View source for TCG Değirmendere (A-576)

{{italic title prefixed|3}}
{{Infobox ship
|Ship image          =
|Ship caption        =
|module={{Infobox ship career|embed=yes
|Ship country        = France
|Ship flag           = {{shipboxflag|France|naval}}
|Ship name           = ''Centaure''
|Ship builder        = Oelkers Werft, Hamburg, Germany
|Ship launched       = 8 January 1974
|Ship commissioned   = 15 November 1974
|Ship decommissioned = 15 January 1999
|Ship fate           = Transferred to Turkey, 16 March 1999
}}
|module2={{Infobox ship career|embed=yes
|Ship country        = Turkey
|Ship flag           = [[File:Flag of Turkey.svg|100x35px|Turkish Navy Ensign]]
|Ship name           = TCG ''Değirmandere''
|Ship status         = {{Ship in active service}}
}}
|module3={{Infobox ship characteristics|embed=yes
|Ship class            = {{sclass|Değirmendere|offshore tug}}
|Ship displacement     = {{convert|1440|t|LT|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship length           = {{convert|51.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam             = {{convert|11.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draft            = {{convert|5.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} 
|Ship propulsion       = {{ubl |2x Diesel SACM-WärtsiläUD45V12M4 {{convert|3380|kW|hp|abbr=on}} |1x four-bladed [[Ducted propeller|Kort nozzle]] controllable pitch propeller}}
|Ship speed            = {{convert|13.5|kn|mph km/h|lk=off}}
|Ship range            = {{convert|9500|nmi|km mi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|13|kn|mph km/h|lk=off}}
|Ship complement       = 30 (2 officers, 15 petty officers and 13 enlisted)
|Ship sensors          = {{ubl|1x [[Inmarsat]], |DRBN-34 ([[Decca Radar|Racal Decca]]) navigation and landing radars}} 
|Ship armament         = 2x [[M2 Browning|12.7 mm machine guns]]
}}
}}

'''TCG ''Değirmendere'' (A-576)''', ex-''Centaure'' (A674), is a [[List of miscellaneous ships of the Turkish Navy#|''Değirmendere''-class]] [[Tugboat#Seagoing tugboats|offshore tugboat]] in the [[Turkish Navy]]. Built in Germany, she was launched in 1974. Christened ''Centaure'', the tugboat saw service in the [[French Navy]] with designation A674 from 1974 until her decommissioning in 1999. The same year, she was sold to Turkey, renamed ''Değirmendere'' and went into service in the Turkish Navy under designation A-576.

==History==
===French Navy===
The ''Centaure'' (A674) was laid down by Oelkers Werft in Hamburg, West Germany as the second ship of the ''Tenace''-class ocean tugboats ({{lang-fr|Remorqueur de haute mer, RHM}}) in the French Navy ({{lang-fr|Marine nationale}}). She was launched on 8 January 1974. After completion of her fitting-out in [[La Pallice]], the port of [[La Rochelle]] in France, she was commissioned on 15 November 1974 and joined the navy fleet. Her sister ships are ''Malabar'' (A664) and ''Tenace'' (A669).<ref name="nm1"/>

Capable of towing 60 tons at fixed point and breaking  {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}}-thick ice, she was designed as a  [[salvage tug]] for the French [[ballistic missile submarine]]s (French abbreviation SNLE) [[French submarine Redoutable (S611)|''Redoutable'' (S611)]] and [[French submarine Triomphant (S616)|''Triomphant'' (S616)]] in case of damage.<ref name="nm1"/>

On 5 September 1987, the seaside village Carnac in northwestern France was named the ship's godmother.<ref name="nm1"/>

The history of the vessel is marked with a rescue effort in 1992 when the crew of the trawler ''Mab-An-Teck'', sinking in stormy sea off the French fishing port [[Loctudy]], were saved. The ship's captain, [[Lieutenant]] Viger, was awarded a prize by the "Société Nationale d'Encouragement au Bien".<ref name="nm1"/>

