During the late-1980s and throughout the 1990s, the Turkish Navy invested in two new important fighting frigate ship types - the Yavuz and Barbaros classes. Both were built to a design standard established by the Germans as the multirole "MEKO" with the latter offering evolved under the "MEKO 200" (or "Modified MEKO") initiative. Blohm & Voss shipbuilders of Germany handled the bulk of the original work for its part in the establishment of the classes with some of the work also done at local Turkish shipyards.
The first batch of four warships were given COmbined Diesel-Or-Diesel (CODOD) propulsion schemes and this switched to the COmbined Diesel-Or-Gas (CODOG) scheme in the second group, the Barbaros-class, to promote higher operating speeds. Armament was slightly altered as well and command systems, radar, and crew/systems protection were all improved. TCG Orucreis became one of the Barbaros-class' number and was built by the local Golcuk Naval Shipyard of Turkey. She was launched on July 28th, 1994 and formally commissioned on May 23rd, 1997 to begin active service with the modern Turkish Navy.
The Barbaros-class encompasses lead-ship TCG Barbaros (F-244) and sister ships TCG Orucreis (F-245), TCG Salihreis (F-246), and TCG Kemalreis (F-247). Are all rated at 3,400 tons and form eight of the sixteen total frigates available to the Turkish naval service (this includes the Yavuz-class and the Gabya-class) today (2018).
TCG Orucreis displaces 3,380 tons and fields an overall length of 383 feet, a beam of 48.5 feet, and a draught of 14 feet. Aboard is a crew numbering 170 to 190 personnel (including a modest air wing support crew). The stern-based helipad supports one medium-lift navy helicopter or similar.
Its CODOG arrangement consists of 2 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines coupled with 2 x MTU marine diesels producing up to 60,000 horsepower to 2 x Shafts (controllable pitch). Maximum reachable speed is 32 knots and range is out to 4,100 nautical miles. The economically-minded CODOG arrangement supplies variable power to enhance distinct actions - general cruising or fast dashing - as needed while maximizing operational ranges.
Onboard systems include the AWS-9 3D air-search radar, the AWS-6 "Dolphin" air/surface-search radar, and the STIR Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launcher control suite. A single Decca 2040 system provides navigational aid while the SQS-56 is the hull-mounted sonar unit. The SLQ-25 "Nixie" is the crucial ship-saving torpedo decoy fit.
Armament
There is a single-barreled 5" /54 caliber Mark 45 turreted deck gun over the forecastle. This is backed by 2 x Mk.141 "Harpoon" ASMs in quadruple launcher packs at midships. 1 x 16-cell Mk.41 Mod 8 Vertical Launch System (VLS) is fitted for firing RIM-162 ESSM "Sea Sparrow" anti-aircraft missiles. 3 x 25mm Oerlikon-Contraves "Sea Zenith" systems fulfill the Close-In defense role. 2 x Mark 32 torpedo tubes are also carried. All told, the warship has the capability to engage targets in the air, on land, on sea, and under the sea making her a true multirole fighting frigate.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
✓Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
✓Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
✓Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
✓Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
Length
383.0 ft 116.74 m
Beam
49.0 ft 14.94 m
Draught
13.9 ft 4.24 m
Displacement
3,100 tons
Installed Power:
CODOG: 2 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines developing 60,000 horsepower with 2 x MTU 20V1163 marine diesels supplying 13,060 horsepowerl 2 x Shafts under stern.
Surface Speed
32.0 kts (36.8 mph)
Range
4,084 nm (4,700 mi | 7,564 km)
kts = knots | mph = miles-per-hour | nm = nautical miles | mi = miles | km = kilometers
1 kts = 1.15 mph | 1 nm = 1.15 mi | 1 nm = 1.85 km
1 x 5" /54 caliber Mark 45 turreted deck gun.
1 x Mk 41 Mod 8 Vertical Launch System (VLS) supporting 16 x RIM-162 ESSM 'Sea Sparrow" medium-range, Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs).
2 x 4-cell Mk 141 "Harpoon" anti-ship missile launchers.
3 x 25mm Oerlikon "Sea Zenith" Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs).
2 x Mark 32 torpedo launchers.
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
1 x Sikorsky S-70B "Seahawk" OR Bell AB212 medium-lift navy helicopter at stern hangar/helipad.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective naval campaigns / operations / periods.
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Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery network.
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