Naval Shipyard2020Under construction.[7]
SelmanReisS-335Gölcük Naval Shipyard2022Under construction.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First Turkish Navy's Reis class submarine Piri Reis starts sea trials . 6 December 2022 .
  2. Web site: Turkish Navy's first Reis-class (Type 214TN) AIP submarine begins sea trials . 7 December 2022 .
  3. Web site: Turkey's first Reis-class submarine starts sea trials . 2023-05-12 . Janes.com . en.
  4. Web site: 2023-05-25 . HIZIRREİS denizaltısı suya indirildi SavunmaSanayiST . 2023-05-25 . tr.
  5. Web site: Yapım ve donatımı süren "TCG MURATREİS" denizaltısı yüzer havuza çekildi . 2024-06-09 . www.aa.com.tr.
  6. Web site: Turkey's first Reis-class submarine starts sea trials . 2023-05-12 . Janes.com . en.
  7. Web site: Turkey's first Reis-class submarine starts sea trials . 2023-05-12 . Janes.com . en.
  8. Web site: Turkey's first Reis-class submarine starts sea trials . 2023-05-12 . Janes.com . en.