“Eastern Mediterranean-2023 Invitation Exercise” has started

Ships, personnel and observers from 9 countries participated in the exercise. Within the scope of the exercise, observers and press members were briefed on the landing ship TCG Sancaktar, anchored at Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris district of Muğla.

War Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Hüseyin Tığlı, reminded the earthquake disaster that Turkey recently experienced, and stated that the exercise will include training and execution of search and rescue and humanitarian aid transportation.

Tığlı noted that TCG Anadolu will also take an active role and duty in the exercise.

Colonel Osman Diler also gave information about the description, participants and purposes of the exercise in the briefing.

Stating that the Eastern Mediterranean-2023 Invitation Exercise will be carried out in the Eastern Mediterranean by the Naval Forces Command on 17-25 November, Diler said that the exercise will be carried out under the Command of TURMARFOR Headquarters among the Turkish Naval Forces, civilian, public institutions and NATO Permanent Task Force elements and other countries. He noted that it was performed in order to evaluate their skills simultaneously.

Stating that the exercise, planned to be in compliance with NATO Exercise Planning Procedures, will be directed and managed by the Exercise Command Center with a staff of 115 people at the Naval Warfare Center, Diler said:

“The NATO Permanent Mine Countermeasures Task Group (SNMCMG-2) elements will also participate in the exercise. As national elements, 24 ships, 10 helicopters, 5 UAVs, 3 maritime patrol aircraft, 4 submarines, 1 CBRN Team, 2 Underwater Defense (UAE) from the Naval Forces Command. SAS) team, 1 Amphibious Marine Infantry Battalion, 3 Underwater (SAT) teams, 3 helicopters from the Land Forces Command, 3 Airborne Warning and Control (HİK) aircraft from the Air Forces Command, 20 F-16s, coast guard boats from the Coast Guard Command, Ministry of Internal Affairs “, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, AFAD and the Turkish Red Crescent are participating.”

Colonel Diler explained that the main and secondary events of the exercise scenario consisted of asymmetric threat, CBRN, regional sea control, evacuation of non-combatants, humanitarian aid, natural disaster support, piracy and terrorism at sea, as well as cooperation and guidance activities for maritime transportation, and said, “19-21 November Operational preparation training including asymmetric threat training for basic types of naval operations, photox, surface shooting, land bombardment shooting, surface defense warfare, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures operation, amphibious operation and search and rescue training, and actual gun firing will be carried out. .” he said.

Diler noted that following the operational preparation training, a free play phase, including humanitarian aid and natural disaster support scenarios, will be held in the Eastern Mediterranean between 21-23 November.

Southern Task Group Commander Rear Admiral Yusuf Akyüz, observers of the countries participating in the exercise, ship commanders and military personnel attended the briefing.