Turkish Army

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Turkish Armed Forces

Turkish Army	Turkish Air Force	Turkish Navy	Turkish Gendarmerie	Turkish Coast Guard

Turkish Army Türk Kara Kuvvetleri

Military manpower
Conscription age	20 years of age
Availability	males age 18-49: 16,756,323 (2005 est.)
Fit for military service	males age 15-49: 13,905,901 (2005 est.)
Active troops	1,043,550 (Ranked 8th)
Military expenditures
USD figure	$30.316 billion (2005) [1]
Percent of GDP	5.3% (2005) [2]

Turkish troops during a NATO exercise

Turkish Army Paratrooper

Turkish Army Maroon Beret (Special Forces)

Turkish Army Special Operations troops during a NATO exercise

Turkish Army (Turkish: Türk Kara Kuvvetleri) is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. Turkish Army is one of the largest standing armies in the world and the second largest army of NATO. The total number of troops is around 750,000. Turkish Army can deploy an Army Corps of 100,000 men to conduct joint operations at short notice. The Army can conduct air assault operations with a lift capability of up to 7 battalions at a time, day and night.

Chief of the Turkish General Staff: General Yaşar Büyükanıt

Commander of the Army: General İlker Başbuğ

1 History
2 Structure
3 Branch Insigna
4 Insignia
5 Main equipment
6 Source
7 External links

[edit] History

The first systematic Turkish Army was formed in 209 BC. The history of the Turks whose political order developed in line with their military order dates back approximately 2,215 years. This long history, which started in Central Asia, spread to all the major continents of the Old World as a result of great migrations. Turks of the Oghuz (Oğuz in Turkish) branch who established the Great Hun Empire in Eurasia and Göktürk Empire in the East also established the Seljuk Empire in the West, which played an important role in the encounter between the Turks and the European nations starting with the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt) in 1071 and the First Crusade in 1096.

Entering Anatolia with the historic victory at Manzikert in 1071, the Turks established the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate which was later divided among many Turkish principalities (called Beylik) from which the Ottoman Beylik emerged as the most powerful one. Through military conquests, strategic alliances and royal marriages, the Ottoman Beylik united all the other Turkish Beyliks (principalities) of Anatolia under a single flag and became known as the Ottoman Empire, eventually spreading its power and expanding its territory with military conquests across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. At present, 39 nation-states (40 including TRNC) have emerged from the former territories of the Turkish Empire.

Over centuries, the Turkish flag flew from one end of the Empire to the other: from the Strait of Gibraltar (and in 1553 the Atlantic coast of North Africa beyond Gibraltar) in the west to the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf in the east, from the edge of Austria, Slovakia and the hinterland beyond Ukraine in the north to Sudan and Yemen in the south. The Turks established an absolute sovereignty over the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and parts of the Indian Ocean. Turkish Navy set sail and appeared in distant countries, from the British Isles, Faroe Islands and Iceland in the West to India, Indonesia and Malaysia in the East.

Having eventually lost its power as a result of geopolitical and geostrategic circumstances, the Ottoman Empire, during its final and weakest years, took part in World War I, which nevertheless provided new and legendary pages in the history of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Battle of Gallipoli and the Siege of Kut were only some of the important historic victories of the Turks in World War I, who had the upper hand in the first two years between 1914 and 1916 despite the lack of money and adequate equipment. The tide eventually turned against the Turks with the Arab Revolt in 1916, as the Turks not only had to fight against the Allies but also against the local population in their Middle Eastern territories as well.

The Ottoman Empire eventually surrendered its Middle Eastern territories with the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918 (including Yemen and Azerbaijan which were still under Turkish control at the end of the war). The victors of World War I sent their warships to Turkey and set foot on Turkish ports, while the Ottoman Army was officially dissolved.

The demise of the Ottoman Empire, however, gave way to the rise of Turkish nationalism, and following the victory at the Turkish War of Independence, to the birth of the Republic of Turkey. The military was then reformed by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkish national hero and founder of the Republic.

While the flames of World War II were approaching the Turkish borders, the Turkish Army was on duty. Turkey remained neutral until the final stages of World War II and tried to maintain an equal distance between both the Axis and the Allies. However, at the Second Cairo Conference in 1943, Roosevelt, Churchill and Inönü reached an agreement on issues regarding Turkey's possible contribution to the Allies, and upon Roosevelt's request (to the annoyance of Churchill who wanted to use the strength of the Turkish Army and Air Force on the side of the Allies) it was decided that Turkey should maintain her neutrality and thus block the Axis from reaching the strategic oil reserves of the Middle East. Even though Turkey never had to fight against the Axis, the Turkish Armed Forces were fully mobilized and remained on alert throughout the war, ready to confront a possible invasion after the Axis had captured Greece and Bulgaria.

Closely monitoring the developments taking place all over the globe after World War II, Turkish forces took part in the Korean War, suffering 731 casualties in the course of that conflict.

