VESSEL REVIEW | TCG C-159 & TCG C-160 – Turkish Navy's newest landing craft for ship-to-shore, ship-to-ship and pier-to-pier transport

The Turkish Navy recently took delivery of TCG Ç-159 and TCG Ç-160, the first two vessels in an eight-unit new type landing craft tank (YLCT) class designed and built by Anadolu Shipyard in Istanbul. Ç-159 entered service in December 2025, while Anadolu Shipyard delivered Ç-160 the following May.

The craft are intended to move main battle tanks (MBTs), other vehicles, and personnel for amphibious operations. Each vessel’s vehicle deck is arranged for direct shore landings. A separate pier-to-pier loading configuration will permit a larger tank load.

The YLCT design has a length of 79.9 metres (262 feet), a beam of 11.7 metres (38.4 feet), a displacement of approximately 1,156 tonnes, and space for 20 crewmembers. Its published draught is less than one metre (3.3 feet) forward and less than 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) aft.

Designed for transporting personnel and vehicles including main battle tanks

Two 3,400kW (4,600hp) main engines drive twin fixed-pitch propellers to deliver a top speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots. A range of 400 nautical miles can be achieved.

The vehicle deck covers 410 square metres (4,400 square feet), and the class is reported to have a loading capacity of 420 tonnes. Its more detailed load cases describe different ways of using that space. Each craft can carry up to three Altay MBTs. Alternative loads are 260 tonnes of assorted wheeled and tracked vehicles or up to 260 troops.

In pier-to-pier configuration, each YLCT can transport up to seven MBTs.

Can also take on disaster response

The design has also been described as permitting vehicle transfers between vessels.

For the class, published armament lists two Aselsan 25mm remotely controlled autocannons and two Aselsan 12.7mm stabilised machine guns. As is the case with most types of small naval landing craft, these automatic weapons will be used for purely defensive purposes.

The Turkish Navy also intends to use the YLCTs for evacuation and disaster response, as their vehicle decks can carry people and equipment to areas where road access is unavailable. Their ability to operate at unprepared beaches meanwhile makes them suitable for areas where shore infrastructure has sustained damage.

The craft are built under Türk Loydu’s military ship rules.

The YLCT programme followed Anadolu Shipyard’s earlier Ç-151 fast landing craft series. The earlier craft have the same 79.9-metre length and 11.7-metre beam but a slightly lower maximum speed of 18 knots and a capacity of only 200 tonnes in direct beach landing configuration.

Anadolu Shipyard has also listed TCG Ç-161 as delivered alongside the first two vessels in the class. The builder said the five remaining craft in the class are scheduled for delivery by 2028.