Condition and key areas of construction Turkish armed forces on the the present stage determined by the complexity of the military-political situation in the Middle East and the presence of serious challenges and threats to the security of the state. These include, in particular: large-scale Civil War in Syria; the possibility of creating a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq and Syria; terrorist activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party; unresolved Cyprus problem and disputes with Greece for control over the islands in the Aegean Sea basin.
In the current situation, a complex of military-industrial programs and measures for the construction and development of the armed forces is being implemented in the republic, aimed at neutralizing threats to the external security of the state.
The main provisions of the regulatory framework for the construction and use of the Turkish Armed Forces are set out in the Constitution of the State, adopted in 1982 with amendments made to it in 2013, as well as in the "Concept of National Security", which entered into force in March 2006. They define the key tasks of the Armed Forces: protecting the country from external threats and realizing national interests in the region.
Based on this, the Long-term development plan of the Turkish Armed Forces for the period up to 2016 has been developed and is being implemented, which specifies the programs for their construction. The document is aimed at improving the national military-industrial complex so that it is able to compete with world exporters of military products, increasing the operational and combat capabilities of the armed forces, as well as the level of technical compatibility of the national armed forces with the NATO Joint Armed Forces.
The improvement of the Turkish military-industrial complex is carried out through the implementation of programs for the creation of new types of weapons and military equipment, as well as for the modernization of equipment in service. The main ways to increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces are currently equipping troops with new weapons and their modernization, changing the organizational structure of subunits and increasing their mobility.
According to preliminary estimates, these activities will require about $ 60 billion. Until 2017, it is planned to spend up to $ 10 billion on improving the Turkish Armed Forces. The main work is planned to be performed at the enterprises of the country's military-industrial complex. The sources of funding are the military budget, national and international funds, as well as funds received from citizens in the form of compensation for exemption from military service.
The expenditure side of the budget for 2013 amounted to $ 24.64 billion. The allocations for the power ministries and departments are distributed as follows: Ministry of National Defense (MHO) - $ 11.3 billion; Ministry of Internal Affairs - 1.6 billion; the main security department - 8.2 billion; the command of the gendarme troops - 3.3 billion; Coast Guard Command (CWC) - $ 240 million The share of funds allocated by the MHO in relation to the total expenditure amount of the bill state budget for 2013 amounted to 10.9%, which is 0.2% lower compared to 2012 - 11.1%
STRUCTURE AND NUMBER OF TURKISH ARMED FORCES
The Turkish Armed Forces include the Ground Forces, the Air Force and the Naval Forces. In wartime, in accordance with the country's constitution, it is envisaged to introduce units and subdivisions of the gendarme troops into the ground forces (in peacetime they are subordinate to the Minister of Internal Affairs), and in the Navy - units of the command of the security guard.
According to estimates of Western military experts, at the beginning of 2013, the total number of personnel of the Armed Forces in peacetime reached about 480 thousand people (land forces - 370 thousand, air force - 60 thousand, and navy - 50 thousand), and gendarme troops - 150 thousand. ...
According to the country's legislation, the president is the supreme commander in chief of the armed forces. In peacetime, the issues of military policy and defense of the TR, the use of the Armed Forces and the conduct of general mobilization are decided by the National Security Council, headed by the head of the Republic of Turkey, and the issues of appointing the highest leadership and command personnel are decided by the Supreme Military Council, headed by the chairman - the Prime Minister of the country. The Minister of National Defense (civilian), through the MHO, oversees the development of the armed forces.
The supreme body of operational control of the Turkish Armed Forces is the General Staff, which is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Supreme Military Council. The commanders of the branches of the Armed Forces and the gendarme troops are subordinate to him. According to the Turkish table of ranks, the chief of the General Staff is ranked fourth among the highest officials states after the president, chairman of parliament and the prime minister of the country.
ORDER OF PACKING AND PROCESSING THE SERVICE
The order of service in the Turkish Armed Forces and the system of their recruitment are determined by the law on universal military service. Service in the country's armed forces is compulsory for all male citizens between the ages of 20 and 41 who have no medical contraindications. Its term in all types of the Armed Forces is 12 months. A Turkish citizen can be released from service after depositing a sum of 16-17 thousand Turkish lira (8-8.5 thousand dollars) into the state budget. The registration and conscription of those liable for active military service, as well as the conduct of mobilization measures are the functions of the military mobilization departments. The number of the conscript contingent is about 300 thousand people annually.
Privates and sergeants urgent service after being transferred to the reserve during the year they are in the reserve of the 1st stage, which is called "special conscription", then they are transferred to the reserve of the 2nd (up to 41 years old) and 3rd (up to 60 years old) turn. The contingent of "special conscription" and the reservists of the subsequent stages, when a mobilization is announced, are sent to replenish the existing ones, as well as to form new formations and units.
LAND TROOPS OF TURKISH ARRIVALS
The ground forces are the main type of the armed forces (about 80% of the total number of all armed forces). The direct control of them is exercised by the commander of the ground forces through his headquarters. Subordinate to the command of the SV are: headquarters, four field armies (PA), nine army corps (including seven in the PA), as well as three commands (training and doctrine, army aviation and rear).
As part of the Turkish ground forces there are three mechanized (one allocated to the NATO Joint Armed Forces) and two infantry (as part of the Turkish peacekeeping forces on the island of Cyprus) divisions, 39 separate brigades (including eight armored, 14 mechanized, 10 motorized infantry, two artillery and five commandos), two commando regiments and five border regiments, a training armored division, four training infantry and two training artillery brigades, training centers, special forces, schools and subdivisions of MTO. The combat composition of the Turkish ground forces currently has three helicopter regiments, one battalion of attack helicopters and one transport helicopter group. In one sortie, helicopter units are capable of airlifting up to one regiment of personnel with light weapons.
As a result of the modernization carried out in the armament of these formations and units, there are now: about 30 launchers of operational-tactical missiles; more than 3500 battle tanks, including: "Leopard-1" - 400 units, "Leopard-2" - 300, M60 - 1000, M47 and M48 - 1800 units; field artillery guns, mortars and MLRS - about 6,000; anti-tank weapons - more than 3800 (ATGM - over 1400, anti-tank weapons - more than 2400); MANPADS - over 1450; armored combat vehicles - more than 5,000; army aircraft and helicopters - about 400 units.
The main task of the ground forces is to conduct combat operations in several directions; conduct operations and ensure public order and security of the country in the event of local conflicts; take part in the operations of the NATO Joint Armed Forces; carry out peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the UN, as well as fight against the smuggling of weapons and drugs. In the event of open aggression, the Army is obliged to defend the territorial integrity of Turkey.
Stockpiles of weapons, military equipment, equipment and supplies of logistics are created to conduct operations in several directions and for the timeframes stipulated by NATO standards.
Based on the experience gained with ISAF in Afghanistan, as well as during NATO exercises, Turkey can provide a significant contingent of troops to participate in the alliance's multinational joint operations. Thus, the Turkish contingent, which is part of the ISAF in Afghanistan, has about 2 thousand servicemen.
Further improvement of the SV provides for:
- increasing the firepower, maneuverability and survivability of formations and units;
- creating opportunities for organizing and conducting enemy reconnaissance to great depths;
- ensuring the conduct of defensive and offensive operations at any time of the day and in any weather conditions;
- the formation of airmobile (helicopter) subunits and units, ensuring the rapid transfer of troops to another area and effective use them in battle.
Optimization of the organizational structure of troops will continue in order to increase their mobility, strike and firepower of formations and units, strengthen military air defense with a phased reduction in the number of personnel.
To solve these problems, it is envisaged to carry out a large-scale rearmament of ground formations, primarily by supplying the troops with extensive modernization of weapons and military equipment, including those in service with armored vehicles of various types, field artillery and mortars, military air defense equipment, as well as equipment and automated systems. command and control of troops and weapons.
