Turkish military appreciation thread

[gültekin]

http://www.milliyet.com.tr/tsk-dan-f...undem-2320127/

[Böri]

Battle of Ager Sanguinis 1119

Ager Sanguinis means 'Field of the Blood, in medieval Latin language. It is a battle which occured between the Crusader state of Antioch Principality and the Artukids Turks of Aleppo on 28th June 1119.

Political situation:

Principality of Jerusalem, County of Tripoli, Principality of Antioch, County of Tripoli were the four crusader Latin Frankish states created by crusading Western knights after Jerusalem capture in 1099. Nearby was the Kingdom of Lesser Armenia, which was sometimes allied with the Crusaders, but more often tried to ignore them.

North, in Anatolia there was the Seljuks of Rum and West, across Syria there were city states led by Turkic families who were independent in reality but they were ruling lands officially on name of Seljuk dynasty. Ilgazi Bey, son of Artuk Bey a Turkmen governor of Jerusalem appointed by Great Seljuk took control of Aleppo in 1117. After Prince Roger of Antioch conquered Azaz nearby Aleppo the violence escalated between Artukid Aleppo and Roger's Antioch which caused a decisive battle in 1119 betwee Ilgazi Bey and Prince Roger.

Battle site location



Antiochene Crusaders Forces:
Roger of Salerno's army was small by any standards. According to several chroniclers, the Antiochene force contained 700 knights and sergeants (mounted men at arms), 4000 foot soldiers and about 500 Turcopoles. These last were mounted light cavalry – based on the Turkish light horse – who were employed by the Byzantine Empire and the crusader states. Many were probably recruited from Christianized Seljuk Turks

Seljuk Turks Forces:
İlgazi's army was mostly mounted, probably some heavy cavalry but mostly Turkish light horse archers. There were likely some foot bowmen, and perhaps a bodyguard unit of heavily-armed foot soldiers. The histories of the battle do not give any figures for the size of İlgazi's force. We can probably speculate that the Turkish force was at least equal to, if not slightly larger, than the Antiochene force.



Moving forward, ambushing the small Frankish force sent to relieve Athareb, İlgazi left a token force to blockade the castle, and marched with the remainder to confront the Antiochene army. The Muslims arrived at the Crusader campsite after sundown on June 27 and, using little-known footpaths in the steep hills, surrounded the Frankish camp without being detected. During the night, a sleepwalker ran through the Crusader camp, shouting that disaster was upon them. On the morning of June 28, scouts brought word to Roger that the camp was surrounded.

The battle was begun by an archery duel between the Antiochene infantry, posted in front of the knights, and the Turkish horsebowmen. The Crusader army was at first successful when the right-hand divisions of Bishop Peter and Geoffrey the Monk attacked and defeated the Turks opposed to them. Guy de Frenelle's center division had some success also, but the battle was soon decided on the left flank. Robert of St. Lo and the Turcopoles were driven back into Roger's division, disrupting it. At this point, nature took a hand, blowing a north wind with heavy dust into the faces of the Antiochene knights and footmen, confusing them. The Antiochene footmen, local Syrians and Armenians, soon began to panic and began to crowd amongst the Frankish horsemen, disrupting the battle order. Soon afterwards, Turkish flanking forces enveloped the Crusader forces.

Early in the battle a force of about 100 Frankish horsemen broke through the Turkish encirclement. These men encountered the remnants of the relief force sent to Athareb, which had been ambushed the previous day and was hurrying to rejoin Roger's force. After learning the about the course of the battle, these men fled directly back to Antioch. Shortly after, Renaud Mansoer and a few knights also broke out, heading for the nearby town of Sarmada.

Roger of Salerno was killed in the fighting; one chronicle saying he took a sword to the face and fell at the foot of the large jeweled cross he used for a standard. Most of the Antiochene fighters not killed outright in battle were captured and put to death. By noon, the battle was over. Nearly the entire Antiochene force was wiped out, 3500-4000 men. Turkish casualties are not given, but could not have been extensive. This was the first major defeat of the Crusaders since the end of the First Crusade.

[Proto-Shaman]

[Turkminator]

Sarsilmaz SAR 224T

[Turkminator]

[Turkminator]

Turkish Defence Exports to Exceed $1 Billion



Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Çağlayan on Tuesday said current projections show that the country’s defense industry exports would exceed well over $1 billion next year. The minister also mentioned expectations related to the sector’s turnover, saying the defense industry’s annual earnings would reach $3 billion in 2011 from the current $2.3 billion. This figure was $832 million in 2009 and only $248 million in 2002, he said.

Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Çağlayan on Tuesday said current projections show that the country’s defense industry exports would exceed well over $1 billion next year. The minister also mentioned expectations related to the sector’s turnover, saying the defense industry’s annual earnings would reach $3 billion in 2011 from the current $2.3 billion. This figure was $832 million in 2009 and only $248 million in 2002, he said.

Çağlayan was speaking at a press conference in Ankara to promote the upcoming 2nd Equipment Expo of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Ankara Industry Fair, both of which are scheduled for October 2010. He was accompanied by Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek.

Çağlayan said the TSK procured 46 percent of its defense requirements from national producers in 2009, adding that the rate had seen levels as low as 20 percent in the past.

He summarized the “rapid developments” attained recently in the Turkish defense industry, mentioning in particular an accord that paves the way for the production of the engines of F-35 Lightning II jets in Turkey. He also cited a deal between Pratt & Whitney — a division of United Technologies Corporation responsible for the production of F-135 jet engines for the Joint Strike Fighter Program — and Turkey’s Kale Group to jointly open a factory in Turkey.

Pratt & Whitney, the maker of jet engines for the F-15 Eagle, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as well as the C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft, decided to invest in Turkey during Çağlayan’s recent visit to the US. The minister said Pratt & Whitney and the Kale Group will start producing the F-135 engines for the F-35 jets in a joint investment, the majority of which would be undertaken by the Kale Group.

He also said that the engines would initially be partially produced in Turkey, but that the Turkish company would later undertake the entire production process. Çağlayan further said United Technologies was planning to open a Sikorsky factory in Turkey and was currently conducting feasibility studies jointly with Turkish corporations. He said Turkey would export all production to be made in such a factory.

A dream come true

Çağlayan further discussed the construction of a fairgrounds in Ankara on 1 million square meters of land, which he said had been a dream ever since he became a member of the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) many years ago. Today, considerable progress has been made in this project, he said.

Cemil Çiçek also addressed the audience to say that there is no doubt Turkey will have one of the top 10 economies in the world by 2023, the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. “Turkey has already surpassed the critical threshold and our industrialists have a great share in this success,” he said, noting that every province must bring itself in line with the country’s major projections for 2023.

http://www.trdefence.com/turkish-def...eed-1-billion/

[Turkminator]

[Proto-Shaman]

I remember when a member mocked Turkey for having only 200 km rockets. too bad he didn't know that Turks are still hiding much of their technology, lets wait for the next 10 years baby

1000 km Bora rockets (was hidden from public since 2009)

[Sui Generis]

[Turkminator]