"Crimean Turks question" Topic

Hi folks
What sort of tactical formations were commonly used by the Turks both in the Crimea and the fighting on the Balkan and Caucasus fronts as in firing lines/columns/skirmishers?

As far as I've read they could do all that. I suspect they get an undeserved bad rep'. I presume their irregulars were mainly musket armed skirmishing horse.

IIRC the Ottoman-Turkish military used Prussian drill by the time of the Crimean War. The Ottomans developed cordial ties with both France and Prussia after the Sultan broke the power of the Jannisaries, and while influenced by French military thought, ended up basing its military reforms and training along Prussian lines. There were also a number of Prussian advisers and officers service with the Ottoman military. For example, von Moltke travelled to Turkey and became a military instructor for a period of time.

I think Moltke got involved in some action at some point.

According to Winfried Baumgart in "The Crimean War 1853-1856": "The Turkish Army was well-drilled, well-armed and good on the defensive. About a quarter was equipped with modern percussion rifles bought in Britain. The Turkish artillery was as good as any at that time, the guns being of French and British origin".

Moltke participated in the disastrous battle of Nisib during the 2nd Egyptian War I believe.

On formations they (the regular and first line reserve infantry-nizams and redifs) used the European drill like anybody else. Maybe the only "unique" characteristic was the willingness and efficiency of Ottoman infantry in creating field works.

Sounds like a pretty good thing to specialise in at the time!!
Would be right in thinking the Russians used the same column attacks as in the Crimea in the Balkans etc

The Russians were still using Napoleonic style attack columns in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. At Plevna, the Turkish defenders were armed with American made Winchester repeating carbines (the only time that weapon was used in war AFAIK).

Also at Plevna, the Turks were armed with the American made Peabody-Martini rifle. The Turkish defenders used the P-M at long ranges then switched to the Winchester at shorter ranges.

… the Turks were convinced that they had made the best possible choice in their selection of small arms. On July 30, 1877, outnumbered Turkish forces at Plevna stopped a massive Russian drive on Constantinople. The Tsar's troops, armed with Colt Berdan rifles and clumsy Krenka conversion muskets, began falling at 2,000 yards (some sources claim 2,200) before the murderous fire of the Peabody-Martinis with their heavy .45 caliber bullets. When the Russians had advanced to 200 yards, the Turks put down their Peabody-Martinis and took up their .44 caliber Winchester lever actions. Their rapid fire raked the Russian ranks and broke the attack. Before the siege ended in the following January, over 30,000 Russians and Romanians had fallen to the rifles of Providence Tool and Winchester.

The Russians were so impressed by the P-M that they rearmed some of their units with the rifles captured after Plevna surrendered. [From personal research done about Captain Henry Metcalfe, a Mississippi "native," who headed the US Army Ordnance team assisting the Turks in obtaining the P-M rifles.]

See link for the long and involved story about the Peabody Tool Company's foray into the international arms market.

Jim

Hi mashrewba,

A couple of books I found very useful on the Turks in the Crimean War:

Badem, The Ottoman Crimean War
link

Muratoff, Caucasian Battlefields
link

Hope this helps.

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
link
bloodybigbattles.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks everyone.