Turkey became a member of NATO on February 18, 1952, and the Republic of Turkey initiated a comprehensive modernization program for its Armed Forces. The Turkish Armed Forces, whose power of deterrence continuously increased, proved its capabilities once more during Operation Atilla to free the Turkish Cypriots from the violence of the Greek Cypriot EOKA militants who, after expelling the British forces from Cyprus in 1960, decided that it was time to expel the Turkish Cypriots as well, with the aim of forging a union, or Enosis as they called it, with Greece.

Towards the end of the 1980s, a restructuring and modernization process has been initiated by the Turkish Armed Forces, which still continues today. The final goal of Turkey is to produce indigenous military equipment and to become increasingly self-sufficient in terms of military technologies.

Turkey is located in a vitally important and challenging region with various political regimes, religions, economic systems and military powers. Due to its dominant position surrounded by the Black, Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Balkans and the Middle East, it is a focal point of strategic lines beginning from Gibraltar, where land and sea lines of communication intersect, to the Middle East and Central Asia on three continents. Turkey, which controls the Turkish Straits, is also well positioned to control the Suez Canal and consequently the maritime traffic in the region.

Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia are the shortest land and air transport routes to the vast energy resources in the Middle East. Radical changes are taking place in the region around Turkey, and these changes bring great challenges with them. While the uncertainties in the content and duration of these changes continue, Turkey stands firm as an element of stability in the region.

In this environment of uncertainty, the threat to the security of Turkey is no longer comprised solely of the regional military powers, but also of political, economic and social instabilities, border disputes, struggles of power and terrorism. The conditions of the region where Turkey is located pose a clear threat to the security of the country.

In addition to the regional crises, the Turkish Armed Forces must -based on political decisions- also be prepared to respond to the crises which pose a threat to global peace.

Strictly adhering to Atatürk’s principle, "Peace at Home, Peace in the World", the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey will never pursue any aggressive intentions, but will take action when the independence of the Turkish state and the security and honour of the Turkish nation will be attacked; in parallel with the common ideals of international organizations and treaties of which Turkey is a member and signatory.

As a member of the NATO Alliance, the Republic of Turkey has ensured an increased sense of security to her allies and has contributed to the protection of global peace as well. Turkey continues to cooperate with NATO countries in the field of defense and fully supports the initiatives towards global disarmament and arms control. In this context, Turkey is committed to a global disarmament plan that is realized under an effective control mechanism, which does not adversely affect the security of any nation.

In an environment full of hot conflicts, Turkey, having great importance as the last link within the NATO defense chain, must have a powerful national defense capability and a strong Army that's ready to effectively react against potential dangers.

The main elements of the Turkish Defense Doctrine are the determination for national defense, NATO solidarity and loyalty to the Turkish Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey comprises the Army, Navy and Air Force which are subordinate to the Turkish General Staff. The General Command of Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard Command, which operate as part of the internal security forces in peacetime, are subordinate to the Land and Naval Forces Commands, respectively, in wartime.

The Chief of General Staff is the Commander of the Armed Forces. In wartime, he acts as the Commander in Chief on behalf of the President. Commanding the Armed Forces and establishing the policies and programs related with the preparation for combat of personnel, intelligence, operations, organization, training and logistic services are the responsibilities of the Turkish General Staff. Furthermore, the Turkish General Staff coordinates the military relations of the Turkish Armed Forces with NATO member states and other friendly nations.

[edit] Structure

Turkish Army S-70 Black Hawk carrying Special Operations troops

Turkish Army Paratroopers

Turkish Army Commandos

Turkish Army is organized into the following commands:

Land Forces Command (Turkish:Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı (KKK))
- 1st Army Command - Istanbul
- 2nd Army Command - Malatya
- 3rd Army Command - Erzincan
- Aegean Army Command - Izmir
- Cyprus Turkish Forces Command - Girne,Northern Cyprus
- Training and Doctrine Command
- Logistics Command
- Army Aviation Command

These commands consist of the following structure:

4 Field Armies,
10 Army Corps,
2 Mechanized Infantry Divisions,
2 Mechanized Infantry Division Headquarters (Tactical),
1 Infantry Division and 1 Training Division,
14 Mechanized Infantry Brigades,
14 Armored Brigades,
12 Infantry/Regional Security Brigades,
5 Commando Brigades,
5 Training Brigades.

[edit] Branch Insigna

General staff
Infantry
Cavalry
Tank
Artillery
Bulwark
Correspondence
Communications
Air defence
Supplies
Medical, dental and pharmaceutical corps
Veterinary corps
Engineer, chemist and technician corps
Military police

[edit] Insignia

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF-D-	Student Officer
Turkey (Edit)	Mareşal¹	Genel Kurmay Başkanı Orgeneral	Korgeneral	Tümgeneral	Tuğgeneral	Albay	Yarbay	Binbaşı	Yüzbaşı	Usteğmen	Teğmen	Asteğmen	coming soon
¹ Honorary/War time rank.

