Good bye G3, hello H&K 416
 

It happened at last.
Turkish army decided it was time to modernize the infantry so...
Turkish Ministry of Defense announced they will be switching from the G3 7.62mm rifle to the HK416 aptly renamed Mehmetcik 1. (Mehmetcik is a nickname for Turkish infantry men.)
The first AR I ever used, the H&K G3, has been my beloved since early adulthood. Just like many millions of Turks before me. And now it's official. It is a sad day really. It's "kick" and deafening sound will be missed.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...rearms/G3s.jpg

I thought they had already adopted it and used it in combat. I guess not

Never mind, I was thinking of Norway.

Out with the old, in with the new, huh? I felt a little of that recently when I found out my unit is getting re-equipped with C7A2s (I used one when I was attached to 1 PPCLI overseas, but I've always trained with an A1 at home).

Will there still be conscription or are they going entirely to contract-based service?

Actually both.
15 month long mandatory military service for all able bodied Turkish men still exists. Contract based service is optional to those who have completed their mandatory military services.

I'm guessing that this rifle switch will take about a year. They will be manufactured here in Turkey just like the G3 series. I wonder what will happen to those millions of G-3s?

Storage? Maybe police use

Not for police use. That is for sure.
Turkish police prefers SMGs. H&K MP5 variants and MP5K are favored. Police tac teams prefer the same and also AR-15 variants.
There is also the counter terrorism units. And they have everything you could possibly imagine. A very diverse arsenal which includes not only everything H&K and Colt but also Izhmash can offer.
Bottom line is. The G-3 is an excellent rifle. I'm guessing they will keep newer ones and sell the rest to other countries. I wish they made a civilian version of it here.

Maybe they'll keep some for marksman rifles and snipers and just melt the rest for metal and keep the ammo if they adopt a new rifle that uses the 7.62 round.

It is true that some G-3's are refitted to become sniper rifles but mostly, the Turkish armed forces prefer Accuracy International PM, Sako TRG-22/42, SVD, and also AMR's (Anti Material Rifle) Such as Gepard, McMillan Tac-50 and Barrett M82. The reason for such diversity is extreme weather conditions. They need their equipment operational at -25F.

Maybe we'll be seeing some parts kits here in the US.