Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command Explained

Unit Name:Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Native Name:Turkish: Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı
Start Date:1974
End Date:present
Countries:Northern Cyprus
Allegiance:Turkish Armed Forces
Size:40,000+
Garrison:Girne
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Commander1:Maj. Gen. Sebahattin Kılınç
Commander1 Label:Commander
Commander2 Label:Chief of staff

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:

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:

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 PattonA5T2287[6]
M60 PattonN/AN/A[7]
Leopard 2[8] A4TR42[9]

Armoured fighting vehicles

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
FNSS ACV-15ACV-AIFV145[10]

Armoured personnel carriers

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
FNSS ACV-15ACV-AAPC70[11]
M113M113 A1/A2418[12]

Mine-resistant ambush protected

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

Multi-purpose vehicles

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

Self-propelled howitzers

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
T-155 FırtınaFırtına I4[18]
M52M52T1144[19]
M44M44T30[20]

Multiple rocket launchers

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
T-122 SakaryaTR-122TRG-122

TRLG-122

TRB-122

18[21]

Towed howitzers

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
M101M101A136[22]
M114M114A236[23]
M11512[24]

Anti-tank missiles/tank destroyers

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
Tank Destroyer
FNSS ACV-15ACV-TOW66[25]
Anti-tank missiles
MILAN[26] I/II-
BGM-71 TOWI/I-
9M133 KornetKornet-E-
Rocket propelled
M72 LAWHAR 66-
RPG-7-

Recoilless rifles

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
M40M40A1219[27]

Mortars

!Name!Image!Origin!Caliber!Quantity
MKEK UT/NT1-81mm171[28]
HY-12-81mm120mm135[29]
M30107mm70[30]

Anti-aircraft

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
Rh-20220mm44[31]
GAI-D0135mm78[32]
GDF-00316[33]
FIM-92 Stinger[34] A/C-

Aircraft/Helicopters/UAV

!Name!Image!Origin!Variant!Quantity
Aircraft
Cessna 185U173[35]
Helicopters
AS532 CougarUL2[36]
UH-1 IroquoisAB-2051[37]
Aerial Firefighting
Kamov Ka-27[38] Ka-32-
Mil Mi-17[39] Mi-17-
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Bayraktar TB2[40] A/B-

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Globalisation and Jurisdiction. 9789041123077. Slot. Pieter J.. Bulterman. Mielle K.. Meijers Instituut. E. M.. January 2004.
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-12-11 . 2020-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908123041/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+tr0103%29 . dead .
  3. Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004.
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-12-11 . 2013-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130313003017/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+cy0158%29 . dead .
  5. Web site: Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-19.
  6. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  7. Web site: admin . 2019-05-03 . trmilitarynews.com . 2023-09-14 . tr.
  8. Web site: www.defenceturk.net . 2023-06-29 . Twitter . en.
  9. Web site: admin . 2019-05-03 . trmilitarynews.com . 2023-06-29 . tr.
  10. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  11. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  12. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  13. Web site: Türkiye'den KKTC polisine silah, zırhlı araç ve ekipman desteği . 2023-06-29 . www.aa.com.tr.
  14. Web site: www.mavivatan.net . 2023-07-21 . Twitter . en.
  15. Web site: Kanal . Ulusal . 2022-11-16 . www.ulusal.com . 2023-06-30 . tr-TR.
  16. Web site: www.iletisim.gov.tr . 2023-06-30 . www.iletisim.gov.tr . tr-TR.
  17. Web site: www.ulusal.com . 2023-06-30 . tr-TR.
  18. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  19. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  20. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  21. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  22. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  23. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  24. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  25. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  26. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  27. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  28. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  29. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  30. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  31. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  32. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  33. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  34. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  35. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  36. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  37. Web site: The Military Balance 2023 . 2023-06-28 . IISS . en.
  38. Web site: Türkiye, KKTC'de yangın söndürme helikopteri görevlendirdi . 2023-06-29 . www.aa.com.tr.
  39. Web site: Türkiye'den yangın söndürme helikopteri . 2023-06-29 . www.kibrisgazetesi.com . tr.
  40. Web site: 2021-08-25 . Türkiye'nin Kuzey Kıbrıs'taki İHA'larından bölge ülkeleri tedirgin . 2023-06-29 . euronews . tr.

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