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TCG Istanbul (TF-100)

2023 MODERN NAVY

History

The TF-100 class is an initiative of the modern Turkish Navy to increase the collection of four guided missile frigates led by TCG Istanbul. Istanbul saw her keel laid on January 19, 2017, and is expected to start sailing sometime in 2021.

Her commissioning date is planned at the time of writing (December 2017). This class is the result of the MILGEM national warship program promoted by the Turkish government, including the Ada-class frigates described elsewhere on this website.

The TF-100 class frigates were designed to replace the Cold War-era G-class frigates, which were nothing more than modernized Turkish Navy variants of the US Navy's original Oliver Hazard Perry class ships.

Described as a multi-mission guided missile frigate for patrol and deterrence, the frigate will be built to 3,300-ton standards, with a total length of 371.4 feet, a beam of 47.2 feet, and a draft of 13 feet. 2 feet. The relatively shallow draft allows the ship to operate close to shore to support ground forces. The propulsion scheme will be a hybrid arrangement comprising a single gas turbine and a pair of diesel engines driving 2 shafts below the stern.

Top speed is estimated at 29 knots and range is up to 7,560 miles. The total number of crew members does not exceed 125, consisting of officers and soldiers (as well as crew members).

Proposed armament includes 1 x 76mm OTO Melara turret deck above the forecastle with 2 x 25mm Aselsan STOP chain guns and 1 x Close-In Weapon System (CIWS). The ship will also carry 2 x 324 mm (13 in) twin torpedo tubes.

Missile-guided components of the weapon kit include Harpoon anti-ship missiles (16 rounds) and Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), stock 21 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) Aft is a combined suspension/helicopter flight deck for up to 2 A Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk (or similar) medium helicopter with launch and recovery capability for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is also mentioned.

The warship is expected to incorporate a variety of current stealth technologies on its hull and superstructure, including low-profile funnels and enclosed masts. A hull-mounted variable depth sonar fits the design, as does an advanced digital processing system for search, track and engagement (fire control).