In 1990 the active
personnel number of Turkish Navy was around 46-48000.
Around 35000 of this were conscripts (~73%).
In 2025 total active personnel number was 48600.
Only around (~45%) 21500 was conscripts.
To day there is also a well trained 55000 reserve personnel.
As newer and more modern ships join the navy, less and less ship complement is needed. Increase in professional naval personnel numbers with decreasing ship complements should allow more vessels to be added to the inventory.
But increase In professional naval personnel means higher costs too!
Yes if you are thinking Turkish territory only,we just need to replace the older with newer ones but since we are going World wide now(Somalia,Libya and other African countries,Qatar.KSA,Kuwait etc) the costs will at least partially be paid by other countries.
Lets say they find oil and/or gas in Somalia,how many ships would we need to protect Somalian territorial waters?
There are at least two Frigates in Libyan territorial waters ''permanently''
Qatar base,how many ships?
I believe Kuwait wants a Turkish Base.
There are also some others to i believe.