TCG Piri Reis: Inside Türkiye’s Most Advanced Indigenous Submarine

TCG Piri Reis, Türkiye’s first indigenous submarine, showcases groundbreaking local engineering, stealth weaponry, and air-independent propulsion. Discover the technology, training, and secrets behind Türkiye’s most powerful underwater warship.

In the quiet depths of Türkiye’s Blue Homeland, a new chapter of national defence and engineering unfolds beneath the waves. At the heart of this silent revolution is the TCG Piri Reis, a next-generation, air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarine, designed and built largely with indigenous technology. This formidable underwater vessel, part of Türkiye’s ambitious Reis-class submarine program, represents not just an advancement in naval capabilities but a profound shift toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Commissioned on August 24, 2024, and constructed at Gölcük Shipyard, TCG Piri Reis is named after the legendary Ottoman admiral and cartographer. Today, it is more than just a namesake—it’s the embodiment of Türkiye’s strategic resolve to safeguard its maritime rights across the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

A Legacy Shipyard and an Unprecedented Project

Gölcük Shipyard Command, the home of submarine manufacturing in Türkiye for over 50 years, served as the birthplace of this engineering marvel. The construction of TCG Piri Reis marks a historic achievement: a submarine that is over 80% locally produced, from propulsion systems to weapons and sonar.

The vessel is part of Türkiye’s broader MİLGEM (National Ship) initiative, which aims to establish a fully sovereign naval force through domestic design, production, and innovation.

Engineering the Deep: Design and Propulsion

The TCG Piri Reis is a 68-meter-long, 2,000-tonne giant of the deep, capable of remaining submerged for up to 50 days without surfacing. What enables this endurance is its air-independent propulsion system—a game-changer in modern naval warfare. Unlike conventional diesel-electric submarines that must snorkel periodically to recharge batteries, TCG Piri Reis can generate power underwater using hydrogen fuel cells, remaining virtually undetectable during missions.

Dual Engine Configuration:

• Diesel Engines: Used above water or at snorkel depth to charge batteries and power systems.
• Electric Motors: Engaged underwater using stored battery power, ensuring minimal acoustic signature.
• AIP System: Recharges batteries underwater, prolonging submerged endurance without surfacing—a key advantage in stealth warfare.

To manoeuvre with precision at varying depths, the submarine uses forward and rear ballast tanks along with midship adjustable tanks arranged vertically in three rows. This design allows the vessel to stay balanced at any depth, tailored for operations in Türkiye’s four surrounding seas.

Life Beneath the Surface: Human Endurance Meets High-Tech Systems

Commanded by Şefik Kahve, the TCG Piri Reis carries a crew of over 40 personnel, all specially trained to endure the mental and physical demands of submarine life. Inside the vessel are compact living quarters that include a lounge, bunks, galley, wash areas, and a workspace—all meticulously designed to sustain extended underwater deployments.

Due to the absence of natural light, the crew depends on colour-coded lighting systems to differentiate between day and night. Submariners live in an oxygen-regulated environment maintained via two key systems:

1. Electrolysis of seawater to produce oxygen.
2. Pressurized oxygen tanks, adjusted according to real-time air quality.

Despite limited space and isolation from natural elements, submariners operate with unwavering discipline, guided by the principle that “submarining is not a job—it’s a way of life.”

Arsenal of the Deep: Torpedoes, Missiles, and Sea Mines

The true power of TCG Piri Reis lies in its arsenal. Designed for offensive and defensive underwater warfare, its weapons suite includes

1. Atmaca Cruise Missiles

• Weight: 750 kg
• Range: Over 200 km
• Features: Low radar signature, ability to change course mid-flight, effective against both land and sea targets
• Launch Capability: From underwater without surfacing

2. Akya Heavyweight Torpedoes

• Weight: 1,200 kg
• Length: 7 meters
• Drive: Dual counter-rotating electric propellers
• Features: Target tracking, resistance to acoustic decoys, dual-mode detonation (impact/proximity)

3. Malaman Smart Sea Mines

• Equipped with acoustic, magnetic, and pressure sensors
• Designed to detect and differentiate between actual threats and decoys
• Deployed at greater depths and visually disguised as seabed rocks

All these weapons are launched via eight torpedo tubes positioned at the bow in a unique 2-2-4 vertical layout.

