Turkish Artillery

[CharlieC]

There are two 65mm Mle 1906 Schneider mountain guns at Cannakale. It's unlikely Turkey acquired these guns during WW1 since they were only used in small numbers by the French Army at Salonika. After WW1 France sold these guns to a number of countries - Albania, China, Greece among others. When did Turkey acquire Schneider 65mm mountain guns?

Regards,

Charlie

mountain4.jpg (99.25 KiB) Viewed 1006 times

[Osman Levent]

Charlie,
During First World War, a special unit called the "Ottoman Roumelia Detachment"; in reality the 177. Regiment of the 46. Infantry Division was sent by December 1916 to join their Bulgarian allies on their offensive against the British and the French around Salonica as well as in Northern Macedonia. In action between Veles, Bitola and Prilep; they were sent to Romania by May 1918 to be repatriated from Constanta after British and French Forces retreated back to Salonica and no longer posed a threat in Macedonia. It would be most plausible that the Schneider in question might have been captured by this Detachment during their operations against the French.
Best Regards, Osman Levend

[CharlieC]

Fortunately there is an image of the breech markings of one the 65mm Mle 1906 guns at Cannakale - the build date is 1918 which is too late for the actions in 1916-17. A proposal on another forum is that the guns were captured from Greek forces during the War of Independence - Greece received a large number of these guns from France after WW1.

Regards,

Charlie

mountain5.jpg (97.53 KiB) Viewed 975 times

[Osman Levent]

I stand corrected. Indeed 1918 is too late for Macedonian Operations and I certainly agree to a Greek provenance.
Best Regards, Osman Levend

[Tosun Saral]

On the Gallipoli Battle Field Area you may see many weaopns, guns ect that were not used during the battle. They were brougt from everywhere for exibition by uneducated sharlatans who claim themselves as military historians. This gun is also one of them. Dont confuse your mind. Look at it just as a camon.

[Tosun Saral]

Turkish Skoda 105 mm mörser

[nuyt]

Well done Tosun! Many thanks!
Kind regards,
Nuyt

[Tosun Saral]

Turkish 106 mm Skoda Mörser crew with their KuK advisors at galizia

[Tosun Saral]

75 mm or 7,5 cm Mountain howitzer gun at Caucasus front
source:Iclal Orses

[CharlieC]

Interesting Skoda - the list in the WW1 artillery section says that 12 were ordered in 1914. I had been under the impression that the Ottoman coat of arms (Hamidye) wasn't used after the end of the reign of Abdul Hamid II in 1909
but obviously the use of the Hamidye continued until the start of WW1.

Regards,

Charlie

[jwsleser]

Tosun

>Turkish 106 mm Skoda Mörser crew with their KuK advisors at galizia

Would this be the weapon the Turkish official histories call a 'bomba' if you remember, we discussed the term bomba a few years ago.

Jeff

[Tosun Saral]

Jeff I can not remember?

[nuyt]

Hi Tosun, I think your picture of Jan 27 shows Krupp 10,5cm L12 mountain howitzers. Turkey just had 8 of this rare weapon (36 made), so you see half the inventory!

[Osman Levent]

Dear Brother Tosun;
The picture you have so kindly provided has a note at the left hand bottom which reads;

In Turkish;
"Cebel Obüs'ü Bir'inci Bölük'ün Cumhûriyyet Muhârebe'sinde ki Gümrü hâtıra'sını pek kıymet'li Muhy ed Dîn'e takdîm ederim"
"20 / Kânun u Evvel / 34 Gedek"
"Cebel Obüs / Yüz Baş'ı / imzâ"

In English;
"I present a memento of Mountain Howitzer First Battery from Gjumri during the Battle of the Republic to the most esteemed Muhy Ed Dîn"
"20 / December / 34 (1918) at Gedek"
"Mountain Howitzer / Captain / signature"

I must add that the location transcribed as "Gedek" is the hamlet of "Getk" approximately Four Miles to the southwest of Gjumri in Armenia where; according to Google Maps, the building seen at the background still stands.
Best Regards, Osman Levend

[ltcolonel]

On Tosuns picture of 27 January certainly not Skoda 75 mm M15 mountain guns ro any other model Skoda mountain guns.