Torgud Reis Battery

[michaeldr]

On our way to Kum Kale (see https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/298412-the-french-landing-at-kum-kale/#comment-3126083) there was time to stop and have a look at the Torgud Reis Battery [NB: the spelling is also given as Turgut Reis, see Michael Forrest's book 'The Defence of the Dardanelles']

The Torgud Reis entered Ottoman service in September 1910, having previously been the SMS Weissenburg see https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Brandenburg_Brassey's.png  which was launched in December 1891 and commissioned in October 1894.

The following details are taken from 'The Ottoman Steam Navy 1828-1923' by Bernd Langenspiepen & Ahmet Güleryüz, as are the B&W photographs [see https://ia902801.us.archive.org/25/items/learnislampdfenglishbooktheottomansteamnavy18281923/learn islam pdf english book __ TheOttomanSteamNavy1828-1923_text.pdf]

18 March 1915: Torgud Reis is alone off Maydos when the Allies attempt to force the Narrows. No action is taken, since the ship’s orders are to seek action only once the barrages at Çanakkale have been breached. Since ammunition was always in short supply, very little firing, as little as eight shots per day, took place.

25 April 1915: Both warships (Torgud Reis & Bararos Hayreddin) shell the British landings. The fifteenth shell fired by Barbaros Hayreddin detonates prematurely and destroys the starboard barrel of the midships gun turret. Casualties are light. ... The Australian submarine (AE2) sails ... at 0130hrs. At 0730hrs the battleship Torgud Reis is sighted at anchor off Kilya. AE 2 fires all torpedoes without success...

5 June 1915: A shell explodes in the forward turret of Torgud Reis, killing four gunners and injuring thirty-two. The battleship returns immediately to Istanbul, and the naval command uses the opportunity to suspend further operations. The reasons given are that all important targets are now out of range of the battleships’ 280mm guns, and that ammunition is running low. The army wants the battleships to remain on station, since although the average thirty shells per day have little effect on the Allied forces, the presence of the warships helps lift morale amongst the Ottoman soldiers, fighting courageously without adequate artillery support.

Torgud Reis was laid up at the Haliç until 1918, when it assisted in the salvage of the Yavuz at Nara

22-26 January 1918: Following the battle of Imbros, the Torgud Reis, Intibah, the tug Alemdar and the transports Giresun and Kerkyra arrive from Istanbul and attempts are made to free the battlecruiser (Yavuz) using turbulence from the combined force of (all) the ships’ propellers to clear the sand. At 0745hrs on the 26th the Yavuz comes free and is escorted to Istanbul by the Torgud Reis.

Torgud Reis is laid up, out of service, in summer 1919 in the Haliç

Her Krupp 280mm guns were removed for placement onshore. This photograph allegedly shows the slip-way built to receive her guns onshore and the picture is dated 1925-6.

The Torgud Reis had three pairs of Krupp 280mm guns: two pairs of SK L/40 and one pair of SK L/35.

Per Michael Forrest's book 'The Defence of the Dardanelles' one of the turrets seen at this battery today is the SK L/35 (see his page 219). One therefore imagines that the second turret must be one of the two SK L/40, though which is which, escapes me for the moment. (Correction or enlightenment will be welcomed - MDR)

The Krupp 280mm gun turrets as seen in May 2022 during the Gallipoli Association's 'Hidden Gallipoli Tour'

 

 

Edited 18 June , 2022 by michaeldr

[michaeldr]

1 minute ago, michaeldr said:

The Krupp 280mm gun turrets as seen in May 2022 during the Gallipoli Association's 'Hidden Gallipoli Tour'

continued....

[michaeldr]

17 hours ago, michaeldr said:

Per Michael Forrest's book 'The Defence of the Dardanelles' one of the turrets seen at this battery today is the SK L/35 (see his page 219). One therefore imagines that the second turret must be one of the two SK L/40, though which is which, escapes me for the moment. (Correction or enlightenment will be welcomed - MDR)

Looking again at Michael Forrest's book p.219* - the photograph which he there describes as the turret with guns being "Krupp 280mm L/35" in fact shows the turret which is placed higher up the hill side. The same turret which is seen post No.1s first colour photograph above. 

All the other photographs seen here, are of the turret which is situated slightly lower on the hillside, and therefore they must be [if Michael Forrest's identification is correct] one of the ship's two turrets housing Krupp 280mm L/40 guns.

 

* The Defence of the Dardanelles, by Michael Forrest, Pen & Sword Maritime, published 2012, ISBN 978 1 78159 052 2

 

NB: Michael Forrest will be one of the Keynote Speakers at this year's Gallipoli Association Annual Conference to be held 24 September 2022 at the RAF Club, 128 Piccadilly, London. This event is open to non-members and their guests - see https://www.gallipoli-association.org/events/gallipoli-association-annual-conference-dinner-2022/

Edited 19 June , 2022 by michaeldr