During cruise progress, there is no water in the 1,165m2 wide well dock, which has to be flooded prior to any amphibious landing operation via engines, after opening the stern ramp/door. The dock can also be flooded while the ship is in motion. Right next to the well dock is the Heavy Vehicle Deck. After the mission, water is discharged, again by the pumps/motors, and the well dock becomes dry again. According to ship’s personnel, the Juan Carlos LHD of Spanish Navy can conduct amphibious operations while in motion, and the ship can cruise at 5 knots with the stern ramp/door in the down position, or 10 knots when the well dock is flooded. The vessel can reach a maximum cruising speed of 19 knots with the stern ramp/door open upwards. However, when the vessel undertakes amphibious operations (when the dock area is filled with water and loading of the landing craft destined to bring the Marines ashore begins), it cannot get too close to the shore, as a precaution against possible counter attacks, as it has to move at low speed for about four hours or wait in a fixed position some 150-200km offshore. TCG Anadolu will have an endurance of 30 days, and will be able to carry a battalion-size amphibious task force (Amphibious Marine Battalion) with its equipment – a total of 94 vehicles, including 13 ALTAY MBT, 27 Marine Assault Vehicles (FNSS ZAHA), six APCs and 48 assorted other vehicles. A total of 1,223 personnel will serve on board the ship, and land, air force, and amphibious unit command and control systems, including NATO Headquarters systems, to be configured according to operational requirements, will be embodied in the vessel. In addition to the GENESIS ADVENT combat management system (CMS) network, the ship information systems infrastructure will include TSK-Net, Internet, NATO Network, Message Operating System (MIS), and ship administrative local area networks. The TCG Anadolu, with a full displacement of 27,436t, will also feature an infirmary/hospital facility with at least a 30 bed capacity, including two operating rooms, X-ray devices, dental treatment units, intensive care facilities and isolation rooms. The vessel is intended for use as a hospital ship in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The TCG Anadolu LHD was designed with a flight deck from which new-generation short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B aircraft can land during wartime. The vessel has the infrastructure and the capacity to be able to operate and support up to 19 F-35Bs if necessary. However, due to the tensions between the USA and Turkey regarding procurement of the S-400 Triumf long-range air and missile defence system from Russia, it was recognised that the sale of the F-35B to Turkey would not be possible in the foreseeable future, and the option of converting Anadolu into a UAV ship was put forward in 2020. It was decided to The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship (LHD) Anadolu, which is intended to transform the regional power projection capabilities and firmly establish the strike power of the Turkish Naval Forces (TNF), underwent its initial shipyard technical cruise test in the Sea of Marmara in March. In addition to performance tests of the onboard machinery, conducted in collaboration with Turk Loydu (Turkish Lloyd), engine endurance and emergency tests, crash tests and anchoring tests were successfully performed. Featuring 68% domestic content, Anadolu is expected to be delivered temporarily to Turkish Naval Force Command (TNFC) in December. The Multipurpose Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD) project contract was signed in June 2015 by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. (SEDEF Shipyard). First steel was cut on Anadolu – destined to be the largest TNF ship built to date, at 232m and 27,436t – in April 2016. TCG Anadolu, whose outfitting and test activities continue, was recently powered up for the first time, and commissioning and testing of installed onboard systems have begun. In January and February, prior to the recent sea trials, Anadolu tested its floodable 70m x 17m well dock, capable of hosting four LCM-1E landing craft or two LCACs [Landing craft Air Cushion], each of which can carry a single tank. In order to accommodate the LCAC, TNFC requested that the central steel fender – two rows of parallel steel curtains that feature in the Spanish and Australian Juan Carlos I and Canberra-class vessels, with which she shares a design heritage – be omitted. 66 · MT 3/2022 From the Bridge Sinan Altinel First Sea Trials for Anadolu LHD
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