Turkish nayv and activitys (1914-1925)

It can be argued that the Turks were not truly concerned with seamanship andthat their involvement in navigation was limited to that of an observer, during theperiod encompassing their migration from Turkistan into Anatolia. After the initial fast-paced progress starting with the dawn of civilization, transportation over the land fellinto a certain inadequacy, leading to an increased demand for transportation overwater, which also had its effect on the Turks, a long land-based people.It is known that the lands inhabited by Scythians, spanning the region betweenriver Danube and the northern shores of the Black Sea, was subject to Persianattacks under the command of Darius, crossing the Bosphorus and the river Danubeby the use of ships. Following the series of successful sieges laid by Çaka Bey, usingthe navy he assembled in İzmir against the Byzantine forces in the Aegean Seabetween 1081-1097, the military authority of the Turks became established in İzmirand its vicinity. This state of progress became more apparent with the Ottoman State,guided by the desire of world domination. The persistent struggle of the Ottomans fordomination over the seas starting with the 14th century, has reached, notwithstandingoccasional interruptions, the 19th century. The 20th century saw a chance for furtheradvancement and economic development with the Turkish seamanship, but theexpectations could not be realized to the aspired degree due to a lack ofdetermination and decisiveness of administrators.Trablusgarp and Balkan wars are the faktors that effected Turkish Navy innegative direction. The sea wars damaged all of the Ottoman ships which belongedto both the navy and trade fleets. Whit the increasing of the nationalitism in Balkans.The success achieved in the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean by Rauf Bey inthe course of the First Balkan War is considered a sign of resurrection of the Turkishnaval prowess, once dominating the Mediterranean during the 16th century.The Ottoman Navy proved to be even more successful during World War I, ascompared to the Balkan Wars. But an issue not to be overlooked here is that, eventhough the Turks put great effort to strengthen their navy prior to World War I, theirability was to a large degree contained by the political schemes of European greatpowers of the era, even those considered a ?friend and ally?.Inspite of all these nagatives during the war the Ottoman Navy, succeeded inthe protection of the transportation in the Black Sea, the bombing of the enemy?s cityand harbours in the east of the Black Sea region, defending of the Dardanelles,facing whit the Russian fleet several times, strupple whit the enemy?s submarineswhich wanted to cross the Marmara Sea.Looking in general after the first world war, there was a lot of that loss in theTurkish Navy. It is remembered these losses were caused by Royal Navy officerswho were cacalled to Minister of Navigation. These officers gave damage to ships,dipped some of the ships. It is evident that the Turkish navy grew quite weaker duringthe period preceding the Turkish War of Independence. Despite this, following theArmistice of Mondros, the Ottoman Navy was disbanded and the entire militarypersonnel were discharged under the supervision of Entente Powers. The fewremaining ships under the command of the navy were barely sufficient to carry outcoastal guarding and patrol.During the Turkish War of Independence, the forces of the navy, however withrather restricted resources, were able to fulfill every single task assigned to them onthe line between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea. Up until the Armistice ofMudanya, the whole personnel of the navy and its auxiliaries accomplished deeds ofcrucial importance. These ships and officers were responsible for reinforcing theLand Forces performing the main armed resistance by providing them with munitionsvia continuous dispatches to Anatolia. The reorganization of the Land Forces, whichwere to get the decisive victory in the end, and their reinforcement to a degree ofbeing capable of defeating the Greek Land Forces was dependent on ensuring asound logistics support. This support was certainly to be provided over the sea,instead of the land. The support provided by Russia over the sea should also not beneglected, while the Turkish War of Independence was continuing on all fronts on theland and the sea.Whit these ships officers continuausly sended the military needs to AnatoliaThe victory in the land was prouided by only a good logistic. In this situations, thecommunication and the cooperation between istanbul?s, Amasra?s, İnebolu?s,Samsun?s, Trabzon?s, harbours and Russian?s Novrosiski, Tuapse horbours andBatum?s had to be good. The Ottoman Empire accumulated ammunition in İstanbuland Marmara region arsenal. And it coused a negative effect in the independencewar. But whit the sea transportation ammunition was sended over İnebolu in additionto that according to enemy?s motion region Turkish boats, gunboats, ships, tookjourney in the Black Sea Coast, police-stations and abservation stations were built.Inspite of this situation Turkish sailors behaved bravely and willingly andmanaged to get enemy?s ships.In addition to that England thought that Turkish ships which were belonged toOttoman Navy, were driven away to Black Sea, so they increased precautions. Afterthe victory, thet wanted to prevent the Turkish Navy in Bosphorus and called Franceand İtaly to defend Bosphorus totogether. But France at İtaly refused so England hadto include Romain and Yugoslavia. Because at the end of the war England wanted tohave profits in Bosphorus.In spite of all these bed situations, Atatürk solved the problem with hisprinciples. In addition to thet gunboats, tugboats, steamboats, torpedo were used inOttoman Navy and all the sea officers were trained military schools.The issue of supremacy of a navy over the rival forces is not just a matter ofsuperiority in numbers, but also a matter of logistic resources and the naval bases atpossession. Even if the ultimate dominance on the sea depends on the definitedestruction of the enemy, this does not always turn out to be the case. Politicalmaneuvers might come into play, requiring a careful administering of the affairs of thestate to ensure supremacy over the sea.Despite a myriad of faced impossibilities, the Turks succeeded in using the seato provide for their army, and, in the end, drive their enemies to that very sea.