Turkish Navy’s new type landing ship enters service

May 13, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The first vessel of Türkiye’s New Type Landing Craft Tank (YLCT) project, TCG Ç-159, has officially entered service with the Turkish Naval Forces following an accelerated construction program completed in just 18 months.

Developed under a contract signed with the Presidency of Defense Industries and built at Anadolu Shipyard, the vessel marks the lead ship of an eight-unit class designed to significantly enhance Türkiye’s amphibious and logistical naval capabilities.

The Turkish shipyard confirmed that the vessel is completed and will start active service within the navy.

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Officials highlighted that TCG Ç-159 was completed in an “extremely short” 18-month timeframe, reflecting an emphasis on rapid production and indigenous naval engineering. The vessel is described as part of a fully original and national design program.

TCG Ç-159 has a displacement of approximately 1,156 tons, with a length of 79.9 metres and a beam of 11.7 metres. These dimensions allow the vessel to operate close to shore while maintaining stability and carrying capacity for amphibious logistics missions.

The vessel was launched in February 2025 and delivered in December 2025.

The New Type LCTs are also reported to be among the fastest landing ships in their class. Beyond traditional military transport and landing operations, the vessels are designed for a broad range of secondary missions.

These include critical support during natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and earthquakes, as well as transport of personnel and vehicles to areas inaccessible by road.

With TCG Ç-159 now in service, the New Type LCT program represents the next evolutionary step in Türkiye’s amphibious warfare and dual-use naval support capabilities.

To remind, the second vessel in this class, Ç-160, was launched in March 2025.