Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command

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Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı
KTBK logo.gif
Logo of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Active1974–present
Country TRNC
AllegianceTurkish Armed Forces
Size40,000+
HeadquartersGirne
Commanders
CommanderLt. Gen. Sezai Öztürk
Chief of staffNot known
Turkish Land Forces
Flag of Turkish Land Forces Command.svg
Components
History
Equipment
  • v
Turkish Naval Forces
Seal of the Turkish Navy.svg
Components
Special Forces
Naval infantry
History
  • History of the Naval Forces
Equipment
  • v
Turkish Air Force
Flag of Turkish Air Force Command.svg
Components
  • Structure
  • Formations
History
  • History of the Air Force
Equipment
  • v
Map of Cyprus showing current political divisions

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]

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[]

Main Battle Tanks[]

Armoured Fighting Vehicles[]

Armoured Personnel Carriers[]

Utility Vehicles[]

  • CJ3B
  • Engerek - 150+

Self Propelled Howitzers[]

Multiple Rocket Launchers[]

Towed Howitzers[]

Anti-Tank Missiles[]

Recoilless Rifles[]

Mortars[]

Anti-Aircraft[]

Helicopters[]

  • AS532 Cougar - 30

See also[]

  • Military of Northern Cyprus

Notes[]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+tr0103%29
  3. ^ Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-4191-9126-8
  4. ^ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+cy0158%29
  5. ^ "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[]

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