Logistics facilities and capabilities and the state of the bases in the Ottoman navy (1867-1914)

This dissertation focuses on the period between 1867 and 1914 to reveal the logistical facilities and capabilities of the Ottoman Navy and to examine the modernization capability of the naval bases within the geographical boundaries of the Ottoman Empire. It aims to find an answer to the question of "How was naval logistics managed in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the modern era for navies?". Along with this question, there are also research questions asked to reveal the logistics understanding of the Ottoman Navy and to examine the logistics activities carried out by the naval ships of the foreign states sailing in the Ottoman waters. Each question as the subject of this research is examined separately in the light of the methods of history science. The documents obtained by making use of various archives established in Turkey and abroad were evaluated together with the contemporary studies to answer the research questions. This study starts with the explanation of the concept of logistics, and the concept of naval logistics has been evaluated in the context of literature discussions. In order to carry out this study, the institutional structure of the Ottoman Navy in connection with the concept of logistics and its attitude towards the ever-changing maritime technology is followed. Because the main structure consisting of these elements has revealed some obligations in the naval supply system and has guided the management practices of the naval personnel. The logistics concept of the Ottoman Navy is explained in the light of four basic steps and exemplified in six main fields of activity. Thus, the structural analysis of the supply system in the Ottoman Navy has been made visible. Each sub-process of the concept of naval logistics management, that emerged at the end of the study as planning, organisation, and supervision competence, are explained with reference to general historical results. Since the geostrategic position of the Ottoman State and therefore the presence of foreign naval ships in Ottoman waters are considered during the evaluation of the results, the effect of sea power on the course of history has been proven once again. Keywords: Naval logistics, Ottoman Navy, modern navies, coal, supply, geostrategy.