TCG Anadolu

In December 2013, the Turkish LPD/LHD program was originally estimated to cost €375 million ($500 million).{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131229/DEFREG01/312290003/Turkey-Selects-Local-Shipyard-LPD-Contract |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140101192002/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131229/DEFREG01/312290003/Turkey-Selects-Local-Shipyard-LPD-Contract |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 January 2014 |title=Turkey Selects Local Shipyard for LPD Contract |publisher=defensenews.com |date=29 December 2013 |accessdate=5 November 2014}} 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.[http://blogs.plymouth.ac.uk/dcss/2015/05/11/turkey-signs-contract-with-navantia-sedef-for-the-construction-of-a-light-aircraft-carrier/ "Turkey signs contract with Navantia-Sedef for the construction of a light aircraft carrier"], Dartmouth Centre for Seapower and Strategy, Plymouth University, 11 May 2015.

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.[http://turkishnavy.net/2015/05/ "The Contract For LPD Construction Has Been Signed"], Bosphorus Naval News, 19 May 2015. Turkey was a Level 3 partner in the Joint Strike Fighter program that led to the F-35 Lightning II. The Turkish Air Force was intending to get the F-35A CTOL version, until the U.S. Senate blocked the export of the fighter jet to Turkey due to its purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia, which is subjected to CAATSA sanctions. Instead of the F-35B STOVL version, in the short term the Turkish Navy will operate domestically-produced UCAVs such as the Bayraktar TB3 and Bayraktar Kızılelma.

According to the official specifications, Anadolu will be capable of operating up to 10 F-35Bs, if Turkey purchases the aircraft in the future, and 12 medium-sized helicopters in the "V/STOL aircraft carrier" configuration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/05/13/turkeys-new-assault-carrier-will-transform-navy/#264f5bea9f1d|title = Turkey's New Assault Carrier Will Transform Navy| website=Forbes }}

The dimensions of the final design are {{convert|231|m|ftin|sp=us}} in length, a {{convert|32|m|ftin|sp=us|adj=on}} beam, a {{convert|6.8|m|ftin|sp=us|adj=on}} draft, and {{convert|58|m|ftin|sp=us}} in height. Her displacement is 24,660 tons in "V/STOL aircraft carrier" mission configuration, or 27,079 tons in "amphibious assault ship" mission configuration. Her maximum speed is {{convert|21.5|kn|lk=in}} in "STOVL aircraft carrier" configuration, or {{convert|29|kn}} in "amphibious assault ship" configuration. Her maximum range is {{convert|9000|nmi|lk=in}} at an economical speed.

The ship has a {{convert|1,880|m2|abbr=on}} light cargo garage for TEU containers and 27 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV); a {{convert|1,165|m2|abbr=on}} dock which can host four Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) or two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), or two Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP); and a {{convert|1,410|m2|abbr=on}} garage for heavy loads, which can host 29 main battle tanks (MBT), Amphibious Assault Vehicles, and TEU containers. The ship is protected by the ARAS-2023 diver detection sonar (DDS). She has a crew of 261 personnel: 30 officers, 49 NCOs, 59 leading seamen, and 123 ratings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.star.com.tr/savunma/tcg-anadoluyu-yerli-aras-2023-koruyacak-haber-1529877/|title=TCG Anadolu'yu yerli ARAS-2023 koruyacak {{!}} STAR|website=Star.com.tr|date=10 April 2020 |access-date=23 April 2020}}

The ship has a {{convert|5,440|m2|abbr=on}} flight deck and a {{convert|990|m2|abbr=on}} aviation hangar which can accommodate either 12 medium-sized helicopters or 8 Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. When the aviation hangar and the light cargo garage are unified, the ship can carry up to 25 medium-sized helicopters. Alternatively, the ship can carry up to 10 F-35B STOVL fighter jets and 12 medium-sized helicopters, with the possibility of hosting six more helicopters on the flight deck of the ship.

The S-70B-28 Seahawk and the AH-1W Super Cobra are the two main types of helicopters that are used on TCG Anadolu, with the occasional use of the Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters in the inventory of the Turkish Army during military exercises and operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfLyjvOoSmE|title=TCG Anadolu eğitim gerçekleştirdi|publisher=TRT Haber|date=8 June 2023}} The AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters will eventually be complemented and replaced by the TAI T929 ATAK 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2022/11/24/tcg-anadolu-turkeys-new-flagship-will-carry-unique-aircraft/?sh=14028ead6ccf|title=TCG Anadolu: Turkey's New Flagship Will Carry Unique Aircraft|author=Paul Iddon|work=Forbes|date=24 November 2022}}

The MALE Bayraktar TB3{{cite web|url=https://baykartech.com/en/bayraktar-tb3/|title=Bayraktar TB3|website=baykartech.com|publisher=Baykar Technology}}{{cite web|url=https://baykartech.com/en/uav/bayraktar-tb3/|title=Bayraktar TB3 UCAV: General Information|website=baykartech.com|publisher=Baykar Technology}}{{cite web|url=https://baykartech.com/en/press/turkiyes-new-combat-drone-completes-endurance-flight-test/|title=Türkiye's new combat drone completes endurance flight test|website=baykartech.com|publisher=Baykar Technology|date=22 December 2023}} and the jet-powered, low-observable Bayraktar Kızılelma{{cite web|url=https://baykartech.com/en/press/baykars-unmanned-fighter-aircraft-completes-first-flight/|title=Baykar's unmanned fighter aircraft completes first flight|website=baykartech.com|publisher=Baykar Technology|date=15 December 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/05/here-is-how-uavs-will-be-recovered-aboard-tcg-anadolu/|title=Here Is How UAVs Will Be Recovered Aboard TCG Anadolu|website=navalnews.com|publisher=Naval News|author=Tayfun Özberk|date=1 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxVpXGf8e8I|title=Bayraktar Kızılelma's Formation Flights — A First in Aviation History|publisher=Baykar Technologies|date=5 June 2023}} are the two UCAVs that are specifically designed and manufactured to be used on TCG Anadolu.

