Cypriot National Guard
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225866103
2008-07-15T19:39:01Z
Henning M
1901986
/* Land */
<table border=1 width=300 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 align=right style="margin-left:1em">
<tr><th colspan=2 align=center bgcolor=#8888dd>'''Military of Cyprus'''
<tr><td colspan=2 align=center>'''Military manpower'''
<tr><td>Military age<td>18 years of age
<tr><td>Availability<td>males 15-49:184,352 (2005 est.)
<tr><td>Fit for military service<td>males 15-49: 150,750 (2005 est.)
<tr><td>Reaching military age annually<td>males 6,578 (2005 est.)
<tr><td colspan=2 align=center>'''Military expenditures'''
<tr><td>Dollar figure<td> $294 million (FY03)
<tr><td>Percent of GDP<td> 3.8% (FY02)
</table>
The '''Cypriot National Guard''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''Εθνική Φρουρά''') , aka the ''Greek Cypriot National Guard'', is the [[combined arms]] military force of the [[Cyprus|Republic of Cyprus]]. It is a [[combined arms]] force, with land, air and naval elements.
[[Greece]] maintains the Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK; [[Greek language|Greek]] ΕΛΔΥΚ, Ελληνική Δύναμη Κύπρου) on the island, but this is not part of the Republic of Cyprus military.
This article focuses on the forces loyal to the ''de jure'' government of Cyprus. For information on the military capabilities of the ''de facto'' [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]], see [[Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus]].
==Current Components==
===Land===
The land forces of the Cypriot National Guard comprise the following units:
*'''First Infantry Division''' (Ιη Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
*'''Second Infantry Division''' (ΙΙα Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
*'''Fourth Infantry Brigade''' (ΙVη Ταξιαρχία ΠΖ)
*'''Twentieth Armored Brigade''' (ΧΧη ΤΘ Ταξιαρχία)
*'''Third Support Brigade''' (ΙΙΙη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
*'''Eighth Support Brigade''' (VIIIη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
===Air===
*'''449th Helicopter Gunship Squadron''' (449 ΜΑΕ) - operating [[Aerospatiale Gazelle|SA-342L]] and [[Bell 206]]
*'''450th Helicopter Gunship Squadron''' (450 ME/P) - operating [[Mi-24|Mi-35P]], [[Britten-Norman Islander|BN-2B]] and [[PC-9]]
===Sea===
*'''Cyprus Navy'''
==Current Senior officers ==
*'''Supreme Commander, Cypriot National Guard''': Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Bisbikas
*'''Deputy Commander, Cypriot National Guard''': Lt. Gen. Savvas Argyrou
*'''Chief of Staff, Cypriot National Guard''': Brig. Gen. Georgios Sofianidis
==Current Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard ==
See [[Military of Cyprus]]
==Creation of the Cyprus National Guard==
The General Staff of the Cyprus National Guard in known domestically by its Greek designation
"''ΓΕΕΦ''", or transliterated in the Latin alphabet as "GEEF".
The full name is "''ΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΤΕΛΕΙΟ ΕΘΝΙΚΗΣ ΦΡΟΥΡΑΣ''" which translates in English as "GENERAL STAFF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD". This name was assigned to the General Staff Headquarters organisation that commanded the National Guard in 1964, before which time and since 1963, the organisation had been briefly designated "Ειδικό Μικτό Επιτελείο Κύπρου" (ΕΜΕΚ), or translated in English as "Special Mixed Staff Cyprus" (EMEK).
The formation of GEEF in [[1964]] coincides directly with the establishment of purely Greek Cypriot ethnicity National Guard, following the outbreak of nationwide civil disturbances between Greek and [[Turkish Cypriots|Turkish Cypriot]] groups. Thus, as of 1964, the Turkish Cypriot minority were forced to abandon the original provisions to them of Article 129 - 132 of the [[Zürich and London Agreement|1960 Constitution]], and withdrew any further participation in the National Guard, to which they had been entitled 40% of the total manpower, i.e. 2000 men.
The GEEF was made constitutional in July 1964 by vote of the [[Cypriot Parliament]], from which the Turkish Cypriot Vice President (along with his right of veto) and the Turkish Cypriot senators were removed, by which time the country had begun to slide into a total socio-political breakdown along ethnic lines.
== Conscription ==
''See main article:'' [[Conscription in Cyprus]]
Military service in the Republic of Cyprus is mandatory for males. The minimum obligatory service period is 25 months.<ref name="Statesman defence">{{cite encyclopedia| editor = Barry Turner| encyclopedia =[[The Statesman's Yearbook|The Statesman's Yearbook 2007]]| title = Cyprus| edition = 143rd| year = 2006| publisher = Palgrave Macmillian| location = New York| id = ISBN 1-4039-9276-2| pages = 378–379}}</ref>
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.
