Turkish Navy commissions first Reis-class submarine

The first of six new Type 214TN Reis-class air independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) under construction for the Turkish Navy has entered service.

First-of-class TCG Pirireis (S 330) was formally commissioned during a ceremony held at Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris, southwest Türkiye, on 25 August, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed the same day.

The event also marked several other milestones for the Reis-class programme, including the start of initial sea trials for second-in-class Hizirreis (S 331), while third-in-class Muratreis (S 332) was docked for fitting out.

Türkiye selected German shipbuilder thyssenkrupp Marine Systems' (then Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft's) Type 214-class AIP submarine design in 2008 to meet its requirement for new boats to replace ageing Type 209 boats. A contract worth around EUR2.5 billion (then valued at USD3.96 billion) was signed in 2009 covering the delivery of material packages for the six boats, which are being built at Gölcük Naval Shipyard using a high degree of local content.

Pirireis started construction in 2015 and was floated out in March 2021. The lead boat was originally planned to be delivered in 2022, but this date was pushed back due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Under current planning, Hizirreis will be commissioned in 2025, followed by Muratreis in 2026.

The remaining boats in the series are at various stages of construction; fourth-in-class Aydinreis (S 333) was laid down in 2019, followed by fifth boat Seydialireis (S 334) in 2020 and sixth-in-class Selmanreis (S 335) in 2022. All six are planned to be in service by 2029.