TCG Dumlupınar (D-6) was a submarine originally constructed by the United States during the Second World War and commissioned under the name USS Blower (SS-325). Following the war, in 1950, the vessel was transferred to the Turkish Navy within the framework of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, subsequently receiving the name Dumlupınar. Equipped with advanced technical systems and designed in accordance with the operational requirements of its era, Dumlupınar undertook significant duties within the Turkish Naval Forces. The submarine is most notably remembered for the tragic accident that occurred on April 4, 1953, in the Dardanelles Strait, resulting in the loss of 81 sailors. This incident remains one of the most poignant and sorrowful events in the history of Turkish maritime affairs, with TCG Dumlupınar becoming a lasting symbol of national maritime tragedy.

^{TCG Dumlupınar - (MEB)}

USS Blower (SS-325)

It is a submarine constructed by the United States Navy during the Second World War. The primary objective behind its development was to serve as an operational force against enemy submarines in wartime engagements. Although initially designed to participate in the United States’ operations within the Pacific Theater, the vessel was later transferred to Turkey.

Development and Construction Process

Blower (SS-325) was laid down on July 15, 1943, by the Electric Boat Company in New London, Connecticut. The submarine was launched on April 23, 1944, and officially commissioned into service on August 10, 1944. Command of the vessel was assigned to James H. Campbell.

Combat Missions and Operational Performance

During the war, Blower participated in a number of submarine patrols. In its first war patrol, the submarine conducted operations in the South China Sea and around the islands near Indonesia. By 1945, Blower had undertaken several important missions; however, it failed to achieve the desired effectiveness in torpedo attacks against Japanese targets. On April 25, 1945, the vessel came under attack by Japanese warplanes but successfully evaded the assault. Subsequently, during its second patrol in the Gulf of Thailand in the summer of 1945, Blower launched torpedo attacks against enemy submarines, successfully contributing to the sinking of one hostile vessel.

Training and Transfer to the Turkish Navy

Following the conclusion of the Second World War, Blower conducted training operations and submarine exercises in San Diego between 1946 and 1949. In 1950, the submarine was transferred to Turkey. This process was carried out under the framework of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, through which the United States government provided military aid to allied nations. On November 16, 1950, Blower was officially decommissioned from the United States Navy and transferred to the Turkish Navy. From that date forward, the vessel entered active service under the name Dumlupınar.

Course of the Incident

Following the completion of a NATO exercise, the Dumlupınar submarine entered the Dardanelles Strait on the night of April 3 to April 4. At approximately 02:10, under conditions of dense fog and heavy rain, the submarine collided with a Swedish-flagged cargo vessel named Naboland while navigating off the coast of Nara Burnu. As a result of the collision, the submarine’s engine room and bow section sustained severe damage, leading to the vessel's rapid sinking.

At the time of the incident, eight crew members were stationed on the submarine’s bridge; five of them survived, while three sailors perished immediately at the scene. Inside the submarine, a total of 81 personnel were present. Following the accident, 22 sailors took refuge in the aft torpedo compartment, while no signs of life were detected in other sections of the vessel.

Rescue Operations

Contact was established with the trapped personnel inside the submarine via a telephone line attached to a buoy released to the water’s surface. In the initial communications, rescue teams attempted to calm the sailors and informed them that a rescue operation had been initiated. However, adverse weather conditions and the submarine’s position — lying at a depth of 87 meters with an approximate 35-degree list — severely hindered rescue efforts.

During operations conducted by the rescue vessel TCG Kurtaran and diving teams, it was assessed that the survival time of the trapped sailors was critically limited, prompting attempts for rapid intervention. Nevertheless, due to the continuing storm, the telephone line was severed, resulting in the complete loss of contact with the submarine and the 22 sailors sheltering in the aft torpedo compartment. Despite all efforts, the rescue operation was unsuccessful, and a total of 81 sailors perished in the incident.

Final Communications

The final radio transmissions following the disaster left a profound mark in collective memory. In their conversations with the rescue team, the trapped sailors attempted to maintain morale, reportedly organizing the use of their lights and even coordinating cigarette breaks, as documented in official records. In the last communication, however, only groans, prayers, and repeated utterances of “Allah” were heard.

Survivors of the Tragedy

Among the five crew members who survived the accident were Captain Sabri Çelebioğlu, Lieutenant Kemal Ünver, Lieutenant Hasan Yumuk, Petty Officer Hüseyin İnkaya, and Petty Officer Hüseyin Akış. Of the surviving personnel, retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Hüseyin Akış remained the final eyewitness to the incident, sharing his memories of the disaster with the public for many years.

Commemoration and Aftermath

Following the disaster, a period of national mourning was declared across Turkey. In remembrance of the tragedy, April 4 has been designated as "Martyrs of the Sea Commemoration Day", observed annually. Ceremonies are held in the Dardanelles Strait and at various memorial sites to honor the sailors who lost their lives in the disaster.

^{Wreath Laid in the Sea by TCG İnönü Submarine to Commemorate the Martyrs of TCG Dumlupınar, 2023 - (AA)}

The Dumlupınar Submarine Disaster in Popular Culture

The Dumlupınar Submarine Disaster is not only one of the most tragic maritime accidents in Turkish naval history, but also occupies a significant place in the collective memory of the Turkish public through cinema and documentary productions. Productions created in the memory of the disaster have contributed to the ongoing impact of the event on social memory.

In Cinema and Visual Productions

The tragedy was brought to the big screen with the short film "Sonsuza Kadar" (Forever), which began filming in 2014. Produced by Kuzey Kumsal and directed by Erkan Özcan, the film focuses on the love story of İsmail Türe, one of the sailors who perished in the disaster.

A submarine from the Turkish Naval Forces Command and a replica of the TCG Nusret ship, made at the Gölcük Naval Command, were used in the film’s production. The film, starring Sezen Düzakar and Harun Ümit Yılmaz (both students from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University), was premiered on April 4, 2015, the 62nd anniversary of the disaster, during a special screening aboard a boat at the site where the submarine sank.