Naval Undersecreteriat Period (1928-1949)
The Naval Undersecreteriat was founded in January 1928 and assigned to the Ministry of National Defense in 1928 by the Turkish General Staff (TGS). With this new reorganization, the Turkish Fleet Command was put under the command of the TGS in terms of administration and logistics.
At that time, the Turkish Navy conducted its activities in Gölcük with the following ships: the Yavuz, Turgutreis, Hamidiye and Mecidiye Cruisers, the Peyk-i Sevket and Berk-i Satvet Torpedo Cruisers and the Samsun, Basra and Tasoz Destroyers. Built in the Netherlands, I. Inönü and II. Inönü Submarines which reflect the excitement and enthusiasm of the Turkish War of Independence joined the Turkish Navy in 1928.
On 2 November 1930, the Naval War College commenced training and education of Staff Officers at its facilities in the Yildiz Palace. The Italian-built Adatepe, Kocatepe, Tinaztepe and Zafer Destroyers; the Dumlupinar, Sakarya Submarines and the Marti, Denizkusu and Dogan Fast Attack Crafts joined the Republican Fleet in 1931. In 1933, with the approval of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Gölcük was designated as the main base of the Turkish Navy. In the same year, the first ship built at the Gölcük Shipyard, the Gölcük tanker, was laid down, and launched the following year.
After the completion of its overhaul period in 1930, the Yavuz Battle Cruiser served as the Turkish Navy's Flagship until 1950, becoming the symbol of the magnificent power of the Turkish Republic at the seas. A number of Heads of State and high-level foreign officials were received onboard this ship.
With the signing of the Montreaux Convention in 1936, Turkey's sovereignty over the Turkish Straits was guaranteed and secured at international level. In the days following the signing of this agreement, Fortified Area Commands were founded in the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits and newly established Naval Detachments were assigned to these Commands.
As the outbreak of World War II became inevitable, the Turkish Navy's war strength was at a considerably high level. In 1939, 4 Destroyers, 4 submarines and 2 minelayers had been ordered from England. In the same year, the German-built SALDIRAY-(I) Submarine was commissioned into the Turkish Navy. The ATILAY-(I) and YILDIRAY-(I) Submarines, built at the Taskizak shipyard and named by the Great Leader ATATÜRK, were launched. The submarine BATIRAY was seized by the German Navy in September 1939, because of the imminence of the War. For security reasons, the Naval Schools moved to Mersin from Istanbul during World War II and the education and training activities were conducted there.
During the War, on 23 June 1941, while she was sailing from Mersin to Alexandria, the REFAH Cargo Ship, which was carrying the personnel of 4 submarines and 20 Army Academy Cadets who were sent to England for training, sank after hitting a torpedo launched from an unknown submarine. A great number of personnel were martyred in this sad event. On 14 July 1942, while conducting underwater research operations, the ATILAY submarine struck a mine left from World War I and sank. This unfortunate event resulted in the loss of 39 sailors. In the dark and gloomy days when World War II brought agony, terror and distress to the world, these 2 unfortunate events deeply saddened and shocked the Turkish Nation.
The modernization and reorganization efforts of the Turkish Navy gained momentum after the end of World War II. As a result, major progress was made in defining new goals and targets. Here, there was a significant increase in the number of surface ships and submarines procured from the United States. Important projects in training, personnel and logistics were realized and major steps towards today's modern, able and mighty Turkish Navy were taken.
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