Turkish Airborne Forces and their small arms

On August 9, 2024, a publication was published on Military Review Turkish airborne assault: history and modernity, in which the authors, having touched on a number of issues unrelated to the topic, did not consider it necessary to talk about the equipment and weapons of the Turkish paratroopers, limiting themselves to general phrases and allowing a number of inaccuracies concerning the structure of the airborne units. And today I will try to correct this omission.
Special Forces Brigades of the Turkish Armed Forces
Unlike Russia, the Turkish armed forces do not have Airborne Forces as a separate branch of the armed forces. There are 16 brigades in total, the personnel of which undergo special training.
The Central Command has direct control over five commando brigades, while the rest are under the control of army and corps headquarters. Two brigades are subordinated to the gendarmerie and are mainly focused on fighting Kurdish separatists.
In addition to the brigades, there are two separate commando regiments in the Turkish Forces Group in Northern Cyprus and the Aegean Army. All Turkish commandos, regardless of specialization and location, wear blue berets and are trained in airborne assault.
Turkish commandos are essentially an elite, highly mobile light infantry force, designed to conduct special and airborne operations depending on the intended theatre of operations and method of landing, and may be provided with heavy fire support and armoured vehicles.

The 1st Commando Brigade, originally part of the Air Force but later transferred to the Ground Forces, is considered to be specially trained for airborne landings.

The number of the 1st Brigade is not disclosed in open sources, but judging by the fact that it includes 4 airborne battalions (assault), a special forces battalion (sabotage and reconnaissance), artillery division, a logistics battalion, as well as communications, anti-tank, engineering, repair and security companies - the total number can exceed 4500 people. The brigade is stationed at three separate military bases in Kayseri Province.
For the air delivery of equipment, weapons and personnel, the Turkish Air Force has CN-235M, C.160D Transall, C-130 and Airbus A400M aircraft, as well as UH-1, S-70, CH-47 and AS532 helicopters.

The 5th Mountain Airborne Brigade, formed in the late 1980s on the basis of one of the battalions of the 1st Brigade, is designed for operations in mountainous terrain.

Separate units of the mountain airborne brigade are stationed in the province of Hakkari in southeastern Turkey. It includes three commando battalions, an artillery battalion, communications units, and a transport and logistics support group.

Although ground transport and helicopters are used primarily to transport personnel, some 5th Brigade personnel undergo at least three weeks of parachute training.

Unique in many ways to the Turkish Armed Forces is the Marine Corps Landing Brigade, headquartered in Foca, near Izmir. The brigade includes three landing battalions, an armored vehicle battalion, an artillery division, a support battalion, a reconnaissance and sabotage company, and a communications company.

S-70 and CH-47 helicopters, inflatable motor boats, high-speed landing barges and Turkish-made FNSS MAV Zaha amphibious tracked vehicles protected by bulletproof armor are intended for landing from the sea.

At the same time, despite the naval specifics, one of the companies of each battalion has a platoon, and almost all personnel of the reconnaissance and sabotage company have experience in parachute jumping.

The remaining brigades are "land-based", but some of their troops are trained for airborne landings. For example, the 9th Brigade, headquartered in the city of Sarikamish in Kars Province, which is part of the 9th Field Corps, is tasked with search and rescue, using airplanes and helicopters.
Small arms of Turkish commandos
Turkish paratroopers are currently armed with highly sophisticated small arms weapons. The military leadership closely monitors the development trends of military firearms, promptly acquiring promising models, and some, after testing, are put into service with commandos. In addition, the national arms industry makes a significant contribution to equipping paratroopers and special forces with modern weapons, currently producing models that fully meet high world standards.
Pistols
Turkish special operations forces and commandos use pistols chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge: the Glock 17 and Glock 19, the Heckler & Koch USP, and the SIG Sauer P226 chambered for the .40 S&W cartridge.
There is no point in talking about the Glocks separately, as this weapon is well known. It is worth mentioning that in Turkey, Akdal Arms produces its own copy of the Glock 17, known as the Ghost TR01.

Ghost TR01
Without cartridges, the Ghost TR01 weighs 750 g. The pistol is 190 mm long. The magazine capacity is 17 cartridges.
The Heckler & Koch USP pistol, thanks to its ease of use, high reliability, corrosion resistance and soft recoil, is used by special forces in a number of countries, and the Turks have not ignored it either.