After the planned transformations in the ground forces, according to peacetime states, there will be: four army and seven corps commands, as well as about 40 separate brigades; the number of personnel of the ground forces will exceed 300 thousand people; in service will be more than 4,000 main battle tanks, about 6,000 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, up to 100 attack helicopters, over 6,300 field artillery and mortars. It is also envisaged: to adopt multiple launch rocket systems of various calibers; replace outdated tanks with more modern Leopard-2 type; to develop and commission the Altai battle tank; equip all infantry units with modern armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled mortars; to re-equip the anti-tank companies of the brigades with the Tou-2 anti-tank missile systems based on armored personnel carriers; adopt self-propelled artillery systems of calibers 155, 175 and 203.2 mm and 120-mm mortars; equip army aviation units with modern reconnaissance and attack helicopters T-129 ATAK (being developed on the basis of the Italian A.129 "Mongoose"); to organize the production of self-propelled ferry-bridge machines.
An increase in the combat training of personnel of the ground forces is facilitated by the conduct of operational and combat training in full, in particular, military exercises of formations, subunits and units of all levels. The formations and units deployed in the eastern part of Turkey (2 and 3 PA, 4 AK) take part in hostilities against the armed formations of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern provinces of the country and northern Iraq. In recent years, there has been a shift in emphasis in training personnel for joint operations of the Armed Forces to defend national territory, as well as to practice actions as part of multinational forces in peacekeeping operations. According to Western military experts, the modern Turkish army is capable of conducting an army-level defensive operation in the event of an external attack, while simultaneously conducting anti-terrorist activities against the PKK armed forces.
TURKISH AIR FORCES
The Turkish Air Force, created in 1911, is an independent branch of the national armed forces. Since 1951, after Turkey's accession to NATO, US-made jet aircraft began to enter their armament, the personnel were trained in military institutions or under the guidance of teachers and instructors from this country. Turkish Air Force were constantly improved and equipped in accordance with modern requirements, as a result of which they are currently quite well prepared for military operations and are an important part of the bloc's air grouping in the South European theater of operations.
The Air Force is designed to gain and maintain air superiority, isolate the combat area and the battlefield, provide direct air support to ground forces and naval formations at sea, conduct aerial reconnaissance in the interests of all branches of the armed forces, and carry out transport air airlift of troops and military cargo.
In peacetime, the main tasks of the Turkish Air Force are to carry out combat duty in the joint NATO air defense system in Europe, carry out military transport air airlifts and conduct aerial reconnaissance (including with the aim of monitoring the implementation of international agreements). In addition, units and subdivisions of the Turkish Air Force, together with the Navy, control the Black Sea Strait Zone and sea communications in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. They also provide disaster relief and are involved in rescue and evacuation operations around the world.
The basis of the Air Force is combat aviation, which, in cooperation with other types of armed forces, is capable of playing a decisive role in the defeat of the opposing side. They also include air defense forces and assets, including fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-aircraft artillery and radio equipment. To support combat operations of all types of armed forces, the Air Force has auxiliary aviation.
The command of the Turkish Air Force is exercised by the commander through his headquarters. Organizationally, this type of Armed Forces includes: two tactical air commands (TAC), two separate transport air bases, a training command and a rear command.
In the combat composition of the Air Force there are 21 aviation squadrons (ae):
- eight fighter-bomber,
- seven fighter air defense,
- two reconnaissance,
- four combat training.
Auxiliary aviation includes 11 aircrafts (five transport, five training and one transport and refueling aircraft).
The most powerful air group of the Turkish Air Force - TAK in Western Anatolia - unites five aviation and one anti-aircraft missile base. At five airfields of this command, four fighter-bomber (54 F-16C / D and 26 F-4E are in service), four fighter (60 F-16C and 22 F-4E), one reconnaissance (20 RF-4E) and three combat training (77 combat training aircraft, UBS) aviation squadrons, as well as 90 reserve aircraft of various types.
The two anti-aircraft missile base missile divisions include 30 Nike-Hercules missile launchers and 20 - Advanced Hawk. The task of the divisions is to provide cover for the Black Sea Strait Zone, as well as the important administrative and political center of the country and the Istanbul naval base.
On the territory of the country there are 34 aerodromes with an artificial runway (runway), including one with a runway longer than 3000 m, one - 2500 m, eight - from 900 to 1500 m and one - up to 900 m.
Currently, the Air Force fighter-bomber and fighter aircraft are armed with more than 200 F-16C and D aircraft, as well as about 200 American-made F-4E, F-4F and F-5 aircraft, whose service life exceeds 20 years. In accordance with the long-term plan for the strategic development of the Air Force for the period up to 2015, the Turkish command will focus on modernizing the aircraft fleet, developing air defense systems, increasing the combat training of flight and technical staff, improvement of the aerodrome network, as well as control and communication systems.
Over time, the Air Force plans to replace the obsolete F-4E with tactical fighters F-35 Lightning-2 (project JSF) made in the United States. The contract for participation in the design and partial production of the new aircraft at the enterprises of the Turkish Aerospace Industries corporation (TAI), as well as the Aselsan, Roketsan and Havelsan companies was signed by the Turkish side in January 2005. Deliveries of this machine to the Air Force are expected to begin no earlier than 2015. In addition, Ankara is considering the purchase of the European Typhoon fighter.
In accordance with the contract signed in 1998 with Israel, the modernization of 54 F-4E aircraft has already been completed at the factories of the Israel Aerospace Industries (TAI) consortium. The next batch of 48 units will go through a similar stage at the enterprises of the national military-industrial complex. These works will allow extending the service life of these machines until 2020.
The modernization of 117 aircraft F-16C and D Block 30, 40 and 50 will be carried out within the framework of the Peace Onyx - III project. The $ 1.1 billion contract signed with American company Lockheed Martin envisages the improvement of the basic systems of this machine. In March 2009, a $ 1.8 billion contract was awarded to purchase 30 new F-16 Block 50 tactical fighters. final assembly which will be carried out at the enterprises of the national company TAI.
In addition, a contract was signed with the TAI corporation for the modernization of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, providing for the installation of navigation equipment on it for flights in the European, Atlantic and American zones.
A prototype of the national UBS "Hyurkush" has been developed. Its official presentation took place in July 2013. In accordance with the plans of the TUSASH / TAI company, it is planned to establish the production of this aircraft in four modifications: for the civilian market, for training military pilots, as an attack aircraft and as a coast guard patrol aircraft.
In order to carry out work on the modernization of training aircraft T-37C, T-38C and CF-260D, intended for initial and basic flight training of cadets, a draft of the corresponding contract was approved at the enterprises of the Turkish military-industrial complex. At the same time, a request was made for a tender for the purchase of 55 training aircraft (36 in the basic configuration and 19 with various options), which should replace the T-37C and CF-260D. The terms of the future contract stipulate the obligatory participation of Turkish firms in the production of these aircraft. The participants in the upcoming tender may be the companies Raytheon (USA), Embrayer (Brazil), Korea Aircraft Industries (Republic of Korea) and Pilatus (Switzerland).
To further build up the combat capabilities of air defense in the near future, it is planned to take measures to reorganize and improve the control system. Within the framework of the concept developed by the General Staff, it was proposed to include, at the first stage, the air defense forces of the ground forces, and then the country's navy, into the unified air defense system along with the corresponding forces and means.
An early radar warning subsystem (Peace Eagle project), which will be created on the basis of four AWACS aircraft and a Boeing 737-700 aviation control (Avax), is considered as one of the main components of the promising joint air defense system of Turkey. According to a contract signed in 2002 with the American Boeing corporation for a total of $ 1.55 billion, these aircraft were prepared and handed over to Turkey in mid-2010.
Currently, the process of installing special electronic equipment on them at the Turkish aircraft plant of the TUSASH / TAI company is being completed. The commissioning of AWACS and U aircraft is scheduled for the end of 2014. The following military-industrial firms and companies are participating in this project from the Turkish side: TAI (development of early warning radar for air and ground targets based on American technologies), Aselsan (satellite navigation and communication system based on American technologies), MICES (airborne electronic equipment) and "Havelsan". In addition, the project envisages training by the American side of nine Turkish crews for these vehicles. After the fulfillment of the contract, it is planned to enter all four aircraft into the combat composition of the Air Force, and in the future to purchase two more of the same for the Navy.