==Ethnic composition the Cyprus National Guard==
Currently, the [[Cyprus National Guard]] conscripts only individuals of [[Greek Cypriot]] ethnicity, and this will continue until early 2008, when non-[[Turkish Cypriot]] minorities (Latin, Maronite, etc) of the Republic of Cyprus will be granted equality of conscription and service. Turkish Cypriots with [[Republic of Cyprus]] passports and residency are notably excluded from military service because of the continuing state of [[cold war]] between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey.
==Original Components of the Cyprus National Guard from 1964 until the 1974 Invasion==
===Land===
*GEEF (General HQ, Cyprus National Guard)
*DPB HQ (Artillery Command HQ)
*I ATD HQ – [[Ammochostos]]
*II ATD HQ – Morphou
*III ATD HQ – [[Nicosia|Lefkosia]]
*II TS / III ATD HQ – [[Kyrenia]]
*IV ATD HQ – [[Limassol]]
*V ATD HQ – [[Paphos]]
*DKD (Raiders Command)
===Air===
*1SA Aircraft Flight
*419 MPA - Air Base Protection Squadron (Lakatamia Air Base)
*420 MPA - Air Base Protection Squadron (Tymbou Air Base)
*3 MSEP (Warning and Control Station Squadron) - on Mt. Kormakitis
*4 MSEP (Warning and Control Station Squadron) - on Mt. Kantara
=== Navy and Coast Guard ===
The Cyprus Navy is equipped with CNV P-190 fast patrol craft, Salamis class patrol craft, Kyrenia class patrol craft and SAB-12 fast attack craft.
The Cyprus Coast Guard is equipped with CNV P-190 fast patrol craft, Evagoras class patrol craft, Kingfisher class fast patrol craft and Kimon class fast patrol craft.
Both services also utilize Nautimar HD-7 and other types of dual-engine rigid-inflatable boats.
The Cyprus Navy has a Special Forces underwater demolitions unit known as "OYK".
Also the Navy has 3 [[Exocet MM40]] launchers for coastal defence and 24 missiles in inventory.
== Equipment ==
The [[United States]] has an arms embargo on any recent US weapons being used by either side. The Greek Cypriot side was recently criticised for breaching this embargo by acquiring M107, M110A2 and M114 howitzers (subsequently returned) from the Greek National Army.
The Turkish occupation force, which controls approximately 37% of the island, has also been heavily criticised for numerous breaches of the embargo as 95% of its military hardware is of US origin (still not returned) compared to 3-5% of the Republic.
Standard infantry equipment used in Cyprus is the [[Heckler & Koch G3]] and the [[AK-74]] automatic rifles, both by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Forces.
==Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 1964 - 1974==
*'''(Contains only equipment acquired during this period)'''
===Land===
'''Main Battle Tanks'''
*[[T-34|T-34/85]]
*[[Patton tank|M47 Patton]] (Captured)
'''Armoured Fighting Vehicles'''
*Marmon Herrington [[Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car|Mk-IVF]]
*Daimler [[Dingo (scout car)|Dingo]]
*[[M8 Greyhound]]
*Shorland [[Shorland armoured car|Mk-V]]
'''Armoured Personnel Carriers'''
*[[BTR-152|BTR-152V1]]
*[[M113 Armored Personnel Carrier]] (Captured)
'''Armoured Trucks'''
*[[C17]]
'''Soft-Skin Vehicles'''
*ZIL 157 GS
*[[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] TK
*UAZ 469
*Land Rover Series II 109
'''Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns'''
*[[76 mm divisional gun M1942 (ZiS-3)]]
*[[M116 Pak 75mm]]
*25-Pounder 88mm
*[[BS-3M]] / M1944 100mm
*6-Pounder 57mm
'''Field Anti-Tank Rifles / Rocket Launchers'''
*[[B-10 recoilless rifle|B-10]] 82mm
*[[M18]] 57mm
*[[M40 recoilless rifle|M40A1]] 106mm
*[[SPG-9]] 73mm
'''Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon'''
*[[9K11 Malyutka|AT-3 Sagger-B]]
'''Man-Portable Anti-Tank Unguided Weapon'''
*RG-7V 85mm
*M20 "Super Bazooka" 3.5-inch
*EM-67 90mm
===Air===
'''Helicopter'''
*[[Bell 47|Agusta Bell AB-47J]] (Loaned)
*[[Fairchild Hiller FH-1100]]
'''Fixed Wing'''
*[[Dornier Do 27|Dornier Do 27Q]]
*[[Beechcraft Model 18|Beechcraft C 45 Expeditor]]
*[[Piper PA-20 Pacer|Piper PA-22]] Colt 108
*[[T-6 Texan II|T 6A Harvard]] (Embargoed)
===Sea===
*R-41 Group Motor Minesweeper
*P-6 / Type - 083 Motor Torpedo Boat
