Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command | |
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Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı | |
Active | 1974–present |
Country | TRNC |
Allegiance | Turkish Armed Forces |
Size | 40,000+ |
Headquarters | Girne |
Commanders | |
Commander | Lt. Gen. Sezai Öztürk |
Chief of staff | Not known |
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The Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus, officially Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı)[1] is the Turkish garrison on 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, which 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:[citation needed]
- Günyeli Group (Günyeli 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:[citation needed]
- 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:[citation needed]
- 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)
- 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.28[permanent dead link].
Turkish forces in Cyprus are part of the Turkish Aegean Army which is headquartered at Izmir 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[]
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
Main Battle Tanks[]
- M48A5T1 and M48A5T2 - 287
- M48A5C - 9
- M60A1
- M60A3
- Leopard 2A4 limited numbers
Armoured Fighting Vehicles[]
- FNSS Pars - 300
- FNSS ACV-15 - 126
- Nurol Ejder - 126
- ACV-300
Armoured Personnel Carriers[]
- M113A1 - 361
- AIFV - 90
- Nurol Ejder - 190
- Otokar Akrep - 67
- Otokar Cobra - 32
Utility Vehicles[]
- CJ3B
- Engerek - 150+
Self Propelled Howitzers[]
- M-110A2 - 12
- M44T - 24
- - 36
- T-155 Fırtına
Multiple Rocket Launchers[]
- T-122 Sakarya - 16
- T-107 - 70
- MGM-140 ATACMS - 12
Towed Howitzers[]
- M115 - 12
- - 12
- M114A2 - 36
- M101A1 - 36
- Panter howitzer - 36
- Boran
Anti-Tank Missiles[]
Recoilless Rifles[]
- M40 recoilless rifle - 170
- M825 M40 carrier
Mortars[]
Anti-Aircraft[]
- Oerlikon GAI - 48
- Oerlikon GDF - 65
- Rheinmetall Air Defence
Helicopters[]
- AS532 Cougar - 30
See also[]
- Military of Northern Cyprus
Notes[]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+tr0103%29
- ^ Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-4191-9126-8
- ^ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+cy0158%29
- ^ "Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-19".
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
- 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
- Association Of Turkish Cypriots Abroad, A non-party-political organization with the aim of partitioning Cyprus
- 1974 establishments in Cyprus
- 1974 establishments in Turkey
- Army units and formations of Turkey
- Military of Cyprus
- Military units and formations established in 1974
- Northern Cyprus–Turkey relations
- Overseas or abroad military installations