Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı
Logo of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Active1974–present
Country Northern Cyprus
AllegianceTurkish Armed Forces
Size40,000+
HeadquartersGirne
Commanders
CommanderMaj. Gen. Sebahattin Kılınç
Map of Cyprus showing current political divisions

The Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı)[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:

  • 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:

  • 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:

The corps reserve was at Kythrea (Değirmenlik) to the northeast of Nicosia.

Current (Post-2015)

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.

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

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
M48 Patton  United States A5T2 287[6]
M60 Patton  United States N/A N/A[7]
Leopard 2[8]  West Germany A4TR 42[9]

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
FNSS ACV-15  Turkey ACV-AIFV 145[10]

Armoured personnel carriers

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
FNSS ACV-15  Turkey ACV-AAPC 70[11]
M113  United States M113 A1/A2 418[12]

Mine-resistant ambush protected

Name Image Origin Note
BMC Vuran[13]  Turkey Used by Police forces.

Multi-purpose vehicles

Name Image Origin Role
BMC Amazon[14] -  Turkey Multi-purpose vehicle
Otokar Akrep[15] -  Turkey Reconnaissance vehicle
Otokar Engerek[16]  Turkey Special operations vehicle
Land Rover Defender[17]  Turkey United Kingdom Utility vehicle

Self propelled howitzers

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
T-155 Fırtına  Turkey Fırtına I 4[18]
M52  United States M52T1 144[19]
M44  United States M44T 30[20]
M110  United States M110A2 12

Multiple rocket launchers

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
T-122 Sakarya  Turkey TR-122

TRG-122

TRLG-122

TRB-122

 18[21]

Towed howitzers

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
M101  United States M101A1 36[22]
M114  United States M114A2 36[23]
M115  United States 12[24]

Anti-tank missiles/tank destroyers

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
Tank Destroyer
FNSS ACV-15  Turkey ACV-TOW 66[25]
Anti-tank missiles
MILAN[26]  France I/II -
BGM-71 TOW  United States I/I -
9M133 Kornet  Russia Kornet-E -
Rocket propelled
M72 LAW  Turkey United States HAR 66 -
RPG-7  Soviet Union -

Recoilless rifles

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
M40  United States M40A1 219[27]

Mortars

Name Image Origin Caliber Quantity
MKEK UT/NT1 -  Turkey 81mm 171[28]
HY-12 -  Turkey 81mm

120mm

 135[29]
M30  United States 107mm 70[30]

Anti-aircraft

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
Rh-202  West Germany 20mm 44[31]
GAI-D01   Switzerland 35mm 78[32]
GDF-003 16[33]
FIM-92 Stinger[34]  United States A/C -

Aircraft/Helicopters/UAV

Name Image Origin Variant Quantity
Aircraft
Cessna 185  United States U17 3[35]
Helicopters
AS532 Cougar  France UL 2[36]
UH-1 Iroquois  United States AB-205 1[37]
Aerial Firefighting
Kamov Ka-27[38]  Russia Ka-32 -
Mil Mi-17[39]  Russia Mi-17 -
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Bayraktar TB2[40]  Turkey A/B -

See also

Notes

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.

  1. ↑ Slot, Pieter J.; Bulterman, Mielle K.; Meijers Instituut, E. M. (January 2004). Globalisation and Jurisdiction. ISBN 9789041123077.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2010-12-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-4191-9126-8
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2010-12-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-19".
  6. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  7. ↑ admin (2019-05-03). "trmilitarynews.com" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  8. ↑ "www.defenceturk.net". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  9. ↑ admin (2019-05-03). "trmilitarynews.com" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  10. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  11. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  12. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  13. ↑ "Türkiye'den KKTC polisine silah, zırhlı araç ve ekipman desteği". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  14. ↑ "www.mavivatan.net". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  15. ↑ Kanal, Ulusal (2022-11-16). "www.ulusal.com" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  16. ↑ "www.iletisim.gov.tr". www.iletisim.gov.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  17. ↑ "www.ulusal.com" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  18. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  19. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  20. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  21. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  22. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  23. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  24. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  25. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  26. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  27. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  28. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  29. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  30. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  31. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  32. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  33. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  34. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  35. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  36. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  37. ↑ "The Military Balance 2023". IISS. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  38. ↑ "Türkiye, KKTC'de yangın söndürme helikopteri görevlendirdi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  39. ↑ "Türkiye'den yangın söndürme helikopteri". www.kibrisgazetesi.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  40. ↑ "Türkiye'nin Kuzey Kıbrıs'taki İHA'larından bölge ülkeleri tedirgin". euronews (in Turkish). 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2023-06-29.

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.
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