Turkish Soldiers

[TurkishSoldier019]

Hello, I am curious if anyone can provide some more information about the uniforms worn early in the conflict, 1950. I know that the Osprey book has a painting of an officer, but that's not entirely useful. The little blurb that they had in the back of the book mentions that they wore a battle dress type uniform with British style MII tin helmet and the sidecap was US in cut. Apparently they were still wearing German styled pouches like they did in the 1940s.

Does this mean that they would have been armed with the Mausers at the of the start of their tour in Korea?

Know that later on they were mostly issued US M43 items and weapons.

Thanks for your time.

[brigadepiron]

Hello TurkishSoldier,

I agree the Osprey picture is pretty crap, but you're lucky that there are loads of photos of the Turkish contingent.


(Photo from koreatimes.co.kr)


The photo was taken in Pusan, 1950 so should show the rifle type - I regret that I am not enough of an expert to be able to tell myself. I haven't seen any evidence of MkII helmets amongst the Turkish contingent, but they definately seem to be wearing German cartridge pouches, not sure about the rest of the equipment.

Incidentally, does the left soldier wear the battle-dress type uniform the Osprey book talks about?


(Photo from chirayliq.blogspot.com/2008/12/turkish-soldiers-in-korea.html)

Anyway, its good to see such interest in the Turkish contingent!

BP

[TurkishSoldier019]

It looks like they are wearing German-styled breadbags here. There is a mix of Mausers and M1s in use in 1950 since the US didn't have enough time to give them up to date weapons.

I've only been able to find one photos of the men wearing Bordie helmets, before they got the M1 Pots





It looks like the Turkish BD is very Ike-jacket in tailoring. The gaitors are very British.

[darius1941]

What back packs were these soldiers useing as well as boots?
I may want to put one of these impression together!

[TurkishSoldier019]

Books seem to have been black ankle boots without toe caps; along the design of the WW2 British pattern. Most of the field gear that the Turks wore when they first arrived in Korea were leftover stock from the 1930s and 1940s, which were modeled off of Imperial German designs. The knapsack was a greyish canvas with black leather straps, like the M1894 Knapsacks of the Germans. Some were issued US/UN styles a few months in.

[brigadepiron]

Very interesting! Any chance of some colour pics? I imagine that they do exist, if only on Turkish-language websites!

[brigadepiron]

www.flickr.com/photos/philosopherking/1400273603/in/photostream/

This is what you're looking for no?