''Centaure'' was decommissioned on 15 January 1999. During the around 25 years of service in the French Navy, she sailed a total of {{convert|447000|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} and accomplished 150 tows.<ref name="nm1"/><ref name="nm2"/>

===Turkish Navy===
She was transferred to Turkey on 16 March 1999, and renamed ''Değirmendere'' after [[Değirmendere, Gölcük|Değirmendere]], a town in [[Gölcük, Kocaeli|Gölcük]] district of [[Kocaeli Province]] on the south coast of Izmit Bay. The official handover took place following a tow exercise using the French [[frigate]] [[D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso#In service in the French Navy|''Commandant L'Herminier'' (F791)]] in the military port Brest. On 2 April 1999, ''Değirmendere'' left Brest to sail towards her home port in Turkey through Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.<ref name="nm2"/>

====Drydock accident====
On 27 November 2013, ''Değirmendere'' was taken into a drydock of Alaybey Naval Dockyard in İzmir Province, western Turkey for maintenance and repair works. She [[capsizing|capsized]] during the transfer to the water at 12:50 hours local time (10:50 UTC) on 23 December 2013 following the launching of a [[minesweeper]], which was also in the same drydock for repairs. Within 20 seconds, ''Değirmendere'' turned on her starboard in water as keel blocks broke, killing ten and injuring seventeen, who were on board to conduct and supervise the transfer action. One petty officer, seven enlisted of the Navy and two civilian dockyard workers were found dead in the compartments under water by navy divers.<ref name="trt1"/><ref name="cnn1"/>

==Characteristics==
''Değirmendere'' is {{convert|51.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long, with a beam of {{convert|11.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a max. draft of {{convert|5.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. Assessed at {{convert|1440|t|LT|0|abbr=on}}, the ship is propelled by two SACM-WärtsiläUD45V12M4 {{convert|3380|kW|hp|abbr=on}} diesel engines using a four-bladed [[Ducted propeller|Kort nozzle]] controllable pitch propeller. She has a speed of {{convert|13.5|kn|mph km/h|lk=off}} in service. At {{convert|13|kn|mph km/h|lk=off}} speed, she has a range of {{convert|9500|nmi|km mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="nm3"/>

The auxiliary navy vessel is equipped with [[Inmarsat]] and DRBN-34 ([[Decca Radar|Racal Decca]]) navigation and landing radars. There are two [[M2 Browning|12.7 mm machine guns]] installed on board the ship.<ref name="nm3"/>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="nm1">{{cite web |url=http://www.netmarine.net/bat/remorque/centaure/ |publisher=Net Marine |title=Remorqueur de haute mer Centaure |language=French |accessdate=2013-12-24}}</ref>
<ref name="nm2">{{cite web |url=http://www.netmarine.net/bat/remorque/centaure/actu.htm |publisher=Net Marine |title=Histoire et actualités du RHM Centaure |language=French |accessdate=2013-12-24}}</ref>
<ref name="nm3">{{cite web |url=http://www.netmarine.net/bat/remorque/centaure/caracter.htm |publisher=Net Marine |title=RHM Centaure : Caractéristiques principales |language=French |accessdate=2013-12-24}}</ref>
<ref name="trt1">{{cite news |url=http://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/askeri-tersanede-kaza-10-sehit-17-yarali-113121.html |newspaper=TRT Haber |title=İzmir'de römorkör kazası: 10 şehit, 17 yaralı |date=2013-12-23 |language=Turkish |accessdate=2013-12-24}}</ref>
<ref name="cnn1">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/izmirde-romorkor-kazasi |newspaper=CNN Türk |title=İzmir'de römorkör kazası |date=2013-12-23 |language=Turkish |accessdate=2013-12-24}}</ref>
}}

{{Wikipedia|TCG Değirmendere (A-576)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Degirmendere (A-576)}}
[[Category:Ships built in Hamburg]]
[[Category:1974 ships]]
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the French Navy]]
[[Category:Tugboats of France]]
[[Category:Ships transferred from the French Navy to the Turkish Navy]]
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the Turkish Navy]]
[[Category:Tugboats of Turkey]]
[[Category:Active naval ships of Turkey]]