Turkish MG Companies

Discussions on the final era of the Ottoman Empire, from the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 until the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
Tosun Saral
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Re: Turkish MG Companies

#31

Post by Tosun Saral » 08 Mar 2011, 11:30

Turkish MG coy during Republican Era 1940
From my collection
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Arto O
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Re: Turkish MG Companies

#32

Post by Arto O » 08 Feb 2012, 06:02

Hi,
A long time ago I saw a movie about Gallipoli landing, and what I remember and got surprised was that the MG crew were chained down to their MG nest. Was that posible?
With best regards
Arto


stevebecker
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Location: Australia

Re: Turkish MG Companies

#33

Post by stevebecker » 10 Feb 2012, 02:58

Mate,

No.

If you check the net there was much discussion on this subjust some time ago, the claims that Turkish or German soldiers chainned there men to there guns is false?

S.B

Arto O
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Joined: 09 Feb 2010, 07:55

Re: Turkish MG Companies

#34

Post by Arto O » 10 Feb 2012, 05:38

Thanks stevebecker,
Now when you mentioned it, I remember to read about it somewhere.
with best regards
Arto

stevebecker
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Re: Turkish MG Companies

#35

Post by stevebecker » 21 Oct 2015, 07:26

Mates,

British records give Turkish Regts with between 18 to 24 MG's per, these are a mix of MG's and automatic Rifles.

I have some more on this from British Intell records;

shown July 1918 Allied reports 3rd Cav Div - 6th Cav Regt (8x MG's) 8th Cav Regts (8x MG's) total (700 men 16 MG's)

shown July 1918 Allied reports 1st Div - (1600 men 100 cav 54 MG's)

shown July 1917 Allied reports - 7th Div had 54 MG's (20th Regt 18 MGs 21st Regt 12 MGs 134th Regt 24 MGs)

shown July 1918 Allied reports 7th Div (2100 men 150 cav 66 MG's)

shown July 1918 Allied reports - 11th Div (2000 men 75 MG's)

shown July 1918 Allied reports - 12th Div 34th Regt 35th Regt 36th Regt (2700 men 100 cav 54 MG's)

shown Oct 1917 - 16th Div had 72 MG's (each Regt 24 MG's)

shown July 1918 Allied reports 19th Div (2500 men 100 cav 84 MG's)

shown July 1918 Allied reports 24th Div (2000 men 68 MG's)

shown Feb 1917 Allied reports - 26th Div had 72 MGs (24 Mgs each Regt)

shown July 1918 Allied reports 26th Div (1500 men and 100 cav + 57 MG's)

Cheers

S.B

stevebecker
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Location: Australia

Re: Turkish MG Companies

#36

Post by stevebecker » 09 Mar 2016, 03:16

Mates,

A British Intell report dated June 1918 states;

MG Companies had

3 Sgts
9 Cpls
63 men
9 Mgs

The British report adds that it didn't think this could be achived and believed most MG Companies would have 6 MGs

Can I add that shown in British reports also around this date that large numbers of LMGs or what the British call Automatic Rifles appear in Turkish formations, they had been seen before but not in large numbers like now;

Shown June 1918 British reports;

4th Army has 75 Auto Rifles and 231 Mgs

7th Army 86 Auto Rifles and 321 MGs

8th Army 154 Auto rifles and 332 Mgs

Its possibly they may refer to the new Bergman LMGs, but not confirmed to what these Auto Rifles are.

Cheers

S.B

stevebecker
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Joined: 01 Jul 2006, 04:04
Location: Australia

Re: Turkish MG Companies

#37

Post by stevebecker » 13 Mar 2016, 23:54

Mates,

A further British Intell report dated 28 Aug 1918

Gives these details on the latest Turkish Army reforms to their MG units.

The MG strength per Infantry Regt

Regt MG Company - 8 Mgs

Bn MG Company - 6 Mgs and 3 AR (automatic Rifles)

each Infantry Company - 3 AR (automatic Rifles)

This shows the advancement of the reforms disbanding the fourth Company per Infantry Bn into a MG Company appears to be advanced in the units in Palestine. While how many Auto Rifles or LMG were in each Company both MG and Infantry is unknown, but as stated before that may be the increased LMG/Auto rifles shown in the records.

There was no date that the Turkish Army introduced these reforms, but it appears these were being done before Aug 1918.

rouemours that the Regt MG company were formed into a Div MG BN appear incorrect, that I can find and all MG units appear stayed with each Regt.

Regt MG Co = 8 HMGs

3 AR/LMG per Bn MG 3xCo's = 9 + 18 HMGs

Making 3 AR/LMG per 9x Infantry Co's = 27

Regt totals = 26 HMGs + 36 AR/LMGs

Total 62 MGs per Regt

Clearly most Regts had not been converted as these levels were no wear near achived in real life.

Cheers

S.B

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