During World War II, Turkey maintained a strict policy of neutrality until early 1945. Because of this neutral stance, its unique and diverse collection of armored vehicles never saw combat against foreign powers. Turkey famously operated an eclectic mix of military hardware sourced from the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Nazi Germany, and the United States. [
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Early Soviet Imports (1930s)
Before the outbreak of the war, Turkey purchased equipment from the Soviet Union to build its first core armored units: [
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- T-26 (Model 1933): The backbone of early Turkish armor, with around 60 to 64 light tanks acquired alongside a couple of T-26As.
- T-27 & T-37A: Small numbers of tankettes and amphibious light tanks.
- BA-3 / BA-6: Soviet armored cars used alongside the T-26 regiments. [1, 2, 3]
Axis and Allied Additions (1943–1945)
As the war progressed, both the Axis and the Western Allies gifted or sold hardware to Turkey in separate diplomatic attempts to sway Ankara to join their respective sides: [
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- From Germany: Received mid-war German armor including Panzer III (Ausf. M/H/J variants) and Panzer IV (Ausf. G) tanks in 1943.
- From the British / Allies: Received substantial Lend-Lease shipments including roughly 180 to 200 Valentine infantry tanks, light tanks like the Renault FT and Hotchkiss H-35/R-35, and M3 Stuart light tanks.
- From the United States: Received batches of M4 Sherman medium tanks toward the very end of the conflict in early 1945. [1, 2, 3, 4]
