# Turkmen Naval Forces

The Turkmen Naval Forces (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň Harby-deňiz Güýçleri) is the naval warfare branch of the armed forces of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan's Navy Day is celebrated annually on October 9. The naval forces were directed by the Border Guard Service until 2009.

## History

The Turkmenistan navy was established in 1992. From 1992 to 1997, the Navy of Turkmenistan existed as a separate division of border guard ships and boats, deployed in the city of Turkmenbashy as part of the Border Troops of the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan, and then transferred to the subordination of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan. In August 2009, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov announced the creation of a new independent navy, saying that it would be used to protect the nation from external threats, such as "international terrorist groups" who "would like to disturb the Turkmen people's peaceful life". On 1 October 2009, Berdimuhammedov declared the previous Turkmen Navy null and void. On 22 January 2010, a 5-year program for the development of the Navy was implemented, which laid the foundation for the creation of a national Navy as part of the Ministry of Defense.
At the end of that five-year period in 2015, the navy engaged in its first major action since establishment. Turkmen naval vessels fired on a fishing boat from Iran, sinking it and killing one of the fishermen. Iranian media referred to the navy's actions as "a move beyond diplomatic norms and contrary to international law". In September 2017, it held its first naval exercises in the Caspian Sea. In early 2018, efforts were continued to strengthen the navy.
On 11 August 2021, President Berdimuhammedov commissioned the navy's first domestically assembled corvette, the Deniz Khan.

## Organization

In 2010, the Turkmenistan Navy consisted of 16 patrol boats and 2,000 servicemen.

### Ships

* Patrol Ship Sanjar
* Deňiz han-class corvette

### Base

The naval headquarters is the "Garshy" or "Dzhanga" Naval Base located at Türkmenbaşy şäherçesi in the Turkmenbashy Gulf.

### Turkmen Marines

A naval infantry (marine) unit is maintained in the Navy, the Naval Infantry Separate Brigade named after Oghuz Khagan (Turkmen: Oguz Han adyndaky Deňiz Pyýada Goşunynyň Aýratyn Brigadasy). It was issued its new colors in October 2011.

## Equipment

Equipment as of 2022 regardless of the operating service
| Type | Class | Origin | Number of Ships | Displacement | Length | Notes/ Weapons |
| Corvettes (3) |||||||
| Corvette | Deniz Han (C-92) | Turkey | 1 | 1600 tonnes | 91 meter | 1x76mm Super Rapid Gun 8x Otomat Mk2 Anti-Ship Missiles 16x VL Mica SAM 1x 35 mm ASELSAN Gokdeniz CIWS 2x 25mm ASELSAN STOP RWS 2x12.7mm ASELSAN STAMP RWS 6x ROKETSAN ASW Rocket Launcher 2x3 Torpedo Tubes |
| Corvette | Molniya | Russia | 2 | 550 tonnes | 56 meter | 1x 76mm Gun 16x Kh-35 Uran Anti-Ship Missiles 4x Igla MANPADS 2x Ak-630 CIWS |
| Missile Boats (16) |||||||
| Missile Boat | Tuzla (Serhet) Class | Turkey | 10 | 430 tonnes | 56 meter | 2x 40mm OtoMelara Gun 4x Otomat Mk2 Anti-Ship Missiles or 4x Marte Mk2 Anti-Ship Missiles 4x SIMBAD RC MANPADS 2x 25mm ASELSAN STOP RWS 2x 12.7mm ASELSAN STAMP RWS 6x ROKETSAN ASW Rocket Launcher |
| Fast Attack Missile Boat | FAC 33 | Turkey | 6 | 135 tonnes | 33 meter | 4x Marte Mk2 Anti-Ship Missiles 1x 25mm ASELSAN STOP RWS 2x 12.7mm Machine Gun |
| Patrol Boats (15) |||||||
| Patrol Boat | Point Class | USA | 1 | 69 tonnes | 25 meter | 1x 20 mm Gun |
| Patrol Boat | Sobol Class | Russia | 2 | 57 tonnes | 30 meter | 1x14.5 mm Machine Gun 2x Igla MANPADS 1x 30 mm Grenade Launcher |
| Patrol Boat | Kalkan-M | Ukraine | 1 | | 24 meter | Machine Gun |
| Fast Intervenion Boat | FIB-15 | Turkey | 10 | 22 tonnes | 15 meter | 1x 12.7mm ASELSAN STAMP RWS |
| Patrol Boat | Grif (Grit-T) | Ukraine | 1 | | 11 meter | Machine Gun |
| Amphibious Warfare Ship (1) |||||||
| Landing Craft | | Turkey | 1 | | 27 meter | 2x 12.7mm RWS |
| Auxiliary Vessels |||||||
| Multi-Purpose Offshore Support Vessel | MPOSV-72 | Turkey | 5 | 2700 tonnes | 72 meter | 2x 12.7mm RWS |
| Hydrographic Survey Ship | HSV-41 | Turkey | 1 | 500 tonnes | 41 meter | 2x 12.7mm RWS |
| Fast Passenger Ferry | | Turkey | 1 | 140 tonnes | 38 meter | |
| Tug Boat | | Turkey | 2 | 900 tonnes | 32 meter | |

