TCG Atilay Submarine: (1938-1942)

Atilay submarine, was the first Turkish submarine that was been constructed after a period of 50 years in Istanbul. She was finished in 1939 and put in to sea in Halic. with other three same class submarines, Atilay's name was given by Ataturk. The letter that was sent from Ataturk to the prime minister Celal Bayar has the date 17.01.1938 on it. He writes, " The names we have choosen for our new four submarines are 1.Saldiray, 2.Batiray, 3.Atilay, 4.Yildiray. I thought there is no need to explain the meanings of these names. Their means are exactly as stated in them as they are Turkish words."

She was put in to sea by Admiral Sukru Okan's wife Nadire Okan saying " I wish you Victories, capabilities." and breaking a champagne bottle in the bow of the submarine in 19th May 1939. The day Atilay starts her carrier in the silent world is the most meaningful day beacuse it was the 20th anniversary of the start of the freedom war that has been started by Ataturk and his friends when they get off the Bandirma Steamer. And the names were given by Ataturk himself to these four submarines. After years later this submarine sunked, the submarines that were bought from Germany were also given these same names.

During the World War 2, the submarines were efectively being used. Turkiye, was cautious about a submarine attack, especially to the straits. In 14th July 1942, Atilay submarine dived to the straits of Dardanelles to check the magnetical security lines. A rescue boat was following her from the surface. After a while the rescue boat had to stop following Atilay because of the bad weather. Hours passed.... There is nothing heard from Atilay. Same night, at 8:30 the submarine's sunk buoy has been found. The phone to submarine was working but no one was answering the phone. Atilay submarine had been sunk with her 38 crew.

In 14th July 1942, Colonel Fahir Karayel, reaches the buoy that he saw in the exit of the straits to the Aegean Sea, hoping to get ana answer. But he can't. The submarine has strucked to a lost mine and she took her place in the ship cemetry of Dardanelles with 38 of her crew including the captain Major Sadi Gürcan. A song called "Makber" has been dedicated to the electrician of the ship Fethi Yuceses by his wife Hamiyet Yuceses. Atilay was our first submarine that sunk. Also in a poet written by Ayhan Hunalp with the sadness of the sunk of another submarine Dumlupinar, has sentences dedicated to Atilay.
The Poet goes on like:
The ships also have brotherhood
The ships also have fate
Now we are side by side
One of us Atilay, One of us Dumlupinar
We are like two Mehmets in a war
Under the blues

Researcher Selcuk Kolay and his team, has been sailed from Morto bay of Dardanelles to searh for Atilay in 2nd June 1994. They moved in the same route with Atilay to Aegean sea. The Research ship was fully equiped with magnetometric and sonar equipment. After a long and frustrating search they have founded Atilay lying in 68 meters. This depth was limiting the dive time so they have planned the dive carefully by the plans of the submarine and the dive started.

What was the reason of her sunk? The first Turkish Submarine Atilay that sunk in 14th july 1942 in Canakkale, stayed in the depths for 52 years without noone knowing why or where she sunk. After 52 years Selcuk Kolay and his team founded Atilay. After the research on Atilay it was understood that she hit a mine from World War I opening a hole in the body.

The Patriots We Lost in TCG Atilay:

ATILAY SUBMARINE CREW

(SUBAYLAR)

SADİ GÜRCAN ( GÜV.BNB. KOMUTAN )
SEBATİ TAŞÖZ ( GÜV. YZB. II. KOMUTAN )
AHMET TÖRÜN ( MAK. YZB. BAŞ ÇARKÇI )
RAUF BAYKAL ( GÜV.ÜTĞM. VARDİYA SB )
ADNAN ERÜL ( MAK. YZB. II: ÇARKÇI )
AHMET ATAKAN ( GD.SUBAY VARDİYA SB. )

( ASTSUBAYLAR )

HAKKI TEZCANLI ( GV.BAŞGEDİKLİ )
ZİYA LODOS ( MAK.BAŞGEDİKLİ )
NECMİ SUNAL ( MAK.BAŞGEDİKLİ )
MASUM ŞEN ( TELSİZ BAŞGEDİKLİ )
TAHSİN DÖNMEZ ( MAK.BAŞGEDİKLİ )
FETHİ YÜCESES ( ELK.BAŞÇAVUŞ )
HÜSEYİN COŞKUN ( TOR.MAK.BAŞÇAVUŞ )
CEMAL DİNÇER ( MAK.ÜSTÇAVUŞ )
KEMAL DAĞAŞAN ( MAK.GD.ONBAŞI )
AGAH PERİNA ( ELK.GD.ONBAŞI )
İSMET İSKİL ( TELSİZ GD.ONBAŞI )
ALİ RIZA BAYKUŞ ( MAK.GD.ONBAŞI )
SELAHATTİN NARTMAN ( MAK.ÜSTÇAVUŞ )
İSMAİL TOGAY ( ELK.GD.ÇAVUŞ )
NURETTİN GÜNENÇ ( GÜV.GD.ÇAVUŞ )
SABAHATTİN VAROL ( ELEKTR.GD.ÇAVUŞ )
HASAN ŞENTUNA ( GÜV.GD.ÇAVUŞ )

( ERLER )

HASAN GÜNEŞ
İBRAHİM ERBAŞ
MUSTAFA ÖZBEK
TEMEL KÜÇÜKOĞLU
TEMEL YENİGÜN
MEHMET ASLANTÜRK
ENVER KARAER
İSMAİL YILDIZ
HALİL EKİNCİ
İLYAS ÜNAL
DİLŞAT ÇAKAL
CEMAL BAHAR
MEHMET ÇİLHOROZ
EYÜP KAÇMAZ
HÜSEYİN GENÇER
HALİL KÜÇÜK


Other Photos of The Submarine

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