The effectiveness of aerial reconnaissance is planned to be increased by modernizing the special equipment of reconnaissance aircraft and adopting a new generation of reconnaissance UAVs. In January of this year, the management of the TAI company announced the successful completion of the flight test cycle of two modifications of the ANKA medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle. By the end of the year, it is planned to adopt about ten of these UAVs into service with the Air Force.
According to Turkish military experts, the use of UAVs for aerial reconnaissance seems to be very promising, since this will free up some of the aircraft for solving other combat missions.
The command of the country's armed forces also pays serious attention to improving the air defense system of troops, which is an integral part of the combined air defense and NATO system.
In 2001, the MHO signed an agreement with the Aselsan company for a total of $ 256 million for the supply of military air defense equipment to the Turkish armed forces - 70 Atylgan and 78 Zypkyn air defense systems (of which 11 are for the Air Force), which began to arrive in troops since 2004. This made it possible to significantly increase the capabilities for the air defense of objects, such as the deployment areas of military units, air force bases, dams, industrial enterprises, as well as zones of the Black Sea straits.
Great importance is attached to operational and combat training (OBP) of air force formations, units and subunits of all levels. Long-term plans provide for the preparation of governing bodies and formation air force to the conduct of hostilities both independently and as part of the NATO Allied Air Forces. The main forms of OBP of headquarters and aviation units remain command-staff exercises and training, tactical flight and special exercises, inspections and competition exercises.
The Turkish Air Force command pays great attention to maintaining high combat readiness of the air defense system. During the annual exercises "Maviok" and "Sarp", the level of readiness of units and subunits of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces to repel possible airstrikes of a potential enemy from the western, southern or eastern directions is checked.
Recently, considerable attention has been paid to the training of personnel of the aviation units of the search and rescue service. The OBP of the Turkish Air Force is complex and is characterized by sufficient intensity, which ensures the maintenance of a high level of training for aviation personnel, as well as anti-aircraft missile and radio engineering units and subunits.
TURKISH NAVY
The naval forces organizationally include four commands - navy, North and South naval zones (VMZ) and training. This service is headed by the commander (army admiral), who reports directly to the chief of the general staff of the armed forces. The Navy Commander is operatively subordinate to the command of the SOBR, which in peacetime is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The commander manages the naval forces through the headquarters located in Ankara.
The country's naval forces are designed to perform the following main tasks:
- conducting hostilities in the maritime theater of operations with the aim of destroying enemy surface ships and submarines at sea and at bases (basing points), as well as disrupting its sea communications;
- ensuring the safety of transport by sea, carried out in the national interest;
- rendering assistance to ground forces in conducting operations in coastal areas; conducting amphibious assault operations and participating in repelling enemy landings;
- ensuring the protection and protection of seaports;
- participation in operations against terrorism, illegal circulation of weapons, drugs and smuggled goods, as well as combating poaching and illegal migration;
- participation in the operations of NATO, the UN and other international organizations.
In peacetime, the command of the Navy is entrusted with the tasks of organizing operational and combat training of units and subunits of the naval forces. With the transition to wartime, it carries out mobilization and operational deployment in accordance with the evolving situation, relocates the ship's personnel to the appropriate area and performs combat missions by order of the general staff.
The Navy has over 85 combat ships (including 14 submarines, eight URO frigates, six corvettes, 19 mine-sweeping and 29 landing ships), more than 60 combat boats, about 110 auxiliary ships, six aircraft of basic patrol aviation ( BPA) and 21 helicopters.
The core of the Turkish fleet is mainly ships of foreign projects. Submarines are represented by project 209 of several modifications of German design. American frigates of the Knox and O.X. Perry ”were transferred to Turkey under the military assistance program.
The Navy is based on an extensive network of naval bases and bases in the Black Sea (Eregli, Bartin, Samsun, Trabzon), the strait zone (Goljuk, Istanbul, Erdek, Canakkale), the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas (Izmir, Aksaz-Kara-Agach, Focha, Antalya, Iskenderun).
The basis of the Navy is the command of the naval forces (headquarters in Aksaz-Karaagach), which includes four flotillas - combat, submarines, missile boats, mine, as well as a division of auxiliary ships, a group of reconnaissance ships, a naval aviation base and a shipbuilding plant.
Combat flotilla It is designed primarily to combat submarines, surface ships, enemy amphibious assault forces and to lay active minefields in naval base areas, on fairways and probable routes for enemy convoys. It includes five frigate divisions (21 ships).
On the submarine fleet (Goljuk) the following tasks are assigned:
- the destruction of the enemy amphibious forces at the time of their exit from the bases and at the transition by sea;
- violation of sea communications and the setting of minefields at the exits from bases and probable routes of passage of enemy landing ships;
- support for the actions of reconnaissance and sabotage groups of combat underwater swimmers-saboteurs.
Organizationally, it consists of three submarine divisions (14 units) and a group of torpedo boats (two ships).
Flotilla of missile boats (Goljuk) is called upon to fight against surface ships and amphibious forces of the enemy on the close approaches to the amphibious-accessible areas of the Turkish coast, as well as to lay active minefields at the entrances to naval bases... The flotilla includes three divisions of missile boats (12 units).
Mine flotilla (Erdek) in wartime it becomes subordinate to the command of the Northern VMZ. Its main tasks are laying minefields and sweeping mines in the areas of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits and the Sea of Marmara. The flotilla includes two divisions of minesweepers (30 units).
Auxiliary Vessels Division (Goljuk) is intended for all-round supply of warships located in the roadstead and in forward basing points. It includes more than 70 vessels of various types.
Naval Aviation Air Base (Topel) is armed with base patrol aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters, which are designed to combat submarines, destroy light surface targets, conduct reconnaissance of naval groupings, formations of landing ships and enemy convoys, as well as to set active minefields and support the actions of groups of combat divers - saboteurs. The airbase includes the 301st squadron of base patrol aviation (13 CN-235MP, of which seven are training) and the 351st squadron of anti-submarine helicopters (nine AB-212 / ASW, seven S-70B Sea Hawks, five combat support helicopters AB-212 / EW).
Command Northern VMZ (Istanbul) solves the tasks of ensuring the basing, combat training and organization of combat duty of ship formations with a zone of responsibility in the Marmara and Black Seas. It consists of five commands: the Bosphorus Strait region (Istanbul), the Dardanelles Strait region (Canakkale), the Black Sea region (Eregli), underwater and rescue operations (Beykoz), and submarine sabotage forces and assets (Beykoz).
Command South VMZ (Izmir) in peacetime is called upon to provide the basing, combat training and combat duty of ship formations in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
Organizationally, it includes the command of the Aegean Sea region (Izmir) and the command of the Mediterranean Sea region (Mersin).
Command of the Guard (Ankara) has 91 patrol boats (PKA) of different class, three CN-235 aircraft equipped with equipment for conducting reconnaissance at sea, as well as eight AV-412EP transport helicopters. The command of the SOBR in peacetime is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is reassigned to the commander of the Navy in a crisis situation.
Marines Turkish Navy is designed to participate in independent landing operations to capture and hold bridgeheads on the coast, as well as in combat operations in coastal areas together with units of the ground forces with the support of the air and naval forces. In total, the Navy includes one brigade and six battalions with a total strength of 6.6 thousand servicemen, which are armed with M-48 tanks, M113 armored personnel carriers, mortar and small arms.
Coastal artillery and missile forces of the Navy represented by nine divisions and a separate battery of coastal artillery, seven anti-aircraft artillery battalions, three batteries of anti-ship complexes "Penguin" (two in the city of Canakkale and one in the city of Foch and one - "Harpoon" (Kechilik). The number of personnel of these units is 6 300 people.
The program for the development and modernization of the Navy, calculated until 2017, provides for the following activities:
- implementation of the MILGEM project, within the framework of which it is planned to build six diesel-electric submarines of the U-214 type;
- completion of the program for the construction of 16 Tuzla-class anti-submarine submarine ships;
- construction of two tank landing ships of the LST (Landing Ship Tank) project and the purchase of helicopters for the security forces.