*Esterel / Kelefstis Stamou Fast Patrol Craft (Embargoed)
==Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 1974 - 1994==
*'''(Contains only equipment acquired during this period)'''
===Land===
'''Main Battle Tanks'''
*[[AMX-30]]
*[[AMX-30]]B2
'''Armoured Fighting Vehicles'''
*[[Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé|VAB-VCI]]/-VTT
*[[Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé|VAB-VCAC]]
*[[EE-9 Cascavel]]
*[[EE-3 Jararaca]]
'''Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns'''
* [[M101 howitzer|M56 105mm]]
* Mk F-3 155mm
''' Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon'''
*[[MILAN|Euromissile MILAN-2]]
===Air===
'''Helicopter'''
*PZL Swidnik Kania ([[Mil Mi-2]] Hoplite)
*[[Aérospatiale Gazelle|SA-342L1 Gazelle]]
'''Fixed Wing'''
*[[Pilatus PC-9|Pilatus PC-9M]]
==Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 1994 - 2004==
*'''(Contains only equipment acquired during this period)'''
===Land===
'''Main Battle Tanks'''
*[[T-80|T-80U]]
*[[T-80|T-80UK]]
'''Infantry Fighting Vehicles'''
*[[BMP-3]]
'''Armoured Personnel Carriers'''
*[[ELBO|Leonidas-I]]
*[[ELBO Leonidas-2|Leonidas-II]]
'''Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns'''
*Zuzana 155mm
*TRF-1 155mm
'''Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon'''
*[[MILAN|Euromissile MILAN-3]]
===Air===
'''Helicopter'''
*Mil [[Mi-24 |Mi-35P]] Hind-F
==Combat Actions==
===1963-1964===
Significant combat actions were seen between the Cyprus National Guard and Turkish Cypriot combatants during this period, as the country slid into a state of civil-war.
===1964-1974===
Sporadic low-intensity conflict continued during parts of this period between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot armed elements across the island.
===1974===
The Cyprus National Guard, under control of an [[Greek Junta|Athens-inspired junta]], seize control of the country in a short-lived coup, beginning on [[July 15]] [[1974]]. High intensity combat commences between the Cyprus National Guard and pro-[[Makarios]] supporters (including the Tactical Police Reserve). Consequently on [[July 20]] 1974, Turkey launches an invasion of the island, which is intensively resisted by the Cyprus National Guard and virtually all Greek Cypriot elements for a period of roughly one month. Ultimately, [[Turkish Armed Forces|Turkish forces]] successfully captured and occupied 37% of the island.
===1978===
On the [[19 February]] [[1978]], Egyptian commando forces attempted to intervene in a hijacking situation at [[Larnaca International Airport]], without authorization from the [[Republic of Cyprus]] authorities. The Cypriot National Guard and Police forces surrounding the hijacked [[DC-8]] aircraft responded with force, killing 15 Egyptian commandos and destroying the Egyptian [[C-130]] transport plane in open combat. The result of the incident caused [[Egypt]] to severe diplomatic ties with Cyprus for a period of time.
==Sources==
'''Creation of National Guard'''
*[http://www.army.gov.cy Cyprus National Guard Official Site]
*[http://www.cyprus-conflict.net The Cyprus Conflict]
'''Order of Battle'''
*"Cyprus, 1974", by T. Cooper and N. Tselepidis, published October 28 2003 for ACIG.org.
'''Armaments'''
*[http://www.army.gov.cy 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
*Cyprus, 1955-1973 By Tom Cooper, www.acig.org
*Cyprus 100 Years Alex Efthyvoulou, Laiki Cultural Bank Archive
*[http://www.britishpathe.com British Pathe Archive]
'''Combat Actions'''
*[http://www.cyprus-conflict.net 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
==See also==
* [[Cyprus]]
* [[British Forces Cyprus]]
*[[List of Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links ==
*[http://www.army.gov.cy/ National Guard website]
*[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cytoc.html Cyprus Country Study]
{{Cypriot Military}}
{{Militaries of European Union member states}}
[[Category:Military of Cyprus]]
[[Category:Cyprus-related lists|National Guard components, Lists]]
[[bg:Въоръжени сили на Кипър]]
[[el:Στρατός της Κύπρου]]
[[hu:Ciprus hadereje]]
[[pl:Siły zbrojne Cypru]]