The Turkish navy recently increased its patrols in the Mediterranean, against the backdrop of rising tension with Israel. In an email interview, Bill Park, a senior lecturer in the department of defense studies at King's College London, discussed the Turkish navy. WPR: What is the current state of the Turkish navy? Bill Park: The manpower strength of the Turkish navy stands at around 55,000, about half of whom are conscripts. At root it is configured as a coastal defense navy, and as such possesses 14 submarines and numerous fast-attack vessels, mine-warfare craft and coastal-patrol vessels. It also has in excess of 20 frigates. Given Turkey's concerns regarding Cyprus and its differences with neighboring Greece in the Aegean, the Turkish navy also boasts more than 40 amphibious craft and a well-trained force of around 3,000 marines. It also has a formidable naval helicopter force configured for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare as well as search and rescue operations, and a maritime surveillance capability.
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