In addition, it is planned to modernize surface ships, submarines and boats for various purposes, as well as increase the fleet of maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft.
The implementation of the plan will allow the Navy to have 165 warships and boats (submarines - 14, frigates - 16, corvettes - 14, minesweepers - 23, landing ships - 38, missile boats - 27, patrol boats - 33), 16 BPA aircraft and 38 helicopters. To solve these problems, the potential of Turkish shipyards should be maximized using licenses or on the basis of their own developments. At the same time, serious financial problems may complicate the implementation of such a large-scale program of renewal and strengthening of the Turkish Navy.
CONCLUSION
In general, the Turkish armed forces have a high level of combat capability, significant numbers, a professional officer corps and satisfactory technical equipment. They are capable of solving the tasks of ensuring defense against a large-scale external attack and at the same time conducting a local anti-terrorist operation inside the country, as well as participating in coalition operations involving all types of armed forces. The implementation of national and international defense programs for the modernization and production of weapons and military equipment should significantly increase the striking power of the Turkish armed forces to a level that ensures the fulfillment of coalition obligations and the solution of security tasks in the face of existing and future challenges and threats to the state.
(Material prepared for the portal "Modern Army" © http: //www.site according to the article by O. Tkachenko, V. Cherkov, "ZVO". When copying the article, please do not forget to link to the primary source page of the "Modern Army" portal).
The Turkish Armed Forces today are the totality of all military units of the state, which are designed to defend the independence, freedom and integrity of the country, as well as its inhabitants.
History of the Turkish Armed Forces
XIV century - the structure of the Turkish military forces is being adjusted, which remains with minor changes until the XIX century.
The Turkish Armed Forces at that time included:
- capicles(professional infantry);
- seratkula(militia for the duration of hostilities);
- topracles(feudal cavalry).
The beginning of the 19th century - regular infantry and cavalry began to emerge - the militia gradually ceased to be used due to its poor qualifications and low morale.
- 1839 year- a new system was introduced, according to which the SS were divided into a standing army, irregular troops, militia and auxiliary troops of vassals. It existed in this form until the 1920s.
- 1923 year- The Republic of Turkey was proclaimed and the Turkish military forces were created (according to European standards).
general description
Today Turkey is a member of the NATO organization, and therefore its army fully complies with the standards and requirements of this military alliance.
It is also worth noting that Turkey's ground forces are the second most powerful in the NATO bloc after the United States. The armament of the Turkish army is carried out according to the latest technological standards.
All men between the ages of 21 and 41 are liable for military service in Turkey. During hostilities, in addition to men, women from 20 to 46 years old are also conscripted into the Turkish army.
The supreme governing body of the army is the commanders-in-chief of the Turkish Armed Forces. The president of the country is appointed to them, and the subordinates are:
- ground forces (ground forces);
- air force (air force);
- naval forces (Navy);
- gendarmerie;
- Coast security.
The principle of manning the Turkish army today
Conscription applies to all men from 20 to 41 years old, according to the laws of the country. The only exception is the population with medical restrictions.
Up to 300 thousand people are recruited into the ranks of the Armed Forces every year.
Urgent service lasts 12 months.
It is also possible to avoid service. To do this, for the benefit of the state, it is worth paying an amount of 17 thousand lire.
Ground troops
As in many other countries, the ground forces are the largest branch of the military in Turkey and form the core of the armed forces. The number of soldiers in the Turkish army today exceeds 400 thousand. Today, the weapons of the Turkish army are being tested in the Syrian theater of operations during clashes with the Kurds.
the number of soldiers in the Turkish army today
In addition to field formations, the Turkish army includes elite commando brigades, including five units. They are designed for special operations, counter-terrorism, intelligence, counterintelligence, and so on.
In addition, four regiments of army aviation, six artillery regiments and numerous military equipment of Turkey are subordinate to the commander of the ground forces.
SV specialists are trained in the following institutions:
- The training center of tank forces, which is based in the city of Etimesgut;
- Artillery training brigade in the city of Erzincan;
- Training arable brigades: 1st, 3rd, 5th and 15th.
Officers are recruited from young men who voluntarily completed training in military schools. After they are sent to higher and secondary schools of the armed forces, as well as to Turkish military academies, where they receive appropriate training and qualifications.
term of study at higher UVS
The term of study at the highest UVS is usually 4 years, after which the graduates receive the rank of lieutenant. To obtain the highest position, you must enter the military academy and study for 2 years.
The main tactical formation of the Turkish Army is a brigade. Their number at the moment is:
- 11 infantry;
- 16 mechanized;
- 9 tank.
Armored troops
The ground forces of Turkey are armed with both their own developments and weapons and equipment of foreign states. For example, one of the most powerful tanks in the world, which is in service with the Turkish army is the German "Leopard".
Military equipment of Turkey, photo of the German tank "Leopard" on the march In addition to the tanks "Leopard 1" (400 units) and "Leopard 2" (325 units), the tank forces also have:
- American medium tanks M60 in the amount of almost 1,000 units;
- American medium tanks M48A5 in the amount of less than 2.9 thousand units.
Armored forces also include armored combat vehicles, including:
- American armored personnel carriers M113 - less than 3 thousand units;
- American AIFV infantry fighting vehicles - 650 units;
- Turkish armored vehicles ARSV Cobra (more than 70 units), KIRP (more than 300 units).
Artillery and missile weapons of Turkey
Turkey boasts some serious artillery. Among all the numerous models in service, it is worth noting Turkish military equipment, including:
- Turkish TR-300 multiple launch rocket systems (more than 50 units);
- American self-propelled mortars M30 (over 1200 units);
- American self-propelled guns M108T (more than 20 units), M52T (365 units), M44T1 (about 220 units);
- Turkish self-propelled guns T-155 Firtina (about 300 units);
- American M115 howitzers (over 160 units) and others.
Air Force
The Turkish Air Force was created back in 1911 after the First World War ceased to exist. Then they began to recover and at the moment in their ranks they serve about 60 thousand soldiers.
Total combat aviation consists of 21 squadrons, including:
- 2 - reconnaissance;
- 4 - combat training;
- 7 - fighter air defense;
- 8 - fighter-bombers.
In addition, there is also an auxiliary aviation in the amount of 11 squadrons - of which:
- 1 - transportation and filling station;
- 5 - transport;
- 5 - educational.
The Turkish Air Force uses aircraft from foreign countries.
Including American F-16 and McDonnell Douglas F-4E, Canadian Canadair NF. The situation is the same with transport aircraft. They are either purchased overseas or Turkey has received a license to manufacture these overseas designs.
The Air Force should also include air defense systems - air defense missiles (Rapier, MIM-14, MIM-23 Hawk), American and British-made and unmanned aerial vehicles, made in the United States and Israel.
At the moment, the development of its own fighter is also underway. The project is called TF-X and is scheduled for completion in 2023.
Naval forces
Historically, the Turks have always paid great attention to their fleet. Even under the Ottoman Empire, he participated in many wars, including:
- Russian-Turkish (1828-1829, 1877-1878, 1918 and others);
- Greek-Turkish (1897);
- World War I (1914-1918);
- Korean War (1950-1953);
- invasion of Cyprus (1974), etc.
The IUD includes:
- Navy;
- the marines;
- detachments special purpose;
- naval aviation.
The combat composition of the fleet:
- submarines (such as "Atylai", "Gyur" and "Prevese");
- frigates (type "Yavuz", "G" and "Barbaros");
- corvettes (type "MILGEM" and "B").
The main base (headquarters) of the Navy is located in the capital of the country - the city of Ankara. The main naval bases of the modern Turkish army are located in the following cities and regions:
- Focha.
- Mersin.
- Samsun.
- Erdek.
- Geljuk.
The number of Turkish military forces
At the moment (according to official information on the website of the Turkish Ministry of Defense), the number of front-line troops reaches more than 410 thousand soldiers. In addition, the modern Turkish army today has an impressive reserve of 190 thousand soldiers.
