Some of you already know that there are a fair number of Turkish guns in Australia, most captured in Palestine in 1918. Among these guns are examples with Turkish script inscriptions on the breech (see attached - a 7.5cm M03 at Wallaroo, SA).
I've been trying to figure out how to extract the serial no. and build date from the script - it's turned out fairly easy to do - full details at www.ammsbrisbane.com/articles.htm.
There is a problem with the dates - on the attached example the date is "1323" which is the year 1905 if it's the Islamic calendar or 1907 if it's the Rumi calendar used from 1840-1925.
Anyone know which calendar the Turks used on their breech markings?
CharlieC, the bad news is it appears Both were used. I haven't found any reference to a cut over point as yet. Some material suggests that both may have been used concurrently at least for a while. The key issue is likey to be - is this a Krupp Manufactured Gun or a Turkish Domestically manufactured gun? There are records of a large purchase in 1905 "462 - 7,5cm L/30 Krupp FK C/03 ". The only Krupp info on purchases in 1907 I have seen is for 3.7cm anti torpedo boat revolvers. Unfortunately I really doubt that all 462 guns in the 1905 year were recieved & accepted into service in only 2 years (1905 & 1906) so both dates could well still apply, though 1905 may be more likely?
