Cypriot National Guard
| Cypriot National Guard Εθνική Φρουρά Kıbrıs Ulusal Muhafızları |
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|---|---|
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| Founded | 06.1964 |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Lieutenant General Petros Tsalikidis |
| Chief-of-Staff | Brig. Gen. Georgios Karagiannis |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |  Greece Russia France Italy Belgium Israel |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Cyprus |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Cyprus |
The Cypriot National Guard (Greek: Εθνική Φρουρά, Ethnikí Frourá; Turkish: Kıbrıs Ulusal Muhafızları), also known as the Greek Cypriot National Guard, is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus comprising land, air, and naval elements. It consists of active duty, reserve and militia personnel.
Greece maintains the Hellenic Force in Cyprus (Greek: Ελληνικές Δυνάμεις Κύπρου or ΕΛΔΥΚ), but this is not part of the Republic of Cyprus military.
Contents |
[edit] History
The National Guard was established in 1964 as a force composed entirely of ethnic Greek Cypriots, following the 1963–1964 breakdown of social and political relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the island of Cyprus.[1] Under the early Constitution of 1960–1963, Cyprus was entitled to an army of 2,000 men, to be made up of 60% Greek and 40% Turkish personnel. The first elected President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, proposed thirteen constitutional amendments to the 1960 constitution, which would have adjusted distribution of manpower and voting power for all civil and military services. This adjustment was aimed at giving greater representation and influence to the Greek Cypriot majority, which at the time formed around 82% of the island's indigenous population.
Significant combat actions were seen between the National Guard and Turkish Cypriot combatants during this period, as the country slid into a state of civil war. Sporadic low-intensity conflict continued during parts of this period between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot armed elements across the island.
[edit] Conscription
Currently, only Greek Cypriots serve in the military. Legally, the Greek Cypriot community comprises the ethnic Greek population as well as Cypriots belonging to three Christian minorities – the Armenians, Latin Rite Catholics and Maronites. Since 2008, service is mandatory for all members of the Greek Cypriot community and not only for ethnic Greeks. The current supreme commander is a Greek military commander, as have been all of his predecessors.
Military service in the Republic of Cyprus is mandatory for males. The minimum obligatory service period is 24 months.[2] All male visitors to the island of military age (16 and over) who have a father of Cypriot extraction are required to obtain an exit visa from a Defence Ministry office.
[edit] Organization
[edit] Ground component
The main body of the Cypriot ground forces is made up by 2 infantry divisions, 1 infantry and 1 armored brigades and 2 support brigades.
- 1st Infantry Division (Ιη Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
- 2nd Infantry Division (ΙΙα Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
- 4th Infantry Brigade (ΙVη Ταξιαρχία ΠΖ)
- 20th Armored Brigade (ΧΧη ΤΘ Ταξιαρχία)
- 3rd Support Brigade (ΙΙΙη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
- 8th Infantry Brigade (VIIIη Ταξιαρχία ΠΖ)
- Artillery Command (Διοίκηση Πυροβολικού)
- Military Police (Στρατονομία)
- Special Forces Command (Διοίκηση Kαταδρόμων)
 Emblem of 1st Infantry Division. |
 Emblem of 2nd Infantry Division. |
 Emblem of 4th Infantry Brigade. |
 Emblem of 20th Armored Brigade. |
 Emblem of 3rd Support Brigade. |
 Emblem of 8th Infantry Brigade. |
 Emblem of Artillery Command. |
 Emblem of Military Police. |
 Emblem of Special Forces Command. |
[edit] Small Arms Inventory
The Cypriot National Guard operates a number of Assault Rifles such as HK G3A3 as a standard service rifle, various Kalashnikov series and variants including AK-47, AK-74M, AKMS and AK-101 and Zastava M77 for training purposes. The HK G3A4 is operated by Special Forces including its variant G3A4ZF with mounted ZF-24 scope. Support weapons include the HK11A1 Squad Automatic Weapon, the MG3 General-purpose machinegun (GPMG) and the recently purchased FN Minimi Squad Automatic Weapon for Special Forces use. Special Forces also operate the HK G3-SG1 Sniper Rifle, the Kefefs-M Greek-manufactured Sniper Rifle and FN P90[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Personal Defense Weapon often mounted with suppressors, laser target designators and tactical flashlights. In addition, the following sidearms are also in use of the military (especially SF and Officers): Glock 17, HK USP, FN Five-seven[3][4] and Zastava M57.