### Under the Defence Ministry

Equipment as of 2015:
| Original nation | Type | Class | Name | Side number | Notes |
| Russia | Missile boat | Project 12418 | Edermen | 828 [later 211] | |
| Russia | Missile boat | Project 12418 | Gayratly | 829 [later 214] | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Speed patrol boat | NTPB project | | | Armed with French-produced SIMBAD-RC naval surface-to-air missiles |
| Soviet Union | ambulance boat | etc. SK620 | No data | No data | |
| United States | landing boat | type LCM-1 | No data | SK 156 | |
| Turkmenistan | tow | No data | No data | No data | |
| Turkmenistan | special ship | No data | No data | | Launched on 10 October 2015 |

### Under the DSG

Equipment includes:
| Original nation | Type | Class | Name | Side number | Notes |
| United States | Patrol boat | project from Point | Merjin | SG110 | 10 May 2010 at Point Jackson |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Arkadag | SG111 | 2012 |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Berkarar | SG112 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Merdana | SG113 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Erkana | SG114 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Asuda | SG115 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Mergen | SG116 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Hüsgär | SG117 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Synmaz | SG118 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Nayza | SG119 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Ezber | SG120 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Algyr | 211 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Fleet patrol boat | NTPB project | Hanjar ? | 215 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Small missile boat ( Marte 2/N ) | Dearsan 33 project | Kämil | SG121 | 2015 |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Small missile boat ( Marte 2/N ) | Dearsan 33 project | <unknown> | SG122 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Small missile boat ( Marte 2/N ) | Dearsan 33 project | Galjaň | SG123 | |
| Turkey Turkmenistan | Small missile boat ( Marte 2/N ) | Dearsan 33 project | Gaplaň | SG124 | |
| Turkey | Fleet patrol boat | Type АМВ | Bars-12 | No data | |
| Ukraine | Patrol boat | Кalkan-М | No data | No data | Purchased in 2002. |
| Ukraine | Patrol boat | Grid-T | No data | No data | Purchased in 2002. |
| Russia | Patrol boat | | No data | SK 131 | |
| Russia | Patrol boat | | No data | | |

## Naval education
### Turkmen Naval Institute

In June 2010, the State Security Council of Turkmenistan announced the creation of a naval institute (Turkmen: Harby-deňiz institutynda) in Turkmenbashi. It was officially opened by President Berdimuhamedow on Navy Day in 2015. It is one of the more recently established military educational institutions in Turkmenistan. In September 2014, over 100 cadets of the naval institute attended a training course organized by the OSCE on maritime border security and the management of ports. Candidates are admitted to the Naval Institute based on the results of entrance exams of the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan.
The following have served as rectors of the institute:
* Colonel Serdar Yalkabov (June 2010-3 August 2021)
* Captain 2nd Rank Meylis Byashimov (since 3 August 2021)

### Specialized Naval School

The Specialized Naval School is a boarding school for Turkmen youth, part of the defense ministry. Admission to study at the Specialized Naval School requires youth who are in 7th grade as well as morally educated and physically strong students.

## Ranks and insignia
### Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Turkmen Naval Forces vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Turkmen Naval Forces vte | | | Flot admiraly | Flot admiraly | Admiral | Admiral | Wise-admiral | Wise-admiral | Kontr-admiral | Kontr-admiral | 1-nji derejeli kapitan | 1-nji derejeli kapitan | 2-nji derejeli kapitan | 2-nji derejeli kapitan | 3-nji derejeli kapitan | 3-nji derejeli kapitan | Kapitan-leýtenant | Kapitan-leýtenant | Uly leýtenant | Uly leýtenant | Leýtenant | Leýtenant | Kiçi leýtenant | Kiçi leýtenant |

### Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Turkmen Naval Forces vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Turkmen Naval Forces vte | | | | | | | Baş gämi starşinasy | Baş gämi starşinasy | Baş starşina | Baş starşina | Birinji basgançakly starşina | Birinji basgançakly starşina | Birinji basgançakly starşina | Birinji basgançakly starşina | Birinji basgançakly starşina | Birinji basgançakly starşina | Ikinji basgançakly starşina | Ikinji basgançakly starşina | Ikinji basgançakly starşina | Ikinji basgançakly starşina | Ikinji basgançakly starşina | Ikinji basgançakly starşina | | | | | Matros | Matros | Matros | Matros | Matros | Matros | Matros | Matros | Matros | Matros |