Turkish Navy’s new LHD Anadolu enters service

Turkish Navy LPD/LHD TCG Anadolu (L 400). (Cem Devrim Yaylali)

The Turkish Navy’s new landing helicopter dock (LHD) TCG Anadolu (L 400) was formally commissioned into service during a ceremony held at Sedef Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul, on 10 April.

Anadolu was built by Sedef Shipyard in partnership with Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia under a contract signed in 2015. The ship is based on Navantia’s Juan Carlos I-class landing platform dock (LPD) design.

The LHDwas laid down in February 2018, launched in May 2019, and delivered to the Turkish Navy in January 2023 to complete the final phase of its sea-acceptance trials.

With a full load displacement of 27,514 tonnes, an overall length of 230.8 m, a 32 m beam, and a 7 m draught, it will be the largest ship in the Turkish Navy.

The ship has a top speed of 21 kt, a standard range of 9,000 n mile at 15 kt, and an endurance of 90 days.

Key features include a 5,440 m² flight deck with six landing spots for medium-sized helicopters, a 1,000 m² aircraft hangar, a 1,800 m²