Turkish platoon structure

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Meadow5225
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Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2013 5:27 am

Turkish platoon structure

Post by Meadow5225 »

Does anyone have information about Turkish platoon structure for mid to late WW1?
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stecal
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Location: Philadelphia, PA USA

Re: Turkish platoon structure

Post by stecal »

At Gallipoli in 1915 a Turkish Company had 3 platoons, each platoon had a nominal strength of 83: an officer (2nd Lt or Lt) and 9 squads of 9 men. Each squad apparently was led by a sgt or corporal and had 2 4 man sections. Ottoman forces were always very understrength so it is unclear whether they would field smaller sections or fewer sections. I tend to believe the latter due to the lack of officers and NCOs.

Reference: http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Ho ... id=1115526

Per Prof. Mesut Uyar,
“But an Ottoman platoon had 83 soldiers. That’s 83 experienced soldiers, with Mauser rifles, able to fire 10 bullets per minute – if you think about the effect on the Anzacs below, of course they would think they were facing machine guns.”

http://uniken.unsw.edu.au/features/cove ... man-fellow

David Cameron in his very detailed book on the 1st day of Gallipoli, 25 April 1915 says the Turkish Companies consisted of 3 platoons each commanded by a 2nd Lt., each platoon had 9 sections of 9 men each, all armed with Mausers & 2 grenades each


The Yildirim Divisions in Palestine 1917-18 were apparently better equipped with platoon LMGs, whether captured Russian Madsen or British Lewis guns or provided by Germany
Stephen
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stecal
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Re: Turkish platoon structure

Post by stecal »

CoCulating out a mid 1915+ Turkish 1/2 platoon for CoC M&B I came up with this:

-4 platoon force rating
5 dice regulars

Lieutenant with Pistol - Sr. leader
Section - JL with rifle, 6 riflemen, 2 bombers
Section - JL with rifle, 6 riflemen, 2 bombers
Section - JL with rifle, 6 riflemen, 2 bombers
Section - JL with rifle, 6 riflemen, 2 bombers

any automatic weapons will have to be attached down from the Bn Machinegun company. With a -4 you can afford a MMG & an adjutant.

Use the German Infantry Zug support list. Any non Turk equipment can preferably be equipped by Asien Korps uniformed Austrians.

the full Platoon with 9 sections would at +8 force morale, but pretty much unmanageable with 5 order dice and a single SL.

Turkish National characteristics:

Stubborn - ignore shock inflicted in Close Combat per the rulebook

Allah Akbar - if a Senior leader uses all 3 of his command points to rally remove +1 point of shock

The German Handgranaten grenade rule might be appropriate as well since the Turks followed German doctrine and were often led and trained by German officers.
Stephen
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NeilCFord
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Location: Wiltshire, United Kingdom

Re: Turkish platoon structure

Post by NeilCFord »

For a view of the Gallipoli landing from an Ottoman perspective, this new book might be of interest:

The Ottoman Defence against the Anzac Landing: 25 April 1915
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Y23IWUG/r ... O5WBTC7NKT

written by the previously mentioned Prof. Mesut Uyar.

I'm going to work up a full Ottaman CoC list, though it with be based on the two squads of rifleman per section and not include bombers as standard as I can't find a reference to support them.

- Neil.
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jony663
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Re: Turkish platoon structure

Post by jony663 »

Was the structure similar in Arabia?
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