Preveze (Type-209/1400)

The Preveze class is a variant of the German Type 209/1400 diesel-electric submarine, operated by the Turkish Navy. These submarines are designed for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, as well as reconnaissance and mine-laying operations.

Developed by Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft and constructed locally at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard, the Preveze-class was ordered in the late 1980s to modernize Turkey's underwater fleet and bolster domestic naval manufacturing. The lead vessel, TCG Preveze, was commissioned into the Turkish Navy in 1994, with three subsequent sister ships entering service by 1999. Throughout their operational history, these submarines have been heavily deployed in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, regularly participating in NATO maritime security operations and joint exercises. Currently, the class remains in active service and is undergoing a comprehensive mid-life modernization program to upgrade its combat management and sensor systems, ensuring viability into the 2030s.