Engineers in Turkish XV Corps?

trickcyclist · Post by **trickcyclist** » 27 Nov 2006 04:46

Did the Turkish XV Corps (19th and 20th Infantry Divisions) have any engineer units in Galicia, 1916-1917?

Thanks.
TC

jwsleser · Post by **jwsleser** » 27 Nov 2006 05:27

TC

There were no corps level engineers in XV Corps. The 19th XX had the 4th Company, 3rd Engineer Battalion. The 20th XX had the 4th Company, 4th Engineer Battalion.

Jeff

trickcyclist · Post by **trickcyclist** » 27 Nov 2006 19:04

Thanks, Jeff.

Were those two engineer battalions actually in Galicia?

TC

jwsleser · Post by **jwsleser** » 28 Nov 2006 00:16

TC

No, these battalions weren't present. The normal organization of an Ottoman Corps had a cavalry regiment and engineer battalion assigned to the corps, with individual squadrons and companies from these units assigned directly to the divisions. By 1916 this structure had broken down as corps were created and disbanded. Hence the XV Corps (created in 1915) had a mixture of units assigned from various parent units that were not part of the corps. The XV Corps composition varied significantly while involved in the Canakkale battles in 1915. The corps was rebuilt in 1916 for operations in Galicia.

Jeff

trickcyclist · Post by **trickcyclist** » 28 Nov 2006 02:48

Jeff:

Can you tell me which engineer battalions were in Galicia with the XV Corps, 1916-1917?

Thanks.
TC

jwsleser · Post by **jwsleser** » 28 Nov 2006 04:14

TC

There weren't any additional engineer units sent to Galicia. The two companies were all that were present. XV Corps lacked many of the attachments one would normally expect to find. The Germans provided the heavy artiilery that supported the corps. No engineer battalions were sent to Galicia.

Jeff