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Turkey (Edit)																									No Equivalent		No Equivalent						No Insignia
Turkey (Edit)	Kıdemli Başçavuş						Başçavuş		Kıdemli Üstçavuş	Üstçavuş	Kıdemli Çavuş			Astsubay Çavuş			Uzman Çavuş			Çavuş			Uzman Onbaşı	Onbaşı	No Equivalent		No Equivalent						Er

[edit] Main equipment

TURKISH ARMY
Main battle tanks
298	Leopard 2A4
77	Leopard 1A3T1/TU120
150	Leopard 1A3T1
165	Leopard 1A1A1
650	M 60A3 TTS
275	M 60A1 RISE Passive (170 will undergo a comprehensive Sabra Mk.III upgrade)
750	M 48A5T2 (Upgraded to M 60A3 Standard)
600	M 48A5T1 (Upgraded to M 60A1 Standard)
100	M 48T5 (Upgraded to M 60A1 Standard)
1200	M 48A3 (Reserve and obsolete. Used for spare parts)
Armored personnel carriers
650	FNSS Armored infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV)
1375	FNSS Advanced armored personnel carrier (AAPC)
48	FNSS Armored TOW vehicle (ATV)
170	FNSS Armored mortar vehicle (AMV) (self-propelled 81 mm mortar)
2750	M 113 A1/A2/A3 Armored Personel Carrier
10+	M 125A (self-propelled M-29 81mm mortar)
175	M 106A (self-propelled M-30 107mm mortar)
150	M 113 TOW
225	BTR-80
5	RN 94 (6X6)
5	Otokar Akrep (4X4)
5	Otokar Cobra (4X4)
5	Otokar Yavuz (8x8)
Unmanned aerial vehicles
100	Harpy Attack UAV (500 km)
48	Cutlass/Harop (1000 km)
1	I-GNAT Surveillance UAV (500 km)
Helicopters
21	Sikorsky S-70A28 Blackhawk (13 will undergo ASELSAN avionics upgrade, 8 SOF)
52	Sikorsky S-70D28 Blackhawk (5 SAR, 2 SOF CSAR, 4 ambulance, 41 utility)
28	Eurocopter AS-532UL Cougar Mk1 (4 SAR, 4 ambulance, 16 utility, 4 VIP)
28	Bell AB206B3 JetRanger
23	Augusta Bell AB205AT/2020
27	Augusta Bell AB205A1
52	Bell UH-1H/2020-ASAM
20	Bell UH-1D
42	Bell UH-1H Iroquois (24 for training)
Attack helicopters
9	Bell AH-1W Super Cobra
32	Bell AH-1P/S Cobra
1	Bell TAH-1P Cobra (Combat Trainer)
Air-to-ground missiles
215	Hellfire II K2 (Used in the AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters)
n/a	TOW II (Used in the AH-1S/P Cobra helicopters)
Anti-aircraft missiles
5	Atılgan KMS (1X8 FIM-92B/C Stinger)
5	Zıpkın KMS (1X4 FIM-92 Stinger)
800+	FIM 92B/C Stinger RPM (4875 missiles)
1000	FIM-43A Redeye
40	9M39 Igla (SA-18 Grouse)
Anti-tank missiles
390+	MILAN With MIRA thermal sights
365	BGM-71 TOW I/II/A/B
40000+	M72 A2 LAW (66mm)
5000+	RPG-7 (40mm)
550	ERYX (1200 missiles)
70	9M113M Konkurs (AT5 Spandrel) (420 missiles)
185	Cobra (Used for training purposes only)
Anti-aircraft guns
300	L/70 & L/70T Bofors (40mm) (50 with Officine Galileo P56 optical sight)
600+	L/60 & M1A1 Bofors (40mm)
100+	Oerlikon GDF-001 (2X35mm)
120	Oerlikon GDF-003 (2X35mm)
440	Oerlikon GAI-D01 (2X20mm)
300+	Rheinmetall Mk.20 Rh202 (2X20mm)
110	M42 Duster (2X40mm)
900	M55 (4X12.7mm)
Rocket artillery
30	WS1A (4X320mm) (6 batteries each with 5 launchers).
72	ATACMS MGM 140 Block I
12	M270 MLRS (12X227mm)
48	TR 107 (12X107mm)
24	RA 7040 (40X70mm)
50+	T 122 CNRA (40X122mm, 40km)
Self-propelled artillery
48	T 155 Fırtına (K9T) 155/52 SP-2000 (155mm)
215	M110 (203mm)
35	M107 (175mm)
9	M 55 (203mm)
150	M 44T (155mm) (Upgraded)
350	M 52T (155mm) (Upgraded)
25	M 108T (155mm) (Upgraded)
Towed artillery
24	T 155 Panter 155/52 FT-2000 (155mm)
825	M 101 (105mm)
535	M 114 (155mm)
150	M 115 (203mm)
175	M 116 (75mm)
150	M 59 (155mm)
100	Skoda (105mm)
10	M.39 Skoda (105mm) (Used in training)
10	105R Metalgun (105mm) (Used in training)
Recoilless artillery
2135	M 40A (106mm)
1000	M 20 (75mm) (in storage)
850	M 18 (57mm) (in storage)
Mortars
575	HY-12Di (120mm)
325	UT1 (81mm)
3175	M1/M29 (81mm)
1265	M-30 (107mm)
n/a	M-19 (60mm)
Automatic grenade launchers
1500+	(40x53mm) (Mk 19 variant of Roketsan)
n/a	Mk19 Mod3