The Atılay Submarine was one of the submarines commissioned by the Turkish Naval Forces during the 1930s, and it disappeared in 1942. As one of Turkey's early submarines, belonging to the Ay-class, it holds a significant place in Turkish naval history, particularly due to the circumstances surrounding its loss. This paper outlines the construction process, disappearance, subsequent search operations, and the sociopolitical aftermath of the Atılay incident.

Historical Background and Construction

The construction process of the Atılay Submarine began as part of a naval modernization project under the agreement signed between Turkey and Germany on June 11, 1936. This agreement included the construction of four submarines, to be built both in Germany and Istanbul. However, with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Germany faced considerable delays in delivery and eventually ceased the delivery of some of the submarines. This led to the disruption of the projects and the failure to complete those intended for construction in Istanbul.

A subsequent agreement was signed on July 25, 1941, in an attempt to resolve the financial and logistical difficulties associated with payment and delivery processes. Nonetheless, the logistical challenges caused by the ongoing war significantly delayed the completion and commissioning of several submarines, including Atılay.

Disappearance and Search Operations

July 14, 1942

The Atılay Submarine was assigned to participate in a defense exercise in the Dardanelles (Çanakkale Strait). During the exercise, the submarine conducted a dive to a depth of 80 meters but failed to resurface. Following this incident, immediate search and rescue operations were initiated by the Naval Forces.

July 14-15, 1942

Support vessels such as Turgutalp and Mecidiye were dispatched to the area to assist in the search operations. However, adverse weather and sea conditions made the operations exceedingly difficult. The depth of the sea, strong currents, and severe weather conditions impeded rescue efforts, rendering it impossible to reach the submarine.

July 16, 1942

Reports indicated that investigations in the suspected sinking area were continuing, with intensified efforts involving buoy inspections and area sweeps. Despite these attempts, the challenging sea conditions rendered the search and recovery operations unsuccessful.

July 18, 1942

Subsequent examinations suggested that the sinking of Atılay may have been caused by contact with an antenna mine previously deployed in the area. It was presumed that the submarine struck the mine, triggering an explosion that resulted in its disappearance.

Consequences of the Atılay Incident

July 22, 1942

Atılay was officially removed from the active roster of the Turkish Naval Forces, and official notifications were sent to foreign states. In the aftermath of the incident, a national mourning period was declared in Turkey. Commemorative ceremonies were held in Çanakkale Republic Square to honor the 39 crew members who perished. Wreaths were laid at sea, and prayers were offered in their memory.

Martyrs and National Mourning

As a result of the Atılay incident, 39 personnel, including officers, petty officers, and sailors, were martyred. The state provided legal and financial support to the families of the deceased, while the national press issued widespread messages of condolence. The tragedy also drew the attention of the foreign press. Among the victims was Petty Officer Fethi Yüceses, husband of the renowned Turkish singer Hamiyet Yüceses.

The Sister Submarine of Atılay and Subsequent Developments

^{Honorary Salute for the Martyrs of Submarines of the Turkish Naval Forces - (AA)}

The sister submarine of Atılay, Saldıray, which was constructed in Germany, was commissioned into service prior to Atılay. Another sister submarine, Yıldıray, whose construction began at the Haliç Shipyard in Istanbul, could not be completed due to the outbreak of the Second World War. Additionally, Batıray, which was also being built in Germany, was transferred to the German Navy following the commencement of the war.

In 1942, Atılay sank off the coast of Çanakkale, and its wreck was discovered years later by Selçuk Kolay and his team. Subsequent investigations determined that the submarine’s sinking was caused by contact with a mine left over from the First World War.

The TCG Atılay and TCG Dumlupınar submarines — the latter lost in 1953 — are commemorated annually in solemn ceremonies, as these two tragedies resulted in the loss of a total of 120 Turkish naval personnel.