Background Reşadiye-class battleship

the german battleship kurfürst friedrich wilhelm, purchased in 1910 , renamed barbaros hayreddin

the ottoman navy had languished since 1870s, result of decades of little funding new ships, poor maintenance of existing vessels, , no serious training regimen. efforts modernize fleet had occurred in fits , starts during period, including failed attempt build pre-dreadnought abdül kadir in 1890s, , major reconstruction program launched in aftermath of greco-turkish war of 1897, had highlighted poor condition of fleet. starting in 1909, ottoman government began warships purchase foreign shipbuilders counter growing strength of greek navy, particularly armored cruiser georgios averof. stopgap measure, 2 german brandenburg-class battleships, barbaros hayreddin , turgut reis, purchased in 1910.

the ottoman government began looking newer vessels buy in late 1911, , first contacted armstrong whitworth possibility of acquiring dreadnought rio de janeiro, under construction brazilian navy, along minas geraes, had been commissioned brazilian fleet in 1910. these deals fell through, ottomans contacted vickers order 2 new battleships. douglas gamble, had served naval adviser ottoman government, prepared 2 designs, first of ordered mehmed reşad v; during construction, ship renamed reşadiye. second ship, named fatih sultan mehmed, ordered in april 1914.

ordering reşadiye class started significant naval arms race between ottoman empire , greece. greek navy ordered battleship salamis in 1912 in response, prompted ottomans resume bid rio de janeiro. contract purchase ship, renamed sultân osmân-ı evvel, signed in january 1914. in turn provoked greeks order second battleship, vasilefs konstantinos, required third ottoman battleship ordered; second reşadiye-class ship, fatih sultan mehmed.