Snipers shield : Turkish Army

Protective shield consisting of six separate pieces of steel plating which have been bolted together. Four of the six pieces form the main protection and are rectangular in shape with a piece cut out at the bottom for the placement and sighting of the rifle by the firer. Above this cut out is a small horizontally aligned aperture for the sniper to view forwards. A pair of vertical mounting plates made from steel allow the placement of this shield onto the top of a trench parapet etc.

The static nature of the warfare during the Gallipoli campaign saw the heavy use by both the Anzacs and Turkish, of sniping to harrass, disrupt and to kill their opposing enemy. This proliferation of sniping generated a local 'cottage industry' to design and make improvised protection for their snipers, and to improve camouflage and deception measures to enhance their respective chances of survival and success. This Turkish sniper shield is a product of this industry.

Of note is that the four pieces of steel armour plating in this shield have a small space between each one allowing an early form of spaced armour.

This form of armour protection was later used in Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) during the later stages of the First World War and extensively in Second World War, Cold War and post-Cold War AFV's.