Military operations during the Invasion of Cyprus (1974)

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Turkish Invasion of Cyprus
Date July - August 1974
Location Cyprus
Result Partition of the island
Combatants

Turkey
+
Cyprus + Greek military junta
MODIS satellite image of Cyprus.
MODIS satellite image of Cyprus.
Topography of Cyprus.
Topography of Cyprus.

Contents

[edit] Combatants

[edit] Events leading up to the 1974 Invasion of Cyprus

See also: Turkish invasion of Cyprus and Cyprus dispute.

[edit] The Junta in Greece and Political Unrest

See also: Greek military junta of 1967-1974

The rule by the military in Greece started in the morning of April 21, 1967 with a coup d'état led by a group of colonels of the military of Greece, with the government-in-exile and ended in July, 1974.

[edit] The Makarios Era

The period of 1964 to 1974 was a turbulent era for the island, with the apparent breakdown of relations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides right across the spectrum of social and political ties. In 1963, the Turkish Cypriots had abandoned, both voluntarily and by external pressure, their constitutional presence in the Cyprus Government. Violence in Nicosia followed soon after. In 1964, the Cyprus National Guard intervened militarily against a perceived Turkish Cypriot militant threat in the north-west of the island, in and near to the Kokkina enclave, leading to direct confrontation with Turkey, who responded militarily but stopped short of invasion. During the unrest, the island began to incubate fanaticsim on both Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides of enosis and taksim respectively, these being polar opposite ideologies. Enosis was an effort to unify the island with Greece, while Taksim simultaneously called for the partition of the island between Greeks and Turks.

[edit] The Military Coup against Makarios III

On the 15th of July 1974, the Cyprus National Guard, under the command of the Greek junta in Athens, launched a coup against the democratically-elected President, Archbishop Makarios III. A large force of troops and tanks descended on the Archbishopric in Nicosia and laid siege to it, though Archbishop Makarios himself was able to escape. Troops defending the Presidential Palace resisted, and fighting in the area between pro-Makarios supporters and junta supporters continued for much of that day (Drousiotis, 2004). A former EOKA guerilla, Nikos Sampson, was promptly placed in power as de-facto President of the Republic, though he later resigned on the 23rd of July, after support for his regime collapsed. The coup represented both a provocation against and an opportunity for Turkey to invade and partition the island, citing concerns for the safety of the Turkish Cypriot community as its main goal.

[edit] Overview of the 1974 Invasion of Cyprus

[edit] Attila 1

The Turkish invasion of Cyprus can be divided into two disinct offensives, the first being Attila 1, which commenced in the early hours of 20th July 1974, with an amphibious landing force forming a beachhead at Kyrenia's Five Mile Beach (Pentemilli). This landing initially comprised infantry only, but was supported by rolling air and naval artillery attacks, and met with limited resistance from the Cyprus National Guard, which was in disarray as a result of the 15th July 1974 coup. The majority of fighting ceased on the 23rd of July, though sporadic clashes continued after this date until the 14th of August.(Vlassis, 2004). Attila 1 successfully achieved its objective of achieveing a bridgehead with the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Agyrta-Nicosia. (Drousiotis, 2004)

Order of Battle of the Turkish Forces deployed for Attila-1 (Cooper, Tselepidis 2003)

  • 2nci Ordu Hava Alayi (2nd Army Aviation Regiment)
  • Hava İndirme Tugayı (Airborne Brigade)
  • Komando Tugayı (Commando Brigade)
  • Cakmak Özel Görev Kuvveti – Cikarma Tugayi (Special Strike Force Landing Brigade)

[edit] Greek Cypriot resistance to Attila 1

On 20 July 1974, Greek Cypriot forces of the Kyrenia Tactical Regiment, supported by a platoon of T-34 tanks (Drousiotis, 2004), engaged the Turkish infantry and commando forces which had landed at Five Mile Beach, inflicting serious casualties on the invading force, but in turn, taking serious casualties and losses from rolling Turkish air and naval attacks. (Drousiotis, 2004).

Two motor torpedo boats, the T-1 and the T-3, are dispatched from Kyrenia harbour to engage the Turkish naval invasion force on the 20th July, but both vessels are sunk within minutes as a result of fire from ships and aircraft. (Drousiotis, 2004)

A large armoured convoy is dispatched from Nicosia to engage the enemy at Kyrenia on 20 July, but is attacked by Turkish warplanes at the village of Kontemnos (Drousiotis, 2004) where a number of vehicles is destroyed.

