Nusret Mine Ship, the, which was of great use in the Çanakkale Victory, is exhibited in the park that bears its name in Tarsus. In the park, there are not only Nusret Minelayers, but also many details that will make you feel the Çanakkale War. The statue of Seyit Onbaşı, the epitaphs of Çanakkale Martyrs and Dur Yolcu poems, wax statues make all visitors feel the atmosphere of that period.

The Story of Nusret Minelayer

Nusret Minelayer, a German-made ship, was manufactured in the city of Kiel in 1911 and was sold to the Ottoman navy in 1913 as they were allies at that time. It was sent to the Çanakkale region in 1914. It is known all over the world due to its important role in the Çanakkale Naval Victory.

Nusret, whose duty in the army ended in 1955, was purchased by a private enterprise in 1962 and started to be used as a dry cargo ship. The ship, which sank off the coast of Mersin on her way to Cyprus in 1990, was unearthed in 1999 by volunteers who were interested in the ship.

While awaiting its fate in Mersin Port, the Nusret Minelayer was brought to Tarsus with the efforts of the Tarsus Municipality. It was restored faithfully to its original form and started to be exhibited in the Nusret Minelayer Culture Park in 2003.

How Did The Nusret Minelayer Lay the Mines?

Nusret Minelayer has been specially chosen to be able to lay mines undetected, as it is a light and maneuverable ship. The Turkish staff delegation would lay the mines parallel to the Erenköy Bay Dark Harbor, an idea that has never been seen before in maritime history. The purpose of this movement was to ensure that the ships that would maneuver backwards for resupply in the Karanlık Liman location, where the strait widened, hit these mines.

Leaving the port on the night of March 7 to March 8, the Nusret Minelayer turns off its lights and reaches the Karanlık Liman location and leaves 26 mines parallel to the shore. On the way back, while the lights of the enemy projectors will hit the Nusret Minelayer; From the shore, the Turkish projector shines its light on the enemy searchlight, and the Nusret Minelayer escapes detection at the last moment.

The mines laid by the Nusret Mine Ship with great sacrifices and difficulties and by avoiding being noticed by the enemy at the last moment will change the fate of the war. During the maneuver, the battleships Ocean and Irresistible belonging to the British Navy and the battleship Bouvet belonging to the French Navy sank. In addition, the Gaulois, Suffren, Inflexible battleships were also heavily damaged and became unusable.

Winston Churchill, in an interview with the "Revue de Paris" magazine in 1930, said of the Nusret Minelayer, "The main reason why as many as people died in the First World War, the heavy costs, and 5,000 trade and warships sank in the seas, was 26 mines dangling from a thin wire rope. thrown by the Turks the night before”.

Nusret Minelayer Captain

The captain of the Nusret Mine Ship is Captain İsmail Hakkı from Tophane. he had a heart attack two days before the assignment and commanders insisted that someone else must be appointed instead of him. But he carried out this dangerous mission despite the insistence. After the last remaining mines were laid in the sea, his heart could not stand the light war between the enemy projector and the Turkish projector, and he was martyred during the mission.

Other heroic soldiers accompanying him are mine group commander Captain Nazmi Bey, Deck Captain Huseyin, Front Captain Carkci Ali, Second Carkman Ahmet, Third Carkist Captain Hasan, Electric Officer Mülazım Hasan, Top Officer Mülazım Kadri Bey and 54 soldiers.

Where is Nusret Minelayer? Directions Information. How to Get to the Park?

Nusret Mine Ship Culture Park is right next to the D400 Highway in Tarsus District of Mersin. It is 2 km from Tarsus town center and 25 km from Mersin.

To get to Nusret Minelayer Culture Park from Mersin, you must proceed in the direction of Adana on the Mersin-Adana highway (d400). After passing the Tarsus Hal junction, you will reach the park on the left at the junction at the entrance of the Tarsus Town Center.

Entry to the Nusret Minelayer Cultural Park is free.

Special ceremonies are held here on the anniversary of the 18 March Çanakkale Victory.

Places to be seen around Nusret Minelayer Culture Park

Nusret Minelayer Culture Park  is  nearly 2 km from the the center of Tarsus.  When you reach old Tarsus from here; all historical places listed respectively as, Makam Mosque,  Ulu Mosque, Kırkkaşık Bedesten , Kubatpaşa Madrasah, St Paul Memorial Museum,  Cleopatra Gate, Tarsus Museum, Ancient Roman Road, St. Paul's Well,  and Old Tarsus Houses  are all within walking distance. Our advice to visitors who come Tarsus  by private vehicle, to leave their vehicles in a suitable place and visit all these points on foot. They will have had a pleasant time full of history from the ancient period  to Turkish Republic.

Other nearby touristic spots:

Tarsus Waterfall: 4.5  km

Tarsus Zoo: 8  km

Eshabı Kehf Cave: 12 km

Taşkuyu Cave: 12 km

Sağlıklı Roman Road: 20 km