In 2014, the Turkish government decided to reduce the number of ground forces in favor of more modern equipment. That is why every year the total number of military personnel decreases by an average of 15 thousand people.
The Turkish Armed Forces number 510,700 (of which approximately 148,700 are civil servants). For mobilization in wartime, a military-trained reserve of up to 900,000 people can be used, including 380,000 - the reserve of the first stage.
The Turkish army is recruited by conscription, the draft age is 20 years, the term of compulsory military service is 15 months. Upon dismissal from the army, a citizen is considered liable for military service and is in the reserve until the age of 45. In time of war, in accordance with the law, men aged 16 to 60 years old and women from 20 to 46 years old, capable of wearing, can be drafted into the army.
The supreme body of operational management of the armed forces is the General Staff, which is directed by the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. Subordinate to him are the commanders-in-chief of the branches of the armed forces: ground forces (ground forces), air forces (air forces), naval forces (navy), gendarmerie (up to 150 thousand people) and coast guards. According to the Turkish table of ranks, the chief of the General Staff is ranked fourth after the president, chairman of parliament and prime minister.
STRUCTURE
The ground forces (Türk Kara Kuvvetleri) are subordinate to the commander-in-chief of the ground forces and number 391,000 people. Organizationally, most of the formations and units of the ground forces are consolidated into 5 operational formations: field armies and an operational grouping in the Turkish part of Cyprus.
* 1st Field Army, headquarters in Istanbul, grouping of troops near the borders with Greece and Bulgaria.
- 2nd AK (Galipoli): 4th, 18th mechanized brigade; 54th, 55th and 65th brigade.
- 3rd AK (Istanbul): 52nd brtd (1st, 2nd brigade; 66 mechanized brigade), operatively subordinate to the NATO command.
- 5th AK (Chorlu): 3rd, 95th brigade; 8th mechbr.
* 2nd Field Army, headquarters in Malata, a grouping of troops near the borders with Syria, Iraq, Iran.
- 6th AK (Adana): 5th brigade, 39th mechanized brigade.
- 7th AK (Diyarbakir): 3rd infantry brigade (6th infantry brigade; 6th, 16th mechanized brigade); 23rd infantry brigade; 70th mechanized brigade.
- 8th AK (Elazig): 20th, 172nd brigade.
- CH regiment.
* 3rd Field Army, headquarters in Erzinjan, grouping of troops near the borders of Armenia and Georgia.
- 9th AK (Erzurum): 4th brigade; 1st, 2nd, 9th, 12th, 14th, 25th mechanized brigade; 34th, 48th, 49th, 51st infantry brigade.
- 4 AK (Ankara): 1st infantry brigade, 28th mechanized brigade; 58 arbr.
* Aegean (4th) field army, headquarters in Izmir, a grouping of forces along the western coast of Turkey.
- 19th infantry brigade; 11th mechanized brigade; 57th arbr.
- CH regiment.
* Cypriot Group of Forces (Girna).
- 28th, 39th MD; 14th brigade, group CH.
The operational subordination of the army commanders are six separate artillery regiments and four army aviation regiments.
Two infantry regiments (23rd and 47th), special operations forces consisting of 5 commando brigades and separate army regiments of the Special Forces (available in the 2nd and 4th field armies) are directly subordinated to the Main Command of the SV through the command of special operations. Through the command of the army aviation, four regiments of the army aviation are subordinate to him. Recently, a brigade of "humanitarian aid" appeared under the direct subordination of the commander-in-chief of the Army.
Training of HR specialists takes place in educational formations and training centers:
1st, 3rd, 5th and 15th infantry training brigades;
59th Artillery Training Brigade (Erzincan);
training center for armored forces (Etimesgut).
Persons called up for active service and intended to fill the posts of junior commanders are sent to training units, formations and training centers for sergeant and non-commissioned officers. In the ground forces, such training is assigned to the training command of the Aegean (4th) Field Army. Non-commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers are presented in two categories - urgent and extra-urgent service. Non-commissioned officers are trained in special departments at military schools of the combat arms for 2-3 years. These departments are recruited on a voluntary basis with conscripts and sailors with secondary education, as well as graduates of preparatory non-commissioned officers' schools, which admit people aged 14-16 who have graduated from primary school and have completed secondary education. The minimum service life of non-commissioned officers is 15 years.
The highest level of selection is envisaged when staffing a regular officer corps. This is achieved through the voluntary admission of young men to military schools and a set of checks on political reliability, which makes it possible to form an officer corps mainly from highly educated strata of the population. The training of officers is carried out in military educational institutions, which include lyceums (military gymnasiums and gymnasiums - an approximate analogue of the Russian Suvorov schools), higher schools of the branches of the armed forces, secondary schools of the combat arms and military academies. Officers are also trained in the military faculties of civilian higher education institutions.
Secondary military educational institutions of the combat arms and services (infantry, armored, missile, artillery, reconnaissance, foreign languages, technical, quartermaster, communications, commando) prepare lower-level officers - commanders of platoons, groups, companies and batteries.
The main link in the training of army officers is higher school Kara harp okulu. In this military educational institution, future officers receive a higher general and secondary military education. The term of study is 4 years. After graduation, graduates are awarded the rank of "lieutenant". Further, graduates, as a rule, are sent for one or two years to the schools of the combat arms and services.
Only officers - graduates of military schools with the ranks of senior lieutenant - major who have served in the army for at least three years - are admitted to the military academy of the Army. The term of study is 2 years.
Only graduates of the academies of the branches of the armed forces can become students of the academy of the armed forces. They are trained to work in the apparatus of the Ministry of Defense, in the General Staff, in the joint headquarters of NATO, in the headquarters of the division-army link. The term of study is five months. Along with the military schools, there is a network of courses for retraining officers by service. Some officers undergo retraining abroad, mainly in the USA and Germany.
The main tactical formation in the Turkish army is the brigade. In 2009, the ground forces included 9 tank, 16 mechanized and 11 infantry brigades. As a rule, brigades are directly subordinate to the army corps or are part of divisions.
The tank battalion consists of a command and control headquarters (2 tanks), three tank companies, a command platoon, a support platoon, and a maintenance platoon. A tank company has 13 tanks (the company commander's tank, four platoons of three tanks each). There are 41 tanks in the battalion.
According to the program "Armed Forces - 2014" adopted in 2007, by the end of 2014, it is planned to reduce the number of ground forces to 280-300 thousand, simultaneously with equipping the troops with modern weapons and military equipment and control facilities. It is planned to liquidate two field armies (3rd field and 4th Aegean), create a unified command of three types of armed forces (ground forces, air force and navy) and transform the existing General Staff into a corresponding "joint" headquarters, which will be subordinate to the commands of the armed forces ... On the basis of the headquarters of the 1st field army and the 2nd field army, the command of the Western and Eastern groups of forces will be created, and the entire territory of Turkey in military-administrative and operational terms will be divided into two parts.
In recent years, the size of the Turkish army has been reduced by 10-20 thousand people a year, many formations and units are being disbanded. For example, over the past three years, 5 tank brigades out of 14 have been disbanded, the remaining 9 tank brigades are equipped with modern and modernized equipment. Some of the infantry brigades were disbanded, and some were transferred to the staff of mechanized brigades. The task of combating the military formations of Kurdish separatists is entirely shifted to the gendarmerie, for which it is reinforced by the BTT transferred from the ground forces.
Leopard 2A4 Turkish army on the street in Ankara
WEAPONS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT
Armored vehicles in the Turkish army are represented by foreign models and samples of their own production. Tanks are considered the main striking force in the army. According to the data submitted by Turkey to the UN Register, there were 3363 tanks in the Armed Forces as of 12/31/2007. Tanks are part of the mechanized (1st battalion) and tank (3rd battalions) brigades, units of the 28th and 39th mechanized divisions.
