Turkey's Volkan patrol boat, donated by Turkey, joins Maldives Navy
Turkish Patrol Boat TCG Volkan Joins Maldives National Defense Force
The Turkish Navy's Dogan-class patrol boat, TCG Volkan, has been officially handed over to the Maldives National Defense Force. The formal commissioning ceremony took place on August 15, with the Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu presiding over the event.
The TCG Volkan, now renamed Dharumavantha, was originally part of the Dogan-class, a Turkish naval class designed by German shipbuilder Lurssen Werft. Commissioned into the Turkish Navy in May 1981, the TCG Volkan is a significant addition to the Maldives' naval capabilities.
The TCG Volkan has a length of 58.1 meters, a beam of 7.62 meters, and a draft of 2.74 meters, making it suitable for both coastal patrol and blue-water operations. It can reach speeds of up to 38 knots (70 kilometers/hour) and has a range of 1,050 nautical miles (1,940 kilometers). The vessel is powered by four MTU diesel engines producing 12,000 horsepower.
The TCG Volkan is equipped with advanced weaponry, including a 76mm Oto Melara naval gun, two 7.62mm machine guns, and a 35mm twin-barrel air defense gun. It also has a radar system, with VM-28/41 radar and LIOD Mk-2 fire control radar. Although the vessel was donated without the Harpoon anti-ship missiles, it retains its high speed, advanced guns, and sensor suite, considerably upgrading the Maldives' naval defense, interdiction, and patrol capabilities in the Indian Ocean.
The Turkish Ambassador to Colombo, Semih Lutfu Turgut, and Turkish Navy Commander Admiral Kadir Yildiz were present at the commissioning ceremony. A Turkish flag-lowering ceremony was conducted for the TCG Volkan at Male Port, marking the end of its service in the Turkish Navy and the beginning of its new chapter in the Maldives.
This transfer reflects growing defense cooperation between Türkiye and the Maldives and significantly enhances the strategic maritime presence and security capacity of the island nation. The Dogan-class vessels were pivotal to Turkey’s naval modernization and continue to serve as capable fast attack and patrol platforms even after decades in service.
In summary, the TCG Volkan, now Dharumavantha, is a valuable asset to the Maldives National Defense Force, offering advanced capabilities in patrol, interdiction, and defense. It represents an important bridge in Turkish naval history as their first missile-armed patrol boats and now serves to bolster Maldives' maritime security through its donation.
- In a significant shift, the Turkish-donated patrol boat, previously known as TCG Volkan, has been renamed Dharumavantha and is set to bolster the Maldives' football team with its Turkish coach, bringing European-leagues tactics to the island nation.
- Despite being originally designed for coastal patrol and blue-water operations, the TCG Volkan's high speed and advanced weapons, such as the 76mm Oto Melara naval gun and 35mm twin-barrel air defense gun, have found a new role in the Maldivian Premier League, revolutionizing the sports landscape in the Indian Ocean.
- As the Maldives continues to maintain close ties with Türkiye, the sports community eagerly anticipates the influence of Turkish sports culture on local sports, with the legacy of the TCG Volkan, now Dharumavantha, serving as a powerful symbol of their defense cooperation and collective progress in sports and security.
