diff --git a/config/keybindings.conf b/config/keybindings.conf
index 52f3abc..6f8af3b 100644
--- a/config/keybindings.conf
+++ b/config/keybindings.conf
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ toggle_dev_mode = F1
 dev_cycle_spawn = F2
 dev_spawn_object = F3
 dev_spawn_npc_menu = F4
+dev_cycle_turret = F5
+dev_place_turret = F6
 pickup = f
 
 [hands]
diff --git a/engine/config.py b/engine/config.py
index d213e79..856a3dc 100644
--- a/engine/config.py
+++ b/engine/config.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ DEFAULT_KEYBINDINGS: dict[str, list[str]] = {
     "dev_cycle_spawn": ["F2"],
     "dev_spawn_object": ["F3"],
     "dev_spawn_npc_menu": ["F4"],
+    "dev_cycle_turret": ["F5"],
+    "dev_place_turret": ["F6"],
 }
 
 # Human-friendly config names for keys that don't have a printable representation.
diff --git a/engine/dev_tools.py b/engine/dev_tools.py
index b70ee19..e675453 100644
--- a/engine/dev_tools.py
+++ b/engine/dev_tools.py
@@ -52,3 +52,32 @@ class DevSpawnMenu:
             return False
         instance = ItemInstance(f"dev-spawn-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}", item_id)
         return character.inventory.place(instance, item_def, *slot)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DevTurretMenu:
+    """Dev-mode-only cheat tool: cycle through every turret entity template (see entities.json's
+    turret_pistol/turret_autocannon - any template with turret_weapon_item_id set, so a new
+    variant only needs adding to entities.json, not here) and place the selected one into the
+    world - see main.py's dev_place_turret handling.
+    """
+
+    registry: DefRegistry
+    entity_def_ids: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    selected_index: int = 0
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        if not self.entity_def_ids:
+            self.entity_def_ids = sorted(
+                def_id for def_id, entity_def in self.registry.entity_defs.items()
+                if entity_def.turret_weapon_item_id is not None
+            )
+
+    def cycle(self, delta: int) -> None:
+        if self.entity_def_ids:
+            self.selected_index = (self.selected_index + delta) % len(self.entity_def_ids)
+
+    def selected_entity_def_id(self) -> str | None:
+        if not self.entity_def_ids:
+            return None
+        return self.entity_def_ids[self.selected_index]
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 31e8128..b758339 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from engine.controls_menu import ControlsMenu
 from engine.db import WorldRepository
 from engine.defs import DefRegistry
 from engine.dev_config import DevConfig
-from engine.dev_tools import DevSpawnMenu
+from engine.dev_tools import DevSpawnMenu, DevTurretMenu
 from engine.entity import EntityPosition
 from engine.gamepad import GamepadBindings, GamepadButtonEdgeTracker, GamepadState
 from engine.game_modes import CharacterCreationFlow, MainMenu, Mode, PauseMenu
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ from resources.logic.organs import apply_organ_interactions_tick
 from resources.logic.pickup import drop_item, try_pickup
 from resources.logic.steering import advance_all_ship_rotations, at_helm, try_steer_ship
 from resources.logic.swimming import in_water, try_swim_vertical
+from resources.logic.turrets import spawn_turret
 
 ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
 DEFS_DIR = ROOT_DIR / "resources" / "defs"
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ class AppState:
         self.dragging_item: tuple[str, str] | None = None  # (item_id, def_id) picked up off the inventory grid
         self.ability_bar = AbilityBar()
         self.dev_spawn_menu = DevSpawnMenu(registry)
+        self.dev_turret_menu = DevTurretMenu(registry)
 
 
 def main() -> None:
@@ -408,6 +410,23 @@ def main() -> None:
             state.npc_spawn_flow = CharacterCreationFlow(CharacterCreator(registry, selectable_species=NPC_SELECTABLE_SPECIES))
             state.mode = Mode.NPC_SPAWN
             return
+        if dev_config.enabled and action == "dev_cycle_turret":
+            state.dev_turret_menu.cycle(1)
+            return
+        if dev_config.enabled and action == "dev_place_turret":
+            player = state.world.player if state.world is not None else None
+            entity_def_id = state.dev_turret_menu.selected_entity_def_id()
+            if isinstance(player, Character) and player.position is not None and entity_def_id is not None and state.world is not None:
+                dx, dy, dz = current_aim_direction(player)
+                position = EntityPosition(
+                    player.position.map_id, player.position.x + dx, player.position.y + dy, player.position.z + dz
+                )
+                # hostile to the placing player by default - a dev/debug placement is meant to
+                # be immediately testable (see it track and fire), not require setting up
+                # faction tags first; see resources/logic/turrets.py::is_hostile.
+                turret = spawn_turret(registry, entity_def_id, position, hostile_entity_ids=(player.entity_id,))
+                state.world.add_entity(turret)
+            return
         input_state.handle_event(event)
 
     def handle_character_card_pointer_event(event_type: str, event: dict) -> bool:
@@ -632,6 +651,7 @@ def main() -> None:
             if dev_config.enabled:
                 draw_text(ui_buckets, "DEV MODE", viewport_w - 130, 10)
                 draw_text(ui_buckets, f"spawn: {state.dev_spawn_menu.selected_item_id()}", viewport_w - 260, 30)
+                draw_text(ui_buckets, f"turret: {state.dev_turret_menu.selected_entity_def_id()}", viewport_w - 260, 50)
 
             renderer.render_frame(context, world, camera, ui_buckets)
             return
diff --git a/tests/test_dev_tools.py b/tests/test_dev_tools.py
index 3476a3e..d85a26c 100644
--- a/tests/test_dev_tools.py
+++ b/tests/test_dev_tools.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import pytest
 from engine.character import Character
 from engine.defs import DefRegistry
 from engine.dev_config import DevConfig
-from engine.dev_tools import DevSpawnMenu
+from engine.dev_tools import DevSpawnMenu, DevTurretMenu
 from engine.inventory import Inventory
 
 DEFS_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "resources" / "defs"
@@ -66,6 +66,34 @@ def test_spawn_into_fails_when_inventory_is_full(registry):
     assert menu.spawn_into(character) is False
 
 
+# --- DevTurretMenu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_turret_menu_defaults_to_every_turret_entity_def_sorted(registry):
+    menu = DevTurretMenu(registry)
+    assert menu.entity_def_ids == ["turret_autocannon", "turret_pistol"]
+    assert menu.selected_entity_def_id() == "turret_autocannon"
+
+
+def test_turret_menu_excludes_non_turret_entity_defs(registry):
+    menu = DevTurretMenu(registry)
+    assert "player" not in menu.entity_def_ids
+    assert "npc_reptilian" not in menu.entity_def_ids
+    assert "companion_dog" not in menu.entity_def_ids
+
+
+def test_turret_menu_cycle_wraps_around(registry):
+    menu = DevTurretMenu(registry)
+    menu.cycle(-1)
+    assert menu.selected_entity_def_id() == menu.entity_def_ids[-1]
+
+
+def test_turret_menu_selected_entity_def_id_is_none_when_empty(registry):
+    menu = DevTurretMenu(registry)
+    menu.entity_def_ids = []
+    assert menu.selected_entity_def_id() is None
+
+
 # --- DevConfig ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------