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.[3][4] The naval forces were directed by the Border Guard Service until 2009.
Turkmen Naval Forces
1992 (under the DSG)
2011 (as independent branch)
Navy
Naval warfare and defense
2,000 sailors and 16 patrol boats
Yellow, blue, and white
October 9: Navy Day
Lieutenant Colonel B. Annaev[1]
Major General Begench Gundogdyev[2]
History[edit]
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".[5] 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.[6][7]
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".[8] In September 2017, it held its first naval exercises in the Caspian Sea.[9] In early 2018, efforts were continued to strengthen the navy.[10]
On 11 August 2021, President Berdimuhammedov commissioned the navy's first domestically assembled corvette, the Deniz Khan.[11][12]