[edit] Medium Arms Inventory
Man-portable anti-tank weapons include the 112 mm APILAS (1000), 85 mm RPG-7 (850+) and the 90 mm EM-69 (40). The Cypriot National Guard also operates a variety of mortars (376+) ranging from 60 mm - 120 mm calibre, as well as SK AGL and HK GMG 40 mm automatic grenade launchers and the M2 Browning .50cal machine gun.
[edit] Heavy Arms Inventory
The Cypriot National Guard currently operates a force of 154 main battle tanks, made up of French AMX-30 and Russian T-80 types [10] main battle tanks from Russia on order plus a pre-agreement for a future 41 more T-80s. This force is augmented in the frontline role by 124 EE-9 Cascavel and 43 BMP-3 armoured fighting vehicles. A force of 310 Leonidas, VAB-VTT APCs and VAB-VCI armoured fighting vehicles are also in service. The anti-tank role is augmented by 18 VAB-VCAC guided-missile tank-destroyers and 15 EE-3 Jararaca armoured fighting vehicles.
| Weapon type | Class | In service |
|---|---|---|
| main battle tanks |
T-80U |
82 |
| armoured fighting vehicles |
|
124 15 27 |
| armoured personnel carriers |
GIAT VAB-VTT |
126 |
| self-propelled artillery |
Mk F3 155mm |
12 |
| artillery |
|
72 20 |
| multiple rocket launchers |
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18 |
| anti-tank missiles |
|
? 26 |
[edit] Air component
The air component of the military of Cyprus is the Air Command which currently consists of 2 helicopter squadrons equipped with 11 Mil Mi-35P attack helicopters, 4 SA-342L Gazelle scout anti-tank helicopters, 2 Bell-206 Long Ranger utility helicopters, 1 Britten Norman BN.2B-21 Maritime Defender and 1 PC-9 patrol airplanes, along with UAV squadron equipped with IAI Searcher 2 Unmanned aerial vehicles [11]. The Cyprus Air Force is also due to receive three Agusta-Westland AW-139 CSAR helicopters.
- 449th Antitank Helicopter Squadron (Μοίρα Αντιαρματικών Ελικοπτέρων)
- 450th Helicopter Squadron (Μοίρα Ελικοπτέρων)
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime Defender |
 |
Patrol/Transport | Britten Norman BN.2B-21 Maritime Defender | 1 |
| PC-9 |
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Patrol/Training | PC-9 | 1 |
| Mil Mi-35 |
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Attack Helicopter | Mil Mi-35P | 11 |
| Gazelle |
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Anti-tank Helicopter | Gazelle | 4 |
| Bell-206 Long Ranger |
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Utility Helicopter | Bell-206 Long Ranger | 2 |
| IAI Searcher 2 |
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Unmanned aerial vehicle | IAI Searcher 2 | 2 sys. |
| SAM System | Origin | Type | Versions | In service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tor M1 |
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surface-to-air missile | TOR M-1 | 6+6 on order |
| Buk M1 |
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surface-to-air missile | Buk-M1-2 | 21 |
| Mistral |
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surface-to-air missile | MANPAD | 30 |
[edit]
The naval component of the military of Cyprus is the Naval Command. This force does not possess any capital ships, but is equipped with patrol boats[12], surface-surface missile systems and integrated radar systems, as well as SEALs-type naval underwater demolitions units. The Cyprus Navy has the primary mission of defending the sea borders of the Republic of Cyprus, but is currently only able to access waters around the island which are controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
| Vessel type | Origin | Class | Name | Pennant | Home port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| patrol boat |
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Type 32L Esterel | "Salamis" |
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| patrol boat |
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Dilos | "Kyrenia" |
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| patrol boat |
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Corrubia | "Elefteriou Tsomaki" |
|
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| patrol boat |
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Corrubia | "Nicola Georgiou" |
|
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| motor launch |
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Rodman 55 | "Agathos" |
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| motor launch |
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Rodman 55 | "Panagos" |
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| Missile type | Origin | Name | Launchers | Missiles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| anti-ship missile |
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Exocet MM40 |
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[edit] Sources
Creation of National Guard
Order of Battle
- "Cyprus, 1974", by T. Cooper and N. Tselepidis, published October 28, 2003 for ACIG.org.
