Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
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The Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command (Template:Langx)[1] is the Turkish garrison in Cyprus. In 1974 Turkish troops invaded Cyprus following a Greek Cypriot coup d'état (organized and supported by the Greek government, which was still in the hands of a military junta) which wanted to force union with Greece, occupying the northern third of the island. The invasion force consisted of about 40,000 soldiers and 200 tanks. It outnumbers the Greek military contingent on the island, which is supplemented by the Greek Cypriot National Guard consisting of 12,000 active and 75,000 reserves. Air reinforcement of the Turkish troops can be effected, if necessary, within hours.[2]
History
Turkey maintained the Cyprus Turkish Regiment (Kıbrıs Türk Alayı) in the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus. On 16 August 1960, the brigade was organized as follows:Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Gönyeli Group (Gönyeli Grubu)
- 2nd Infantry Company (2 nci Piyade Bölüğü)
- 3rd Infantry Company (3 ncü Piyade Bölüğü)
- Heavy Weapons Company (Ağır Silah Bölüğü)
- Ortaköy Group (Ortaköy Grubu)
- 1st Infantry Company (1 nci Piyade Bölüğü)
- 4th Infantry Company (4 ncü Piyade Bölüğü)
- Regimental HQ Company (Alay Karargâh Servis Bölüğü)
Invasion of Cyprus
In July 1974, Turkey landed forces on the northern part of Cyprus after the military coup of July 15, 1974. Turkish forces involved in operations were as follows:Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- An airborne (parachute) brigade (Commander: Brig. Gen. Sabri Evren)
- A commando brigade (Commander: Brig. Gen. Sabri Demirbağ')
- A Special Strike Force Landing Brigade (Turkish Marines) (Commander: Brig. Gen. Süleyman Tuncer)
- The 39th Infantry Division (Commander: Maj. Gen. Bedrettin Demirel)
- The 28th Infantry Division (Commander: Maj.Gen. Osman Fazıl Polat)
Post invasion
It has been on Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974, and initially consisted of the following Turkish Army units:Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
- 28th Infantry Division - headquartered at Asha (Paşaköy) to the northeast of Nicosia, and the
- 39th Infantry Division - headquartered at Camlibel within the district of Girne.
- 14th Armoured Brigade - also in Asha (Paşaköy) with M48 Patton & M60 Patton tanks.[3]
- A Special Force Regiment
- An Artillery Regiment
- Naval units
The corps reserve was at Kythrea (Değirmenlik) to the northeast of Nicosia.
Current (Post-2015)
- 28th Mechanized Infantry Division (Paşaköy, Kyrenia)
- 230th Mechanized Infantry Regiment (Turkey)
- other regiments and smaller units
- 39th Mechanized Infantry Division (Çamlıbel, Morphou)
- 14th Armoured Brigade (Degirmenlik, Nicosia)
- 49th Special Force Regiment
- 41st Commando Regiment
- 109th Field Artillery Regiment
- 190th Marines Battalion
- Communications Battalion
- Central Command Military Police Battalion
- Logistics Support Group (Kyrenia)
- TRNC Coast Guard Command (238 Staff 36 Coast Guard Boats)
Strength
The original force of 40,000 troops was reduced with Turkish authorities claiming that the Turkish force in Cyprus had been reduced to 17,500 in the 1990s.[4] However, according to the UN Secretary-General “It is estimated that in recent years there have been in the northern part of the island a little under 30,000 armed forces of the Republic of Turkey (Turkish Forces) making it one of the most militarized areas in the world in terms of numbers of troops and numbers of civilian population. Recently moreover there have been indications that the total numbers of Turkish forces on the island may have increased” S994/680 7.6.1994.par.28Script error: No such module "Unsubst"..
Turkish forces in Cyprus are part of the Turkish Aegean Army which is headquartered at İzmir in Turkey. However, the commander of the Turkish troops reports directly to the Turkish General Staff in the capital, Ankara. The force is responsible for all security and is not directly involved in political matters of northern Cyprus.[5]
Since 16 August 1974, the Turkish Army has retained control of the northern 36.2% of Cyprus.