Turkish paratroopers are dropped at three landing zones in and around the Agyrta-Nicosia enclave on the 20th July, leading to serious casualties at Mia Millia where they are accidentally dropped on Greek Cypriot defensive lines (Drousiotis, 2004).

On the same day, the Cyprus National Guard launches the most massive attack in its history against the Turkish Cypriot-held village of Kioneli, dispatching a full tank battalion, multiple infantry battalions, and with support from the ELDYK battalion. The attack is coordinated with mountain commando battalions and infantry battalions flanking the Agyrta-Nicosia enclave to the north in an effort to isolate it from a Turkish bridgehead. (Drousiotis, 2004)

Within two days, armoured forces arrive by sea to support the Turkish forces in Kyrenia district, and unable to contain the new force, Greek-Cypriot forces are gradually pushed out and away from Kyrenia.

A Turkish armoured force, moving through roads along the Kyrenia-Agyrta-Nicosia bridgehead, attack the Nicosia International Airport, but decisively fail to capture it against organised resistance by Greek and Greek Cypriot forces, and the airport ultimately falls into the hands of the United Nations.

Order of Battle of the Cyprus National Guard prior to and during Attila 1: (Cooper, Tselepidis 2003)

  • GEEF (General HQ)
  • DPB HQ (Artillery Command HQ)
  • I ATD HQ (?) – Famagusta Tactical Regiment
  • II ATD HQ – Morphou Tactical Regiment
  • III ATD HQ – Nicosia Tactical Regiment
  • II TS / III ATD HQ – Kyrenia Tactical Regiment
  • IV ATD HQ – Limassol Tactical Regiment
  • V ATD HQ – Paphos Tactical Regiment
  • DKD (Raiders Command)
  • Home Guard Command
  • 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
  • Naval Unit Kyrenia
  • Naval Unit Boghazi
  • Naval Unit Varosha
  • Naval Unit Larnaca
  • Naval Unit Paphos
  • Naval Radar Apostolos Andreas SEP/A


Order of Battle of Greek forces in Cyprus during Attila 1: (Cooper, Tselepidis 2003)

ELDYK (Greek Forces Cyprus)

  • ELDYK I (1st Infantry Battalion)
  • ELDYK replacements (to Paphos on Greek Landing Ship L176 “Lesbos” 20 Jul 1974)
  • MK – A’ Raider Battalion (arrives at Nicosia International Airport on 22 July 1974)

[edit] Greek Cypriot counter-offensive during Attila 1

During the 20th July 1974, and in the days following thereafter, elements of the Cyprus National Guard under coup-control and EOKA-B laid siege to a number of Turkish Cypriot enclaves and villages across the island. This offensive inflicted mass casualties, and also saw many Turkish Cypriots taken as prisoners of war, by which time the island was at a state of total war. The main combat during this offensive was between Greek Cypriot fighting units and the Turkish Cypriot TMT organisation, the latter of which numbered about 9000 men (Cooper, Tselepidis; 2003).

Order of Battle of Turkish-Cypriot forces during Attila 1: (Cooper, Tselepidis 2003)

Gönyeli Grubu (Gönyeli Group)

  • 2 Piyade Bolugu (2nd Infantry Company)
  • 3 Piyade Bolugu (3rd Infantry Company)
  • Agir Silah Bolugu (Heavy Weapons Company)

Ortakoy Grubu (Ortakoy Group)

  • 1 Piyade Bolugu (1st Infantry Company)
  • 4 Piyade Bolugu (4th Infantry Company)
  • Alay Kh. Srv. Bolugu (Regimental HQ Company)

“TMT” – “Turk Mukavement Teskilati”, or “Turkish Resistance Organisation".

[edit] Arrival of the Lesbos

The Greek landing craft, L176 "Lesbos", was sent to Cyprus to reinforce the Greek ELDYK contingent on the island, and was carrying a battalion of ELDYK replacement troops. The vessel landed at Paphos on the 20th of July and deposited its troops, before going back out to sea and engaging Turkish Cypriot positions along the Paphos coast using its cannons. The vessel then headed away from Cyprus to evade the enemy (Drousiotis, 2004).

[edit] Kioneli and the Turkish Bridgehead

Ultimately, Greek Cypriot attempts to prevent the creation of a Turkish bridgehead between Kyrenia and northern Nicosia failed, despite the deployment of tanks and mountain commando units. The formation of the bridgehead depended heavily on Kioneli remaining under Turkish Cypriot control, and both fortifications and anti-tank ditches prevented Greek Cypriot tanks from getting close enough to support an infantry attack. Two Greek Cypriot T-34 tanks were lost in the failed attack, adding to the five lost in Kyrenia on the same day (20th July 1974). With the arrival of Turkish armour in Cyprus, it became possible to forge a bridgehead from Kyrenia, which was functional in allowing the transit of Turkish mechanised forces by 23rd of July (Drousiotis, 2004).

