 Upon completion of his education and joining the Turkish Fleet in 1966, he served as branch officer, department head and executive officer in various destroyers.Karahanoğlu graduated from the Naval War College in 1978 and from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1984.He commanded the patrol ship, TCG "Yarhisar", and the destroyer, TCG "Kılıçalipaşa", between 1979-1982 and the First Destroyer Squadron in 1989-1990.