Heckler & Koch USP
The unloaded pistol weighs 748 g. The length is 194 mm. The 9x19 mm version has a 15-round magazine.
The SIG Sauer P226 pistol, chambered for the .40 S&W high-stopping cartridge, is used by special operations forces.

SIG Sauer P226
Weight of unloaded weapon – 964 g. Length – 196 mm. Magazine capacity – from 10 to 15 rounds.
A transition to the 9mm Canik TP9 pistol, produced by the Turkish company Samsun Yurt Savunma, is planned. This weapon borrows technical solutions from the Walther P99 and Glock 17.

Canik TP9 pistol with a device for mounting a PBS and a collimator sight
When unloaded, the pistol weighs 810 g. The length is 192 mm. The magazine holds 18 rounds.
Semi-automatic shotguns
The special operations forces also have the Benelli M12 Super 4 and Armsan RS-S90 1-gauge shotguns at their disposal. They are mainly used by the Turkish Gendarmerie special forces in urban operations.
The Italian-made semi-automatic combat shotgun Benelli M4 Super 90 is considered one of the best in its class and is used by law enforcement agencies in many countries.

Benelli M4 Super 90
The length with the stock unfolded is 1010 mm. Weight – 3,82 mm. The tubular magazine holds 7 rounds + 1 round in the chamber. Ammunition of dimensions 12x70 mm and 12x76 mm is used. The effective firing range of buckshot is up to 50 m.
In fact, the Armsan RS-S1 shotgun is a Turkish analogue of the Russian 12-gauge Vepr semi-automatic smoothbore carbine.

Armsan RS-S1
This gun can fire cartridges with a case length of 65 mm, 70 mm and 76 mm. The total length of the weapon is 980 mm. Weight is 3,8 kg. Magazines for 5 and 10 cartridges.
Submachine guns
The Turkish company Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation carried out licensed production of German Heckler & Koch MP5A2/A3/SD3/K submachine guns chambered for 9×19 mm cartridges, which are in service in all branches of the armed forces.

Turkish commando with MP5
The most common modification in Turkey is the MP5A3. Without cartridges, this submachine gun weighs 3,2 kg. The length with the stock extended is 700 mm. The magazine capacity is 15 or 30 rounds. The rate of fire is 800 rounds per minute. The sighting range is up to 200 m.
In the past, the Israeli 9mm Uzi submachine guns were popular with Turkish commandos. However, they were replaced by more modern models about 10 years ago.
The Special Forces Command actively tested the HK MP7A2 and FN P90 models, originally designed for the personal protection of personnel not directly involved in small arms combat (communications operators, driver-mechanics, artillery crews, etc.). This compact weapon, with an effective range of about 200 m, which uses ammunition with a high muzzle velocity capable of penetrating light body armor, also proved to be in demand by various special forces units.
The MP7 fires a 4,6×30mm cartridge loaded with a 2g bullet with a muzzle velocity of 720 m/s and a muzzle energy of 506 J. This bullet can penetrate a 1,6mm thick titanium plate and 20 layers of Kevlar at a distance of 200 m.

MP7A2 with attachments
Weight without cartridges and attachments – 1,9 kg. Length with extended buttstock – 638 mm. Rate of fire – 950 rounds/min. Magazines for 20, 30 or 40 rounds are used.
The Belgian P90 is a bullpup design that fires 5,7x28mm rounds and features a compact design with an integrated red dot sight and fully ambidextrous controls.
A 2 g bullet has an initial velocity of 716 m/s and a muzzle energy of 515 J. At a distance of 200 m, it penetrates a Kevlar bulletproof vest with protection level IIIA. When conducting covert operations, it is possible to use a subsonic munition with a heavier bullet, which ensures effective suppression of the shot sound, but in this case the effective firing range and penetration will be lower.

P90 with PBS
The unloaded P90 weighs 2,6 kg. Length – 505 mm. Rate of fire – 850-900 rounds/min. Magazine for 50 rounds.
According to available information, Turkish commandos have chosen the P90, and in the future they plan to purchase a large batch from FN Herstal.
Assault rifles
In the recent past, the Turkish commandos had a significant number of American M-16 rifles, West German G3 and HK33E, and Kalashnikov assault rifles made in the GDR. At present, these automatic rifles have been largely abandoned, but this has not reduced the diversity of weapons in the Turkish paratroopers and special forces. This is due to the fact that commanders of elite units and individual subdivisions have the opportunity to choose certain models in accordance with their personal preferences and the specifics of the tasks.