On 19 November 2024, Baykar Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully took-off from the flight deck of TCG Anadolu and landed on the ship.{{Cite web |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |date=19 November 2024 |title=TB3 Operates From Turkey's 'Drone Carrier' Amphibious Assault Ship For The First Time |url=https://www.twz.com/air/tb3-drone-lands-takes-off-from-turkeys-drone-carrier-amphibious-assault-ship |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://baykartech.com/en/press/bayraktar-tb3-uav-successfully-continues-ship-tests/|title=Bayraktar TB3 UAV successfully continues ship tests|website=baykartech.com|publisher=Baykar Technology|date=26 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPS5Mv8tvXQ|title=Bayraktar TB3 PT-2 59th Test|publisher=Baykar Technology|date=26 November 2024}} It was the first time a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft of this size and class had successfully landed on a short-runway landing helicopter dock, without the use of an arresting gear.{{Cite web |last=Ozberk |first=Tayfun |date=19 November 2024 |title=Bayraktar TB3 Takes off and land aboard Turkish carrier |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/11/bayraktar-tb3-takesoff-and-land-aboard-turkish-carrier/ |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}

The final contract for the construction of the ship was signed with the Navantia-Sedef consortium on 7 May 2015.[http://www.denizhaber.com.tr/havuzlu-cikarma-gemisi-2021-yilinda-deniz-kuvvetlerine-teslim-edilecek-haber-61764.htm "Havuzlu Çıkarma Gemisi 2021 yılında Deniz Kuvvetleri'ne teslim edilecek"], Denizhaber.com.tr, 7 May 2015. The commissioning of the ship was initially scheduled for 2021, and the estimated cost of the ship according to the final specifications was declared as $1 billion in 2015. The construction works began on 30 April 2016 at the shipyard of Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul.

A small area in the forward of the ship caught fire whilst in dry dock on the evening of 29 April 2019, but the fire was quickly extinguished and the minor damage on the coating paint (stains of smoke and flames) was subsequently repaired with a fresh repainting.{{Cite web|url=https://maritimebulletin.net/2019/04/30/turkish-first-aircraft-carrier-on-fire-video/|title=Turkish first aircraft carrier on fire VIDEO |website=Maritime Bulletin}}

On 27 February 2022, the sea trials of Anadolu began.{{Cite web |last=Ozberk |first=Tayfun |date=28 February 2022 |title=Turkey's future LHD Anadolu Starts Sea Trials |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/02/turkeys-future-lhd-anadolu-starts-sea-trials/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}} TCG Anadolu was commissioned with a ceremony, attended by President Erdoğan, on 10 April 2023.{{cite news |last1=Hacaoglu |first1=Selcan |title=Erdogan to Show Military Clout With Drone Carrier as Vote Looms |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-10/erdogan-to-show-military-clout-with-drone-carrier-as-vote-looms |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=10 April 2023}}

According to media reports in 2019, the construction of a sister ship, to be named Trakya, was being planned by the Turkish Navy.{{cite web|url=https://www.denizhaber.com/guncel/tcg-trakya-ne-zaman-bitecek-h81915.html|title=TCG Trakya ne zaman bitecek?|author=Ahmet Doğan|publisher=DenizHaber.com|date=9 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.savunmasanayist.com/deniz-kuvvetlerinden-tcg-trakya-aciklamasi/|title=Deniz Kuvvetlerinden TCG Trakya açıklaması|author=Anıl Şahin|publisher=SavunmaSanayiST.com|date=14 February 2019}} However, the Turkish Navy gave priority to the construction of the indigenously-designed MUGEM-class aircraft carrier, which began on 2 January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/01/turkish-navy-starts-construction-of-3-major-projects-mugem-aircraft-carrier-tf-2000-destroyer-and-milden/|title=Turkish Navy starts construction of 3 major projects: MUGEM Aircraft Carrier, TF-2000 Destroyer, MILDEN Submarine|author=Tayfun Ozberk|publisher=Naval News|website=navalnews.com|date=2 January 2025}}{{Cite web |date=2 January 2025 |title=Turkiye Begins MILDEN, TF-2000, and MUGEM Constructions {{!}} TURDEF |url=https://turdef.com/article/turkiye-begins-milden-tf-2000-and-mugem-constructions |access-date=2 January 2025 |website=turdef.com |language=en}} The first MUGEM-class aircraft carrier is being built at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard.

• Spanish amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I
• {{sclass|Canberra|landing helicopter dock|1}}
• MUGEM-class aircraft carrier

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|TCG Anadolu (L-400)}}

{{Ship classes of the Turkish Navy}}

{{Aircraft carrier classes in service}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anadolu}}

Category:2019 ships

Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the Turkish Navy

Category:Ships built at Sedef Shipyard

Category:Helicopter carriers

Category:Drone carriers