In recent years, Turkey has been actively utilizing tanks of outdated models and at the same time modernizing its combat equipment. The ambitious project of creating our own tank "Altay", which has been widely advertised in recent years, has reached the stage of a contract (signed on July 29, 2008 with the general contractor Turkish company OTOKAR and subcontractor Korean company Hyundai-Rotem), the initial batch of tanks was planned to be released in 2012. In the current situation, Turkey has taken very practical measures: it has purchased Leopard 2 tanks from Germany, and is modernizing Leopard 1 and M60 tanks. Data on the number of specific samples of armored vehicles in the Turkish army are contradictory. Based on study and comparison various sources the most reliable figures were obtained.
339 Leopard 2A4 tanks delivered from Germany. It is planned to modernize it by the Turkish company ASELSAN to the A6 level.
77 Leopard 1A3 / TU tanks, delivery from Germany, Turkish modernization with the installation of the Volkan MSA.
150 tanks Leopard 1A4 / T1, delivery from Germany, German modernization with the installation of the EMES12 A3.
165 tanks Leopard 1A1A1 / T, delivery from Germany, Turkish modernization with the installation of the "Volkan" control system.
658 M60A3 TTS tanks (American modernization, with a combined thermal imaging sight of the AN / VSG-2 gunner).
274 tanks М60А1.
104 tanks М60А1 RISE (Passive), American modernization, with passive night devices of the commander and driver.
170 M60-T Sabra tanks, Israeli modernization of the M60A1, with the installation of a 120-mm cannon and a modern fire control system.
over 1200 M48 tanks of various modifications.
Leopard 1 of the Turkish army on exercises
М60А3 TTS of the Turkish army in exercises
M60-T Sabra of the Turkish army at the parade in Ankara
M48 tanks are currently withdrawn from line formations (with the exception of 287 M48A5T1 / T2 units as part of the Turkish troops in Cyprus). They are used in training centers (for example, to designate the enemy, infantry break-in), put into storage, are partially converted into ARVs and bridgelayers, disassembled for parts, and disposed of.
Armored combat vehicles are represented by tracked infantry fighting vehicles, tracked and wheeled armored personnel carriers, vehicles based on them. According to the UN Register, at the end of 2007 there were 4625 AFVs in the Army and the Gendarmerie.
BMP ACV-300 from the Turkish contingent of NATO forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR)
563 BMP ACV-300, analogue of the American model YP-765 based on M113. Available in two versions: with a DAF turret equipped with a 25-mm AP Oerlikon Contraves; with a Giat turret equipped with a 25 mm M811 AP.
102 BMP FNSS Akinci. A variant of the AVC-300 BMP with a six-base undercarriage and a turret from the American M2 Bradley BMP.
1031 BTR ACV-300APC based on M113. Equipped with a turret with a 12.7-mm KKP "Browning", has a troop compartment for 13 people.
about 1800 armored personnel carriers M113 A / A1 / A2 / T2 / T3.
52 APCs FNSS Pars 6x6. 650 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles were ordered.
100 APC Cobra 4x4.
260 BTR Akrep 4x4.
102 BTR Yavuz 8x8.
340 BTR-60PB, delivered from Germany, used in the gendarmerie.
240 BTR-80, delivered from Russia, used in the gendarmerie.
Turkish BMP FNSS Akinci
Turkish armored personnel carrier ACV-300APC in the park of the 14th mechanized brigade
Turkish armored personnel carrier FNSS Pars 8x8 in the version with 25-mm AP
Turkish armored personnel carriers Cobra on exercises
Turkish armored personnel carrier Akrep
Turkish armored personnel carrier Yavuz
Field artillery is represented by self-propelled mortars on the M113 and FNSS chassis, self-propelled howitzers and cannons, towed systems, and various types of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). There are 6110 tables in total.
108 ACS T-155 Storm, 350 units were ordered in total.
287 SPG M110.
36 ACS М107.
9 ACS М55.
222 ACS М44Т.
365 ACS М52Т.
26 ACS М108Т.
about 5000 towed guns and mortars, including about 1000 105 and 155 mm guns, 2000 107 and 120 mm mortars, 3000 81-mm mortars.
about 550 self-propelled and towed MLRSs of 107-300 mm caliber.
Turkish self-propelled guns T-155 Storm at the parade in Ankara
Turkish self-propelled gun М52Т
Turkish MLRS T-122 at an arms exhibition
Turkish SAM Atilgan with SAM "Stinger"
Anti-tank weapons are self-propelled anti-tank complexes (156 M113 TOW ATGMs and 48 FNSS ACV-300 TOW ATGMs), portable and transportable ATGMs, RPGs. The number of launchers of transportable and portable anti-tank systems exceeds 2400 units (Cobra, Eryx, TOW, Milan, Cornet, Competition). The Turkish army has over 5,000 RPG-7s and more than 40,000 M72A2s.
The air defense systems include over 2,800 small-caliber anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft guns, the army has over 1,900 portable anti-aircraft missile systems (Red-I, Stinger, Igla MANPADS), as well as 105 self-propelled systems (Atilgan and Zipkin) with Stinger air defense systems.
Turkish infantry training
Army aviation is armed with 44 AH-1 Cobra combat helicopters, multipurpose helicopters S-70 Black Hawk (98), AS-532 (89), UH-1 (106), AB-204/206 (49) and Mi-17 (18 units, used in the gendarmerie).
Small arms are represented by a wide range of samples:
HK MP5 submachine guns;
automatic rifles and machine guns G3, HK33, M16, M4A1, AK-47;
sniper rifles SVD, T-12, JNG-90, Phonix Robar 12.7;
light and single machine guns MG-3, HK21, FN Minimi, PK, PKS;
heavy machine guns Browning, KPVT.
CONCLUSIONS
The strong qualities of the Turkish army are:
High authority and support of the armed forces in the wider strata of Turkish society;
the exceptional position of officers in the military environment and in society;
a stable vertical of military command, corporate and clan (by combat arms, units) solidarity;
strict military discipline in units and subdivisions;
saturation of the army with military equipment and heavy weapons;
Availability modern means management in the operational and tactical levels;
integration into NATO's communications, combat control and air defense systems;
systematic combat and operational training of troops;
the presence of its own industrial base for the production, repair and modernization of ammunition, control and communications equipment, many types of weapons and military equipment.
OPERATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd field armies are capable of independently creating operational groupings of about 50,000 people and 300-350 tanks each in peacetime. Although the Russian Federation does not have a border with Turkey, the potential for a military clash with the Turkish army exists due to two factors.
Dislocation of formations of the 9th Army Corps
The first factor is the existence of a defensive treaty between the RF and the Republic of Armenia. Two separate motorized rifle brigades (previously the 102nd military base) of the Russian army. Near the borders of Armenia, formations of the 9th Army Corps of the 3rd Field Army of the Turkish Army are deployed, consisting of one tank, six mechanized and four infantry brigades. With these forces, the Turkish army is able, in a relatively short time (5-7 days), to create an offensive group of 40-50 thousand people, 350-370 tanks, up to 700 guns, mortars and MLRS of field artillery, an army aviation regiment on the Gyumri-Yerevan operational direction , providing support for the grouping by several squadrons of front-line aviation. Within 15-20 days, it is possible to build up this grouping up to 80-100 thousand people, 600-700 tanks and 1200-1300 guns and mortars.
The second factor is the likely entry of Georgia into NATO. In this case, it is possible to deploy a grouping of the Turkish army on the territory of Georgia in one operational direction: either Abkhaz (here, according to a defensive agreement with Abkhazia, a Russian motorized rifle brigade is deployed), or Tskhinvali (according to a defensive agreement with South Ossetia, a Russian motorized rifle brigade is also stationed here). The special physical and geographical conditions of the theater of operations and the limited road network increase the time for the redeployment and deployment of the Turkish grouping (40-50 thousand people, 350-370 tanks, 700 guns, mortars and MLRS of field artillery) up to 12-15 days (with transported supplies) or up to 20-25 days (with the accumulation of stocks for the entire operation time). On the coastal flank of the Abkhazian ON, the Turkish fleet is able to support the actions of the army by landing an operational-tactical amphibious assault force up to a brigade.
