The Ottoman Army Equipment The First World War

The Ottoman Army was very experienced at the start of the War because of both Balkan Wars and Italo-Turkish War however this meant the army was exhausted and had low morale but still had enough weapons to supply there troops. The standard issue rifle was the Mauser M1877 and the German MG08 as there Machine-gun the officers also used the ottoman version of the Belgium Browning Model 1903 and carried a sword at there waist. The Ottomans never produced a tank but instead used captured British Mark 4 and 5 land-ships. As for head gear the army used the Kabalak helmet, the Kufiya hat mainly on the Palestine front, the 1914 Ottoman Sun Helmet. And in early 1918 they used the M1918 Turkish Stalhelm which featured no visor so they could pray for religious purposes but also to provide better vision and hearing for the troops. The Ottomans used the P010 German Model in tan as well as simple Ottoman tunics, and tan trousers, a brown belt with gold ottoman design buckle and long brown boots.