Armaments
- Cyprus National Guard Official Site
- Table 23, Republic of Cyprus: Major National Guard Equipment, 1990, Library of Congress (Additional sourcing: Based on information from The Military Balance, 1989–1990, London, 1989, 85; and Christopher F. Foss, "Cypriot Rearmament Completed," Jane's Defence Weekly [London], March 12, 1988, 445.)
- APORRITOS ATILLAS, Savvas Vlassis
- "1974: The Unknown Backstage of the Turkish Invasion", Makarios Drousiotis, Nicosia 2002, ISBN 9963-631-02-9
- Cyprus 1974 - The Greek coup and the Turkish invasion, Makarios Drousiotis, Hellenic Distribution Agency
- Conway's: All The World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
- Erich Gröner "Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945", Band 2, Munchen 1983, ISBN 3-7637-4801-6
- Cyprus, 1955-1973 By Tom Cooper, www.acig.org
- Cyprus 100 Years Alex Efthyvoulou, Laiki Cultural Bank Archive
- British Pathe Archive
Combat Actions
- The Cyprus Conflict
- "1974: The Unknown Backstage of the Turkish Invasion", Makarios Drousiotis, Nicosia 2002, ISBN 9963-631-02-9
- Cyprus 1974 - The Greek coup and the Turkish invasion, Makarios Drousiotis, Hellenic Distribution Agency
- Cyprus, 1955-1973 By Tom Cooper, www.acig.org
[edit] See also
- Military Equipment of Cyprus
- Cyprus Port & Marine Police
- Cyprus Police
- List of Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus
- Reported Military Losses during the Invasion of Cyprus (1974)
- Military operations during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
- Battle of Tylliria (Cyprus 1964)
- Battle of Pentemili beachhead (1974)
- Timeline of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
- British Forces Cyprus
- Turkish Cypriot Security Force
[edit] References
- ^ "Σύντομο Ιστορικό της Εθνικής Φρουράς" (in Greek). Nicosia: Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Φρουράς. http://www.army.gov.cy/?page_id=67. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ^ Barry Turner, ed (2006). "Cyprus". The Statesman's Yearbook 2007 (143rd ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillian. pp. 378–379. ISBN 1-4039-9276-2.
- ^ a b Gourley, S.; Kemp, I (November 2003). "The Duellists". Jane's Defence Weekly (ISSN: 02653818), Volume 40 Issue 21, pp 26-28.
- ^ a b Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0710628695.
- ^ "Μεγαλειώδης στρατιωτική παρέλαση (Grand Military Parade)" (in Greek). Sigma Live. January 10, 2008. http://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/65839. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "Επέτειος Ανεξαρτησίας - Στρατιωτική παρέλαση (Independence Day - Military Parade)" (in Greek). Sigma Live. October 2, 2006. http://www.sigmalive.com/files/filefield/0/7/4/simerini02102006.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ^ "Επέτειος Ανεξαρτησίας - Στρατιωτική παρέλαση (Independence Day - Military Parade)" (in Greek). Sigma Live. October 2, 2007. http://www.sigmalive.com/files/filefield/9/4/6/simerini02102007.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ^ "Επέτειος Ανεξαρτησίας - Στρατιωτική παρέλαση (Independence Day - Military Parade)" (in Greek). http://cyprus.gov.gy - Cyprus Press and Information Office. October 2, 2006. http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/All/781F3AF4E70B2950C22571FB00360474?OpenDocument&print. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ^ "Η Κύπρος τίμησε την 42η επέτειο της ανεξαρτησίας της με μεγάλη στρατιωτική παρέλαση στη (Cyprus has honored the 42nd anniversary of independence by a large military parade in Nicosia)" (in Greek). http://typos.com.cy - The online newspaper of Cyprus. October 2, 2006. http://www.typos.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=24140. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ^ Кипр собирается приобрести российские танки T-90 (Cyprus planning to purchase Russian T-90 tanks) - Russian Weapon website (in russian)
- ^ UAVS AND UCAVS: DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION - Appendix III, Table 1
- ^ • Table 23, Republic of Cyprus: Major National Guard Equipment, 1990, Library of Congress (Additional sourcing: Based on information from The Military Balance, 1989- 1990, London, 1989, 85; and Christopher F. Foss, "Cypriot Rearmament Completed," Jane's Defence Weekly [London], March 12, 1988, 445.)
[edit] External links
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