At the same time, for the group advancing in one operational direction, there is a threat of a flank attack from another operational direction. It seems difficult to create a grouping sufficient for operations on two diverging ONs simultaneously. The capacity of the theater is limited, the terms of operational deployment increase in this case to 25-30 days, which largely devalues such a solution.
In the 21st century, a large number of modern states strive for peaceful coexistence with other countries. In other words, people are tired of wars. A similar trend began to gain momentum after World War II. This conflict made it clear that the next large-scale collision could endanger not only the foundations of the world, but also the existence of humanity as a whole. Therefore, today many armies are used exclusively for organizing internal defense against any external aggressors. Nevertheless, local conflicts still arise in certain parts of the planet. There is no escaping this negative factor. In order to prevent a full-scale war, some states invest large sums of money in the defense of their country. This helps to create the latest technologies that can be used in the military field of activity. It should be noted that the Armed Forces of Turkey are among the most developed and effective today. They have a rather interesting history, which determines many traditions of formation that exist in his activities to this day. At the same time, the Turkish army is well equipped, and also divided into constituent structures that help it to effectively implement all the main tasks.
History of the Turkish Armed Forces - early period
The Turkish army traces its history back to the XIV century AD. It should be noted that this period belonged to the Ottoman Empire. The state got its name from the name of the first ruler, Osman I, who conquered several small countries, which necessitated the creation of a monarchical (imperial) form of government. By this time, the Turkish army already had several separate formations in its composition, which were quite effectively used in the process of implementing combat missions. What did the Armed Forces of the Ottoman Empire have in their composition?
- The Seratkula army is an auxiliary force. As a rule, it was created by provincial rulers to protect their possessions. It consisted of infantry and cavalry.
- The professional army of the state was the army of the capicula. The formation included many units. Infantry, artillery, navy and cavalry became the main ones. Funding for the troops of the capicula was carried out from the state treasury.
- The auxiliary forces of the Ottoman army were the Toprakla army, as well as detachments of fighters recruited from the provinces imposed by tribute.
The influence of European culture marked the beginning of a large number of transformations in the army. Already in the 19th century, the formations were completely reorganized. This process was carried out using European military experts. The vizier became the head of the army. At the same time, the Janissary corps were liquidated. The backbone of the Ottoman Empire at that time was the regular cavalry, infantry and artillery. At the same time, there were irregular troops, which are actually a reserve.
Late period of development of the Ottoman army
By the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, Turkey was at the peak of its development both militarily and economically. In the activities of the army, aircraft began to be used, as well as universal firearms. As for the fleet, the ships, as a rule, were ordered by the Turkish army in Europe. But due to the difficult political situation within the state in the XX century, the armed forces of the Ottoman Empire cease to exist, because the state of the same name disappears. Instead, the Republic of Turkey appears, which exists to this day.
Turkish Armed Forces: modernity
In the 21st century, the armed forces are a collection of various branches of the state's troops. They are intended to protect the country from external aggression, to preserve its territorial integrity. The Turkish Armed Forces are commanded through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. It should be noted that ground forces are of great importance, as will be discussed below. They are the second strongest in the NATO bloc. As for the internal coordination of activities, it is implemented through the General Staff. The Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Army is concurrently the head of the body represented. The general staff, in turn, is subordinate to the commanders of the corresponding branches of the armed forces.
The size of the Turkish army
In terms of numbers, the formation presented in the article is one of the largest in the world. The Turkish army has 410 thousand personnel. This figure includes professional military personnel belonging to all branches of the armed forces without exception. In addition, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey include about 185 thousand reservists. Thus, in the event of a full-scale war, the state can assemble a sufficiently strong combat vehicle that will perfectly cope with the tasks assigned to it.
Formation structure
The strength of the Turkish army depends on many factors, one of which is the structure This feature affects the efficiency and operational use of the Turkish Armed Forces in the event of an unforeseen attack or other negative moments. It should be noted that the army is organized in a classical way, that is, according to the generally accepted pattern in the world. The structure includes the following types of troops:
- land;
- naval;
- air.
As we know, this type of armed forces can be seen in almost all modern states. After all, this kind of system allows you to use the army as efficiently as possible both in combat conditions and in peacetime.
What are the Turkish Ground Forces?
The Turkish army, which is often compared with other Armed Forces and the analysis of its combat effectiveness, is famous for its ground forces. This is not surprising, because this branch of the military has a long and interesting history, which was already mentioned earlier in the article. It should be noted that this structural element of the Armed Forces is a formation, which consists mainly of infantry, as well as mechanized units. Today, the number of the Turkish army, namely the ground forces, is about 391 thousand personnel. Formation is used to defeat enemy forces on land. In addition, some special units of the ground forces carry out reconnaissance and sabotage activities behind enemy lines. It should be noted that relative ethnic homogeneity affects the strength of the Turkish army. Kurds serving in national troops given the difficult situation in which they find themselves, do not experience any harassment.
The composition of the ground forces
It should be noted that the ground formations of Turkey, in turn, are subdivided into smaller groups. Hence it follows that we can talk about the structure of the ground forces of the country's Armed Forces. To date, this element includes the following divisions:
- infantry;
- artillery;
- special forces, or "commandos".
Tank units are also of great importance. Indeed, the Turkish Armed Forces have a large number of such military vehicles.
Armament of ground forces
It should be noted that the armament of the Turkish army is at a sufficient high level in comparison with other states of Europe and the Middle East. As mentioned earlier, the ground forces are equipped with a large number of tanks. As a rule, these are "Leopards" German manufacturer or American. Also in service with Turkey about 4625 thousand units of BMP. The number of artillery guns is 6110 thousand units. If we talk about the personal safety of soldiers, then it is ensured by sufficiently high-quality and practical weapons. As a rule, fighters use NK MP5 submachine guns, SVD, T-12 sniper rifles, Browning heavy machine guns, etc.
Turkish naval forces
Like other elements of the Armed Forces, the Navy is a fairly significant part, which is entrusted with extremely specific functions. First of all, it should be noted that at the current stage of development, the Turkish Republic needs naval forces more than ever before. First, the state has access to the seas, which allows international trade in large volumes. Secondly, the geopolitical situation in the world today is extremely unstable. Therefore, the naval forces are the first stronghold on the path of certain ill-wishers. It should be noted that the Turkish fleet was formed back in 1525. In those days, the Ottoman naval forces were truly an invincible unit in a battle on the water. With the help of the navy, the empire has conquered and kept the territories it needs at bay for centuries.
As for modern times, today the fleet has not lost its power. On the contrary, the naval forces are developing quite dynamically. The Turkish Navy includes:
- directly the fleet;
- Marines;
- naval aviation;
- special units used in special cases.
Armament of the naval forces
Of course, the main striking weapon of the Turkish naval forces is the navy. In our time, nowhere without it. Therefore, when considering weapons, it is necessary to build on precisely such an important systemic part of the Navy as the fleet. He, in turn, is represented by a large number of different frigates and corvettes, which have great maneuverability and efficiency. The republic's naval aviation is also quite interesting. It includes equipment of both Turkish and foreign production.
Air Force
As for Turkey, they are one of the youngest units, given the glorious history of other military formations that make up the armed forces. They were created in 1911 and were actively used in the First World War. During the war, the Turkish army, as we know, was defeated along with other countries of the Triple Alliance. For this and some other reasons, aviation ceases to exist. Its activity was resumed only in 1920. Today, the Turkish Air Force has about 60 thousand personnel. In addition, there are 34 operating military airfields on the territory of the state. The activities of the Turkish Air Force include the implementation of the following main functions:
- protection of the country's airspace;
- defeat of enemy manpower and equipment on the ground;
- defeat of enemy air forces.
Air force technology
It consists of many aircraft that allow you to perform your tasks as efficiently as possible. Thus, in service today there is a large number of transport and combat aircraft, helicopters, as well as air defense systems. At the same time, fighters, as a rule, are multipurpose. Air defense is represented by medium and short-range equipment. The Turkish Air Force also has a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles in service.
