On February 22, 2022, Turkiye’s Anadolu Shipyard (ADIK) launched of the first vessel of the New Type Landing Craft project in Istanbul. A total of 8 next generation LCT will be constructed under this project.
The Head of Turkish Defence Agency (SSB), Prof. Dr. Haluk Gorgun, attended the ceremony as the chief guest among other high level attendants including the Deputy MoD, Commander of the Turkish Fleet, and so on.
“We successfully launched the first ship of our New Type Landing Ship (YLCT) project. This proud day brought us one step closer to our goal of having a stronger and more deterrent navy in the Blue Homeland.” said Mr Gorgun on his social media accounts.
“Within the scope of our New Type Landing Ship Project, 8 ships will be built, and after the first ship we launched today, our second ship will be ready for launching within a week.”
Prof.Dr.Haluk Görgün, Head of SSB
The YLCT, which is expected to boost the amphibious operation capability of the Turkish Navy, will be able to carry three national ALTAY main battle tanks or different types of vehicles and troops. It will play an important role not only in combat missions, but also in natural disasters, humanitarian aid and evacuation operations.
These vessels has a displacement of 1,166 tons, with an overall length of 79.9 meters, a beam of 11.7 meters, and a draught of less than 1.0 meter at the forward section and less than 2.5 meters at the aft section. YLCTs, with a 420 ton loading capacity and the capability to transport up to 3 Main Battle Tanks (MBT) in a single transfer, are the fastest in their class. Beyond their military operations, these ships are also adept at executing disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and evacuation missions.
The vessel is powered by two 3,400 kW main engines, driving two fixed propellers, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 20 knots. It has a vehicle deck area of 410 m² and can carry 260 tons of mixed vehicles, accommodating either 3 battle tanks or 260 marines. Additionally, it is capable of transporting 7 battle tanks in a pier-to-pier configuration.
The vessel is armed with two 12.7mm stabilized guns (Aselsan STAMP) and two 25mm remote-controlled guns (Aselsan STOP), enhancing its defensive capabilities.
Naval News comments
YLCT is a follow up project of the Turkish Navy’s Ç-151 fast LCT project. With Ç-151 project, Turkish amphibious forces gained the capability of more efficient landing thanks to the speed and payload capability of these vessels. The project started at the beginning of 2024, the contract was signed in April 2024, and the launching ceremony of the first ship was held 10 months after the contract was signed.
A total of eight YLCTs are planned to be constructed under this project. The second vessel is expected to be launched within a week, while the remaining ships are scheduled for completion within 27 months. According to the project timeline, the first ship is set to enter service in November 2025, with the final vessel expected to be commissioned by May 2027.