Equipment in Northern Cyprus
Main battle tanks
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M48 Patton | File:C155AmpShipTurkey.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | A5T2 | 287[6] |
| M60 Patton | File:M60 Patton Tank Fort Lewis Military Museum.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | N/A | N/A[7] |
Armoured fighting vehicles
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNSS ACV-15 | File:ACV 300 Adnan 25mm Bushmaster in display during 2022 MAF's open day in RMAF Kuantan.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". / Script error: No such module "flag". |
ACV-AIFV | 145[8] |
Armoured personnel carriers
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNSS ACV-15 | File:ACV-300 Adnan.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". / Script error: No such module "flag". |
ACV-AAPC | 70[9] |
| M113 | File:M113 armoured personnel carrier at Manjimup RSL Hall, January 2022 01.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | M113 A1/A2 | 418[10] |
Mine-resistant ambush protected
| Name | Image | Origin | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMC Vuran[11] | File:Türk Kara Kuvvetleri'ne ait BMC Vuran.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | Used by Police forces. |
Multi-purpose vehicles
| Name | Image | Origin | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMC Amazon[12] | - | Script error: No such module "flag". | Multi-purpose vehicle |
| Otokar Akrep[13] | - | Script error: No such module "flag". | Reconnaissance vehicle |
| Otokar Engerek[14] | File:Macedonian Army Lend Rover Wolf.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | Special operations vehicle |
| Land Rover Defender[15] | File:Land Rover Defender i robot Mali Miloš - Odbrana slobode 2019 Niš 1.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag".Script error: No such module "flag". | Utility vehicle |
Self-propelled howitzers
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-155 Fırtına | File:T-155Fırtına (1).jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". / Script error: No such module "flag". |
Fırtına I | 4[16] |
| M52 | File:M52 105mm Self-propelled Howitzer Display in Chengkungling 20131012.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | M52T1 | 144[17] |
| M44 | File:M44 self propelled howitzer 105 mm Gunfire Museum Brasschaat 13-03-2021.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | M44T | 30[18] |
Multiple rocket launchers
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-122 Sakarya | Script error: No such module "flag". | TR-122
TRG-122 TRLG-122 TRB-122 |
18[19] |
Towed howitzers
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M101 | File:Philippine Army M101 Howitzer Side.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | M101A1 | 36[20] |
| M114 | File:M114 155 mm Howitzer Brady Texas 2019.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | M114A2 | 36[21] |
| M115 | File:M115 203mm Howitzer Display in ORDC 20121013c.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | 12[22] |
Anti-tank missiles/tank destroyers
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank Destroyer | ||||
| FNSS ACV-15 | File:RoketsanIDEF2015 (13).JPG | Script error: No such module "flag". / Script error: No such module "flag". |
ACV-TOW | 66[23] |
| Anti-tank missiles | ||||
| MILAN[24] | File:MILAN ER.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". Script error: No such module "flag". / Script error: No such module "flag". |
I/II | - |
| BGM-71 TOW | File:BGM-71 TOW missile canister at JGSDF Camp Akeno November 4, 2018 01.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | I/I | - |
| 9M133 Kornet | File:Kornet-E (1).jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | Kornet-E | - |
| Rocket propelled | ||||
| M72 LAW | File:M72A2 LAW.png | Script error: No such module "flag".Script error: No such module "flag". | HAR 66 | - |
| RPG-7 | File:Rpg-7.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | - | |
Recoilless rifles
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M40 | File:M40 105 mm RR.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | M40A1 | 219[25] |
Mortars
| Name | Image | Origin | Caliber | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKEK UT/NT1 | - | Script error: No such module "flag". | 81mm | 171[26] |
| HY-12 | - | Script error: No such module "flag". | 81mm
120mm |
135[27] |
| M30 | File:M30 mortar at the War Remnants Museum.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | 107mm | 70[28] |
Anti-aircraft
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rh-202 | File:JASDF Rheinmetall Rh 202 at Hamamatsu Air Base Publication Center 20141124-01.JPG | Script error: No such module "flag". | 20mm | 44[29] |
| GAI-D01 | File:Oerlikon GDF-003 35mm Twin Cannon Rear View at Songshan Air Force Base 20110813.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | 35mm | 78[30] |
| GDF-003 | 16[31] | |||
| FIM-92 Stinger[32] | File:FIM-92 (JASDF) noBG.png | Script error: No such module "flag". | A/C | - |
Aircraft/Helicopters/UAV
| Name | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft | ||||
| Cessna 185 | File:Cessna A185F Skywagon 185 AN1818103.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | U17 | 3[33] |
| Helicopters | ||||
| AS532 Cougar | File:AS532 Cougar 20100724 (4831054021).jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". / Script error: No such module "flag". |
UL | 2[34] |
| UH-1 Iroquois | File:Bell UH-1 Iroquois Huey 5D4 3606 (48706920071).jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | AB-205 | 1[35] |
| Aerial Firefighting | ||||
| Kamov Ka-27[36] | File:Kamov Ka-32A-11BC, Private JP6037694.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | Ka-32 | - |
| Mil Mi-17[37] | File:Bomba Mil Mi-17 MRD.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". / Script error: No such module "flag". |
Mi-17 | - |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicles | ||||
| Bayraktar TB2[38] | File:Baykar Bayraktar TB2 TEKNOFEST 2022.jpg | Script error: No such module "flag". | A/B | - |
See also
Notes
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References
- Cyprus Mail, Thursday, November 19, 1998
- Phileleftheros, Wednesday, November 18, 1998
- Cyprus News Agency, October 8, 1998
- Cyprus News Agency, November 21, 1997
- Cyprus News Agency, October 27, 1997
- The Military Balance 1996/97, The International Institute for Strategic Studies, London.
- 2004 - 2005 Defence Bible (Stratigiki)
- "Cyprus, 1974", by T. Cooper and N. Tselepidis, published October 28, 2003 for ACIG.org.
External links
- 2007 letter from Cypriot Government to UN, giving details of Turkish forces in Cyprus Template:Webarchive
- The Cyprus Conflict A website with a selection of details, reports, documents, and personal accounts on the Cyprus dispute
- Chronology - Cyprus Issue
- Aspects of the Cyprus Problem from The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Template:Webarchive
- Association Of Turkish Cypriots Abroad, A non-party-political organization with the aim of partitioning Cyprus