Turkish army versus Russian: comparison
Comparison of the Armed Forces of Turkey and Russia has been made more and more recently. To figure out which army is stronger, you need to look first of all at the defense budget and the number of military personnel. For example, Russia spends $ 84 billion on its troops, while in the Republic of Turkey this figure is only $ 22.4 billion. As for the number of personnel, we can count on 700 thousand people in a war. In Turkey, the number of military personnel is only 500 thousand people. Of course, there are other factors on the basis of which the combat effectiveness of the armies of these two countries can be assessed. Thus, who is in a more advantageous situation if the Turkish army stands against the Russian one? Comparison based on dry statistics shows that the Russian Federation has a more powerful formation than the Republic of Turkey.
Conclusion
So, the author tried to explain what the Turkish army is. It should be noted that the combat power of this formation is quite strong, as in other modern states. Let's hope that we will never have to feel the activities of the Turkish army.
One of the most significant results of the "Young Turks" revolution of 1908-1909 was the reform of uniforms in the Ottoman army, which lasted for several years.
During the previous hundred years, the Ottoman Empire often tried to modernize the military uniform of the army, as well as its organizational and staff structure. Thus, during the Crimean War, there was a noticeable strong French influence, but by the end of the 19th century, the Turkish army was modernized, mainly in the German fashion.
The khaki uniform (which actually ranged from greenish to brownish in shades) was introduced in 1909 to replace the old navy blue, although the full dress officer's uniform remained navy blue.
Red tarbush or "fez" with its dark blue tassel, the former hallmark Turkish soldier for nearly a century, was replaced by kabalak. This unique military headgear consisted of a long strip of fabric that was wound on a braided base, and resembled a sunny tropical helmet.
There is evidence that the kabalak was developed by Enver Pasha himself and is often referred to as Enveriye.
Officers often wore the fur cap prescribed for the cavalry - sheepskin kalpak, but already during the First World War, a simplified kabalak form was introduced for officers. These kabalaks were made from plain khaki fabric.
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| Captain engineering troops, 1913. At the outbreak of hostilities in 1912, Ottoman frontline officers were wearing a new gray-green M1909 uniform. This captain of engineers wears a standard officer's uniform with a blue tunic collar, indicating that he belongs to the Corps of Engineers. Blue color is repeated on the upper surface of his astrakhan fur headdress, with a gold braid in a criss-cross pattern, going from the edge to the center to form the shape of a six-pointed star. The officers, as a rule, purchased the uniforms themselves. This captain most likely bought a pair of leather leggings for his officers' boots and a pair of leather gloves. |
| Info: Jowett, Walsh "Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13" |
Units of the Ottoman army of Arab origin usually wore their traditional kufyas.
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| Private Cycling Division, Arabia. At the start of World War I, most of the Ottoman armies in Syria and Iraq were recruited from the local Arab population. They fought with honors at Gallipoli, but many later joined the Arab revolt and fought as allies of the British. Others remained loyal to the Ottoman Empire until the end of the war. Most of them were dressed in Turkish uniforms and equipped in the same manner as a Turkish infantryman, except that they wore an Arabian kufiya headscarf with a camel hair ring instead of a Turkish kabalak hat. But some of them wore white uniforms, like the cyclist shown in this picture. |
| Info: Nicolle, Ruggeri "The Ottoman Army 1914-18" |
The quality of the uniforms of officers and other categories of military personnel in the Ottoman army varied more than in other armies. Many officers, especially senior officers, sewed their own uniforms, and also acquired personal weapons in Germany.
The uniforms of some soldiers, which came from the allies of the Ottoman Empire, were also made in Central Europe, but the bulk of the uniforms were made in Turkey itself.
By the end of World War I, the quality of these uniforms ranged from moderately good to just plain awful. The colors as well as the quality of the fabric varied considerably.
The same goes for boots and other leather goods.
During dire weather in November 1915, Ottoman troops in Gallipoli received an assortment of warm clothing donated by the people of Istanbul, including inappropriate fashionable underwear and light shoes.
Shoes became an acute problem for the Ottoman army and by the summer of 1917, when even some officers did not receive proper boots ...
The combat arms of the Turkish army were assigned military colors, which were used in the color of the collars for officers and the buttonholes on the collars for other ranks, as well as in the border of kabalak hats.
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| Collar of officers of the ground forces of the Turkish army: 1 - generals; 2 - staff officers; 3 - infantry; 4 - fortress artillery; 5 - field artillery; 6 - machine gunners; 7 - cavalry; 8 - engineers; 9 - aeronautical units ( Balloons); 10 - firefighters; 11 - redifs (reserves); 12- railroad workers; 13 - veterinarians; 14 - pharmacists; 15 - doctors; 16 - transport workers; 17 - rank and file infantry; 18 - cadets; 19 - an alternative; 20 - rank and file infantry; 21 - military clerks; 22 - officer Setre Yakası; 23 - General Setre Yakası; 24 - private of the reserve (redifs); 25 - firefighters; 26 - redifs; 27 - Subay Setre Yakası; 28 - Cerrah, Baytar Setre Yakası; 29 - Ezcacı Setre Yakası; 30 - Tabip Setre Yakası; 31 - Sanayi Eri Makinist Yakası; 32 - Askeri Kâtip Setre Yakası; 33 - Askeri Öğrenci Setre Yakası; 34 - reserve officer; 35 - the location of the marks on the collar; 36 - an alternative arrangement of signs on the collar; 37 - Private Infantry |
The ranks of generals, officers and non-commissioned officers were designated on shoulder straps in the German manner. On the shoulder straps of non-commissioned officers, in addition, there was a red (infantry) or blue (machine gunners) edging ..
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| Shoulder straps of the Turkish army, 1914-1918: 1 - general (MÜŞIR); 2 - Lieutenant General (BIRINCI FERIK); 3 - Major General (FERIK); 4 - brigadier general (MIRLIVA); 5 - Colonel (MIRALAY); 6 - lieutenant colonel (KAYMAKAM); 7 - Major (BINBAŞI); 8 - staff captain (canceled); 9 - captain (YUZBAŞI); 10 - lieutenant (MÜLAZIM-I EVVEL); 11 - junior lieutenant (MÜLAZIM-I SANI); 12 - junior musician officer; 13 - sultan; 14 - general of the medical service; 15 - senior officer; 16 - senior medical officer; 17 - officer; 18 - medical officer; 19 - shoulder straps on the jacket of an infantry school cadet; 20 - epaulette of an infantry school cadet; 21 - cadet shoulder straps; 22 - officer shoulder straps of rifle units; 23 - officer shoulder straps of engineering units; 24 - general's epaulette; 25 - officer's epaulette; 26 - officer's epaulette; 27 - corporal (ER-ONBAŞİ); 28 - sergeant (CAVUŞ); 29 - Sergeant Major (BAŞÇAVUŞ MUAVINI); 30 - Sergeant (BAŞÇAVUŞ). |
| Information: Orses, Ozcelik “1.Dunya savasinda. Turk askeri kiyafetleri (1914-1918) " |
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Generals and staff officers had wide double stripes on their trousers. and the cavalry and artillery officers are broad, single.
The Ottoman army had a modern soldier's double-breasted overcoat, sewn from gray wool, with a large collar that was tightened tightly around the neck with a cord, and equipped with a hood for additional protection.
Officers wore a gray-green double-breasted coat with a military-colored collar or a woolen mantle or hooded cloak.
Sources of information:
1. Nicolle, Ruggeri "The Ottoman Army 1914-18"
2. Thomas, Babac "Armies in the Balkans 1914-18"
3. Jowett, Walsh "Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13"
4. Haselgrove, Radovic “Helmets of the First World War. Germany, Britain & their allies "
5. Kannik "Uniforms of the armies of the world 1880-1970"
6. Funken “Encyclopedia of weapons and military clothing. World War I 1914-1918 "
7. Nicolle, Hook "Ottoman infantryman 1914-18"
8. Orses, Ozcelik "1. Dunya savasinda. Turk askeri kiyafetleri (1914-1918) "