Thus, the 5,56 mm M4A1 carbines, produced under American license by Sarsılmaz Arms, are very common in special forces. There are also a number of bullpups - Austrian AUG A2 and Israeli TAP-21.
The standard weapon in some units is the German 5,56mm HK416A5 assault rifle, produced by the German company Heckler & Koch since 2004. In total, Turkey purchased 9000 of these rifles.

Turkish commandos with HK416A5 assault rifles
The Turkish company Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu considered the possibility of establishing production of a copy of the HK416A5. However, the Turkish military did not support these plans.

With the stock unfolded, the length of the HK416A5 with a 419 mm barrel is 951 mm, with the stock folded – 855 mm. The initial bullet velocity is about 850 m/s. The effective range is up to 400 m. The weight of the assault rifle is 3,56 kg. The rate of fire is 800 rounds/min. Magazines for 20 and 30 rounds.
Although the HK416A5 has mechanical sights, most commonly collimator or optical sights, various additional options can be attached without modifying the weapon.
When it is necessary to defeat personnel in personal protective equipment, behind light cover and to penetrate thin walls, Turkish special forces use SCAR-H assault rifles chambered for 7,62×51 mm, produced by the American division of the Belgian company FN Herstal.

SCAR-H
SCAR-H is highly reliable and unpretentious in difficult operating conditions, has high accuracy and relatively low recoil for a weapon of this caliber.
The length of the rifle with the stock unfolded is 960 mm, with the stock folded – 712 mm. The barrel length is 406 mm. Weight without cartridges – 3,3 kg. Rate of fire – 550 rounds/min. Magazine capacity – 20 rounds. Muzzle velocity – 800 m/s. Effective range – up to 600 m.
The MPT-2014 assault rifle, developed by MKEK, Sarsılmaz Arms and Kalekalıp to replace the M-76, G16 and HK3E, was first shown at Eurosatory 33. Serial production began in 2015. Around 2018 MPT-25s have been produced by December 000. A total of at least 76 rifles are expected to be produced.

MPT-76
The MPT-76 is chambered for 7,62×51 mm ammunition. A variant chambered for 5,56×45 mm ammunition is known as the MPT-55, but this modification has not yet gained widespread popularity.

Considering that a significant part of the country has mountainous terrain, a cartridge with a 7,62 mm bullet, which provides a longer firing range and good penetration, seems more preferable for the Turkish military, which, in general, is atypical given the trends in the development of individual small arms.
The overall length of the MPT-76 with a 406 mm barrel is 920 mm. Weight without cartridges is 3,75 kg. Ballistic characteristics are approximately the same as those of the Belgian SCAR-H. The rate of fire is 700 rounds per minute. Magazine capacity is 20 rounds.
Sniper rifles
Turkish commandos and special operations forces have a wide range of designated marksman, sniper and anti-material rifles at their disposal. Observers, for example, note the presence of Soviet SVDs, which came from the arsenals of the GDR, West German MSG90 semiautomatics and American M14 EBR. In small quantities, there are rifles chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge: American Remington MSR, Russian ORSIS T-5000 and Finnish TRG-42. In caliber .408 Chey Tac, there are M-310 rifles manufactured by CheyTac USA.
Since 2008, the Turkish company MKE has produced the JNG-90 bolt-action rifle chambered for the 7,62×51mm cartridge, which is currently considered the standard sniper rifle for the Turkish Armed Forces.

JNG-90
There is a bipod mount on the lower part of the fore-end. The buttstock is equipped with an adjustable cheek, butt plate and an additional leg. All elements are made of impact-resistant plastic.
Without optics and cartridges, the rifle weighs 6,4 kg. The length, depending on the adjustment of the butt, is 1200-1260 mm. The initial bullet velocity is 860 m/s. The effective firing range is up to 700 m. The maximum is 1200 m. Detachable magazines for 5 and 10 rounds are used. The manufacturer claims that the accuracy of fire is about 0,3 MOA (minutes of angle) at a range of 100 m when using match-class cartridges.
The designated marksman is the KNT-76 SASS with a barrel length of 508 mm. This rifle weighs 4,7 kg and has a length of 1030 mm.