[edit] Turkish Friendly Fire

On July 21st, Turkish warplanes were sent to intercept and engage a presumed Greek naval force operating west of Paphos. This force was, in fact, a group of Turkish destroyers, and due to catastrophic miscommunication, the Turkish warplanes attacked the vessels, sinking the D-354 Kocatepe and killing 54 of its crew (Drousiotis, 2004). Other vessels were also damaged in the action, and it is reported that one or more Turkish aircraft were shot down.

Order of Battle of the Turkish Navy (in theatre) during Attila 1: (Cooper, Tselepidis 2003)

Destroyer Task Force'

Landing Craft Force

  • Some 30 vessels

[edit] Greek-Cypriot Friendly Fire

In the early hours of 22nd July 1974, a flight of Greek Noratlas planes flying into Nicosia International Airport were erroneously engaged by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft gun positions, shooting down one plane and killing 33 Greek soldiers. A number of other Noratlas planes were damaged and had to be destroyed on the ground. The incident was a result of miscommunication between Greek and Greek Cypriot forces, and miscommunication within the hierarchy of the Cyprus National Guard. (Solankis)

[edit] The Battle of Nicosia International Airport

On 23 July 1974, Turkish forces commenced their heaviest attack on the defence of Nicosia International Airport, which was defended by a Greek contingent, supported by elements of the Cyprus National Guard. In a failed diversionary attack, two M47 tanks approaching the east side of the terminal were engaged and destroyed by an M20 Super Bazooka anti-tank crew (Representative of Peloponnesian ELDYK). Unable to defeat the resistance at the airport, Turkish forces failed to capture the strategic location before it could be taken under control of a Canadian UN force.

[edit] Sporadic Battles and a Failed Ceasefire

Following the ceasefire of 23rd of July 1974, fighting continued across the island, primarily in the areas where Turkish forces and Greek Cypriot forces directly confronted each other. In many cases, this led to superior-armed Turkish forces gradually expanding their occupation of territory in a series of small, limited offensives. Virtually all of these light offensives were resisted, and in some cases rebuffed by Greek Cypriot forces. Key battles were fought in and around Karavas, Lapithos, Kornos Hill, St Ermolaos, Siskipilos and St Pavlos, as well as other villages.

Map of Cyprus showing political divisions following the 1974 invasion
Map of Cyprus showing political divisions following the 1974 invasion

[edit] Kornos Hill

In an ambush at Kornos Hill on the 2nd of August 1974, the Cyprus National Guard destroyed one M47 tank and one M113 armoured personnel carrier, while capturing one M47 tank and one M113 armoured personnel carrier (Vlassis, 2004). The minor victory was reportedly achieved using M40A1 106mm recoiless rifles, emphasising the use to which man and vehicle-portable anti-tank weapons found in deployment by the Cyprus National Guard during 1974. Ultimately, Kornos Hill fell into Turkish hands during later fighting.

[edit] The Role of the Turkish Air Force

During the invasion of Cyprus, the Turkish Air Force enjoyed air supremacy over the island, except for some minor losses to Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft artillery (Cooper, Tselepidis, 2003). The Turkish Air Force bombed the island extensively, concentrating its attacks on areas of strategic value, and this continued until the end of the conflict. It is not clear how much a part of the Turkish success was owed to the Turkish Air Force.


Order of Battle of the Turkish Air Force during the invasion: (Cooper, Tselepidis 2003)

1. Taktik Havva Kuvveti (1st Tactical Air Force)

  • 1 AJÜ, Eskisehir
  • 3 AJÜ, Konya
  • 4 AJÜ, Mürted
  • 6 AJÜ, Bandirma
  • 9 AJÜ, Balikesir

2. Taktik Havva Kuvveti (2nd Tactical Air Force)

  • 5 AJÜ, Merzifon
  • 7 AJÜ, Erhac
  • 8 AJÜ, Diyarbakir

Havva Ulattyrma Komutanlygy (Tactical Transport Command)

  • 12 AJÜ

[edit] The Role of the Turkish Navy

The Turkish Navy played a decisive role in the overall success of the Turkish military operation, primarily through its amphibious landing craft and support vessels, which were responsible for bringing th volume of armour and equipment to Cyprus that the Greek Cypriots found impossible to deter. Turkish destroyers and gunboats were also used to shell the coastline and mountain positions of pockets of Greek Cypriot resistance during the first days of the conflict.

