Turkey launched the 140-meter amphibious ship "Bayraktar," the first of two vessels that are part of a domestic Landing Ship, Tank (LST) project, reports Local media.
The two ships boast local design and construction and are aimed at meeting the operational requirements of the Turkish Naval Forces Command, according to the website of Anadolu Tersanesi, the company that constructed the ship.
The Bayraktar is a fast amphibious vessel of upper-intermediate size with powerful armaments.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined the refugee crisis faced in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas during his address given at the ceremony, and efforts of the Turkish naval forces to minimize the losses.
Stating that Turkey had to import 80 percent of its defense inventory in 2002, Erdoğan said that Turkey has now reduced its foreign dependency in defense to 40 percent and aims to eliminate dependency by 2023.
The ship’s primary function will be amphibious operations and troop transfer, while it will also be useful for swift humanitarian interventions and search-and-rescue work in disaster areas, its construction company says.
The company adds that the ship, which weighs 7,125 tons, is 140 meters long and 20 meters wide, reaching a speed upwards of 18 knots at full load. It is expected to serve for 40 years.
The amphibious ship will have a crew capacity of 12 officers, 51 petty officers, 66 privates, a 17-strong joint operations personnel and a total of 350 marines.
The Bayraktar is capable of carrying 1,180 tons of mixed vehicles or cargo. It has also a helicopter field.