Cypriot_National_Guard

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Cypriot National Guard

Military of Cyprus
Military manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Availability	males 15-49:184,352 (2005 est.)
Fit for military service	males 15-49: 150,750 (2005 est.)
Reaching military age annually	males 6,578 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$294 million (FY03)
Percent of GDP	3.8% (FY02)

The Cypriot National Guard (Greek Εθνική Φρουρά) , aka the Greek Cypriot National Guard, is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus comprised of land, air and naval elements.

Greece maintains the Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK; 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 SA-342L and Bell 206
450th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (450 ME/P) - operating Mi-35P, 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 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 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

Military service in the Republic of Cyprus is mandatory for males. The minimum obligatory service period is 25 months.

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, only Cypriots officially resident on the island and belonging to the Greek Cypriot community serve in the Cyprus National Guard. The Greek Cypriot community comprises the ethnic Greek Cypriots as well as Cypriots belonging to three Christian religious minorities (Latin/Catholic, Maronite, Armenian). Starting 2008, service is mandatory for all members of the Greek Cypriot community and not only for ethnic Greek Cypriots, as was the case before. For the purposes of conscription, a member of the Greek Cypriot community is defined as a person having a Greek-Cypriot father. This definition includes for example British nationals of Greek-Cypriot descent who never applied for, or otherwise obtained, Cypriot citizenship.

Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus belonging to the Turkish Cypriot community are not drafted into the National Guard regardless of whether they reside in the areas controlled by the government or not. In fact, no Turkish Cypriots are currently serving in its ranks in any capacity (career personnel, auxiliary personnel etc.).

On the other hand, a significant fraction of the career personnel are citizens of Greece. The current Supreme Commander is a Greek citizen, as have been all of his predecessors.

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 – Lefkosia
II TS / III ATD HQ – Kyrenia
IV ATD HQ – Limassol
V ATD HQ – Paphos
DKD (Special Forces 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 Forces

Main Battle Tanks

T-34/85
M47 Patton (Captured)

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Armoured Personnel Carriers

BTR-152V1
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (Captured)

Armoured Trucks

Soft-Skin Vehicles

ZIL 157 GS
UAZ 469
Bedford TK
Land Rover Series II 109

Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns

Field Anti-Tank Rifles / Rocket Launchers

B-10 82mm
SPG-9 73mm
M18 57mm
M40A1 106mm

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

3M6 Shmel

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Unguided Weapon

RG-7V 85mm
M20 "Super Bazooka" 3.5-inch
EM-67 90mm

Air Force

Helicopter

Agusta Bell AB-47J (Loaned)
Fairchild Hiller FH-1100

Fixed Wing

Navy Force

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 Forces

Main Battle Tanks

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

/ Euromissile MILAN-2

Man-Portable Surface-to-Air Missiles

Air Force

Helicopter

Fixed Wing

Pilatus PC-9M

Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 1994 - 2004

(Contains only equipment acquired during this period)

Land Forces

Main Battle Tanks

T-80U
T-80UK

Infantry Fighting Vehicles

BMP-3

Armoured Personnel Carriers

Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns

ZUZANA 155mm
TRF-1 155mm

Rocket Launcher System

BM-21 Grad 122mm

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM)

Air Force

Helicopter

Mil Mi-35P Hind-F
Mil Mi-17V5 Hip-H

Unamned Air Vehicles (UAV)

Elbit Hermes 450

Navy Force

Anti-Ship Missiles

MBDA Exocet

Infantry Weapons

Pistols

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 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 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

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
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