SAT Commandos: Special Forces at Sea

TCG Piri Reis also serves as a covert base for SAT (Underwater Offense) Commandos, Türkiye’s elite naval special forces. These commandos can:

• Deploy from submerged positions via side hatches and rear SAT containers
• Conduct raids, sabotage, infiltration, and close-quarters battle
• Operate behind enemy lines without detection

This integration of special operations capability enhances the submarine’s tactical versatility and multiplies its strategic impact.

Sonar and Stealth: Echoes from the Deep

To detect threats and navigate underwater with precision, TCG Piri Reis employs advanced active and passive sonar systems, modelled on the echolocation principles of bats. These systems:

• Active Sonar: Sends sound waves and analyses their echoes to determine distance, size, and movement of objects.
• Passive Sonar: Listens for enemy ship and submarine noises without emitting detectable signals.

Passive sonar is essential for stealth operations, allowing TCG Piri Reis to remain invisible to adversaries while actively monitoring their positions.

Submarine Maintenance and Testing Pools

Critical to the submarine’s lifecycle are Türkiye’s massive drydock maintenance pools, one of which is the only one of its size in the world:

• Length: 105 meters
• Width: 25.10 meters
• Depth: 19.90 meters
• Capacity: 3,000 tons

These pools are used for:

• Testing the submarine’s buoyancy and hydrodynamics
• Maintenance and repair access to submerged components
• Launching and docking with precision

Constructed with indigenous engineering, these facilities symbolise Türkiye’s full-spectrum capability in naval warfare systems.

The Submariner’s Spirit: Training and Mental Fortitude

To serve aboard the TCG Piri Reis, personnel undergo intense theoretical and practical training—earning the submariner badge only after completing real-world internships and passing rigorous assessments. The second commander of the submarine, Yunus Emre Yıldırım, emphasizes that:

“A submariner must possess not only knowledge and skill but also calm under pressure and total solidarity with their crew.”

The psychological resilience to operate in pitch darkness, confined spaces, and prolonged silence defines the elite character of Türkiye’s submarine corps.

Strategic Significance and Global Implications

The commissioning of TCG Piri Reis signals a strategic leap for Türkiye in both regional naval dominance and global defense self-sufficiency. As geopolitical tensions rise in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea, and the Black Sea, this stealth warship acts as both a deterrent and a force multiplier.

Its ability to remain undetected while monitoring adversarial activity or launching precision strikes makes it an indispensable asset for Türkiye’s Blue Homeland Doctrine (Mavi Vatan)—a maritime strategy to defend national interests across the surrounding seas.

The TCG Piri Reis submarine is not merely a military platform—it is a symbol of Türkiye’s technological ambition, industrial resilience, and sovereign will. With world-class stealth, weaponry, and underwater endurance, it elevates the Turkish Navy into an elite league of nations capable of designing and deploying next-generation submarines entirely with domestic resources.

As Türkiye continues to construct additional Reis-class submarines and advances toward even more ambitious naval projects, the silent shadow of TCG Piri Reis beneath the waves reminds the world that true power doesn’t always roar—it listens, watches, and strikes when needed.

FAQs

Q1: What makes TCG Piri Reis different from other submarines?
A: Its AIP system, low acoustic signature, indigenous design, and ability to launch missiles from underwater make it one of the most advanced non-nuclear submarines in the world.

Q2: How long can it stay submerged?
A: Up to 50 days thanks to its air-independent propulsion system.

Q3: Is the TCG Piri Reis a nuclear submarine?
A: No. It is a conventional diesel-electric submarine with air-independent propulsion.

Q4: Can it be tracked by enemy sonar?
A: With advanced stealth design and passive sonar use, it is nearly undetectable unless it surfaces.

For continuing updates on Türkiye’s naval modernisation and indigenous defence programs, stay connected to our defence and technology section.