Recent statement about construction activities of TCG ANADOLU, the under-construction Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) of the Turkish navy, was made by the Defense Industry Presidency (DIP) of Turkey via Twitter on 1st February. In the statement, it was stated that the main drive and propulsion system integration of TCG Anadolu, which will be delivered to the Navy at the end of 2020, has been completed.
“Our Multipurpose Amphibious Assault Ship TCG ANADOLU, which is under construction in Istanbul Sedef Shipyard and launched last year, has begun a new phase. TCG ANADOLU was taken to the “pocket” dock for harbour test preparations after the completion of the main propulsion and propulsion system integration.” DIP tweeted.
TCG ANADOLU (L-408):
Within the scope of the Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD) project initiated by DIP, the construction of the TCG ANADOLU ship started. The construction of the TCG ANADOLU, which can transfer a minimum battalion-strength force without the need for base support, to its designated place with its logistic support, continues at Sedef Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul. The construction works began on 30 April 2016 at the shipyard of Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul, with the keel being laid 7 February 2018.
TCG Anadolu (L-408) is an amphibious assault ship (LHD) of the Turkish Navy that can be configured as a light aircraft carrier. It is named after the peninsula of Anatolia (Turkish: Anadolu) which forms the majority of the land mass of Turkey.
The dimensions of the final design are 231 meters in length, 32 meters beam, 6.8 meters draught, and 58 meters in height. Its displacement will be 24,660 tons (in “light aircraft carrier” mission configuration) or 27,079 tons (in “LHD” mission configuration). Its maximum speed will be 21.5 knots (in “light aircraft carrier” configuration) or 29 knots (in “LHD” configuration); while its maximum range will be 9000 miles at economical speed.
She will have a 5,440 m² flight deck and a 990 m² aviation hangar which can accommodate either 12 medium size helicopters or 8 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Alternatively, the ship can carry up to 12 F-35B (though
turkey was subtracted from F-35 program) and 12 helicopters. She is also intended to carry indigenous made 4 x T-129 ATAK helicopters, 2 x UAVs.
Additionally, the ship will have a 1,880 m² light cargo garage for TEU containers and 27 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV); a 1,165 m² 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 1,410 m² garage for heavy loads, which can host 29 Main Battle Tanks (MBT), Amphibious Assault Vehicles, and TEU containers.
