Turkish Nationalists purchased submarines from Bolshevists in 1922

Greek battleship Kilkis. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

In a letter dated 11 July 1922 reported the United States High Commission at the American Embassy at Constantinople, Turkey to the US Secretary of State about the rumors going on that the Bolshevists handed over to the Turkish Nationalists two submarines of the Holland type. He referred to a intelligence report 916-1100 with as source the Russian Intelligence Service. The involved submarines were the Nos. 23 and 26 at the moment under repair at Kerasunde together with the I-11. There was every reaso to believe this information meaning a great threat for the Greek warships moored off Constantinople. At night could the submarines pass the Bosphorus and attack the Greek without being attacked. Usually is one battleship the Kilkis (former USS Mississippi)(1), one or more large auxiliary vessels and several destroyers lying at this anchorage. There was a current with a speed of 2-3 knots in the Bosphorus between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmora. Lacking imagination and intiative prevented the sinking by the Turkish of the Greek ships by connecting mines across their bows or connecting to depth charges from barrel floats.

Note

1. Part of the Mississippi-class consisting of the Mississippi and Idaho, preceded by the Connecticut-class and succeeded by the South-Carolina-class. Building authorized under the 1903 naval budget. Due their old fashioned design already outdated even before completion. Sea keeping qualities on a low level causing unacceptable rolling and pitching gunnery platforms while serving on the Atlantic Ocean. Laid down by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, USA on 12 May 1904, launched by Miss Mabel Clare Money on 30 September 1905, commissioned on 1 February 1909, decommissioned at Newport News and sold to Greece on 21 July 1914, renamed Kilkis, training ship since 1930s, sunk during a German air attack while lying in the Salamis navy base where she served as a floating battery on 23 April 1941 and broken up in the 1950s.

Source

Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration Series: Records of the Department of State Relating to the Internal Affairs of Turkey. Turkey: Naval Affairs, Navy, Naval Vessels: 867.30 - 867.348. Microcopy 353 rol 42.