KNT-76 SASS
This semi-automatic rifle is not as accurate as the JNG-90, but compared to a rifle with manual reloading, it allows for more shots to be fired per unit of time, which is important in combined arms combat.
Due to its relatively low weight, good reliability, durability and accuracy, the SSG 3000 bolt-action rifle, manufactured by SIG Sauer GmbH, is popular with Turkish commandos.

SSG 3000
The rifle's butt and stock are made of composites and aluminum, due to which the weight without optics and bipods is 5,44 kg. The initial velocity is 830 m/s. The effective range is up to 700 m. The magazine capacity is 5 rounds.
Turkish special forces operating in northern Syria have been spotted using M110 SASS semi-automatic rifles. This weapon, created by the American company Knight's Armament Company, has been purchased by the US Marine Corps and a number of pro-American countries since 2008. The design of the M110 SASS is largely based on the technical solutions of the AR-10, but has additional improvements to maximize the unification of parts with the AR-15, increasing the reliability of the weapon and accuracy.

M110 SASS
Without ammunition and attachments, the weapon weighs 6,27 kg. Length – 1181 mm. Effective range – up to 800 m. Magazines for 10 and 20 rounds are used.
Another fairly common American-made rifle in the Turkish Armed Forces is the Remington Arms MSR.

MSR
The Remington MSR bolt-action rifle was developed in 2009 to meet the requirements of the US Special Operations Command.
The rifle chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum weighs 7,7 kg. The length with the stock unfolded is 1219 mm. The initial bullet velocity is 1002 m/s. The effective range is up to 1500 m. The magazine capacity is 5 and 10 rounds.
The first rifle chambered for 12,7×99 mm cartridge adopted by Turkey was the American M82A1 (M107), produced by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing.

M82A1
This is a very large and heavy weapon. The rifle weighs 14,8 kg and is 1400 mm long. The automatic system operates by recoil with a short barrel stroke. It is fed from a detachable 10-round magazine. The initial bullet velocity is 853 m/s. The sighting range is 1500 m. The rifle is not accurate enough for shooting at manpower at long distances, but it can be successfully used against lightly armored vehicles, communications equipment, fuel storage facilities, to destroy aircraft and helicopters at parking lots, etc.
The American M82A1 is currently being replaced by the 12,7mm AX50 rifle, developed by the British company Accuracy International and manufactured under license in Turkey by the Kale Kalıp company.

AX50
This is a bolt-action rifle with a free-floating barrel, weighing 12,5 kg, with an overall length of 1370 mm. The design makes extensive use of light alloys, and the stock can be folded to the left, reducing the length to 1115 mm.
Machine guns
Turkish special operations forces units use FN Herstal 5,56mm Minimi light machine guns as a means of fire support for the squad.

Minimum
Machine gun weight – 7,1 kg. Length – 1040 mm. Rate of fire – 700-1150 rounds/min. Range – up to 1000 m.

There is information that the Special Operations Command is testing a batch of 7,62 mm Minimi 7,62 Mk3 machine guns, but a decision on their purchase has not yet been made.
In the past, Turkish commandos used American 7,62mm M60E3, German MG3 and Belgian MAG machine guns. However, about 15 years ago, they switched almost exclusively to PKM at company level.

Although the PKM does not use the NATO-standard 7,62×54 mm rimmed cartridges, its significant service life and high reliability when used in extreme conditions predetermined the choice of mountain rangers and paratroopers.

Most of the PKMs in the Turkish army came from the GDR army reserves. To compensate for the "natural loss" of Soviet-style machine guns, purchases have recently been made from the Bulgarian company ARSENAL.
Since the early 1950s, the Turkish army has been using 12,7 mm Browning M2HB machine guns with a heavy air-cooled barrel to engage air, ground, lightly armored and unarmored targets, as well as manpower at ranges beyond the range of small arms.
Canik is currently producing Canik M2 QCB machine guns. As of the end of 2022, 750 units have been delivered to the customer.

The manufacturer claims that this model differs from the original version by an increased service life and improved accuracy. The main parts are protected by an anti-corrosion coating. The weight of the machine gun without a tripod and additional sighting devices is 38,5 kg. The rate of fire is 450-650 rounds per minute. The effective range is up to 1800 m.
To be continued ...
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