The capital Nicosia remains divided since 1974. The UN buffer zone separates the two sectors.
The capital Nicosia remains divided since 1974. The UN buffer zone separates the two sectors.

[edit] Greek Cypriot Equipment

The majority of Greek Cypriot equipment was either inherited from the British Commonwealth or was more recently acquired from Soviet and Warsaw Pact sources. The mainstay of the Cyprus National Guard was its T-34/85 main battle tanks, which had sloped armour and a powerful but old-fashioned 85mm gun (Banyard). The Greek Cypriots also had BTR-152 armoured personnel carriers and Marmon Herrington Mk-IVF armoured fighting vehicles. (Drousiotis, 2004). The Greek Cypriots also had significant quantities of 25-pounder, 6-pounder and mortar artillery. The naval forces were equipped with a small number of motor torpedo boats and patrol gunboats.

[edit] Turkish Equipment

Unlike the Greek Cypriots who had only vintage equipment at their disposal, the Turkish Army deployed large numbers of modern NATO-standard assets, including M47 and M48 Patton main battle tanks, and M113 armoured personnel carriers (Drousiotis, 2004). These were supported by 105mm and 155mm artillery and mortars. The Turkish Air Force had the capacity to deploy F-100, RF-84, F-102, F-5 and F-104 fighter aircraft. The Turkish Navy was capable of deploying a number of destroyers, submarines and amphibious warfare craft.

[edit] Attila 2

The second Turkish offensive occurred on 14 August as Greek and Turkish Cypriot representatives met in Geneva to discuss the situation on the island. Despite a UN ceasefire in place (several had already been disregarded) (Drousiotis, 2004), the Turkish Army, massively reinforced from weeks of build-up, launched an all out surprise attack on ill-prepared Greek-Cypriot and Greek units. With little answer to the masses of armour, mechanised units, artillery and air support that the Turks could bring to bare, virtually all Greek Cypriot defences collapsed in a matter of days, and by 16 August, Turkish forces had extended to capture some 37% of the island, including the towns of Varosha (Famagusta) and Morfu. (Karkaletsis, 2005; Efthyvolou 2004)

In blue Turkish occupied Villages and Towns
In blue Turkish occupied Villages and Towns


Order of Battle of additional Turkish Forces involved in Attila 2: (Cooper, Tselepidis 2003)


39 Piyade Tümeni (39th Infantry Division)

  • 14 Piyade Alayi (14th Infantry Regiment)
  • 39 Tank Taburu (39th Divisional Tank Battalion)
  • 39 Kesif Bölügü (39th Divisional Reconnaissance Company)
  • 39 Tocu Alayi (39th Divisional Artillery Regiment)
  • 39 Istihk. Taburu (39th Divisional Engineer Battalion)

28 Piyade Tümeni (28th Infantry Division)

  • 230 Piyade Alayi (230th Mechanized Infantry Regiment)
  • 61 Piyade Alayi (61st Infantry Regiment)
  • 28 Tank Taburu (28th Divisional Tank Battalion)
  • 28 Kesif Bölügü (28th Divisional Reconnaissance Company)
  • 28 Topcu Alayi (28th Divisional Artillery Regiment)
  • 28 Istihk. Taburu (28th Divisional Engineer Battalion)
  • 28 Tanksavar Bölügü (28th Divisional Anti-Tank Company)

[edit] Greek Cypriot Resistance to Attila 2

Due to the speed and massive front created by the second Turkish invasion, Greek Cypriot resistance was spread thin and forced quickly into retreat, at the hands of a multitude of enemy armoured vehicles, with little or no capacity to stop them (a situation perhaps best described as a Turkish blitzkrieg). Combined with Turkish air supremacy over the island, and the total lack of reinforcements, Cypriot National Guard and ELDYK defences across the island collapsed almost as soon as the standing UN ceasefire was contravened. The Turkish Army suffered sporadic losses across the front, in no small part due to the aggression implied by its advance, and the Greek Cypriots were able to mount ambushes and fight skirmishes, but with little strategic effect. (Karkaletsis, 2005) Conspicuously, the Turkish Army failed to establish a bridgehead between the main territorial occupation zone and the enclave of Kokkina.

[edit] Sources

[edit] Combatants / Orders of Battle

  • "Cyprus, 1974", by T. Cooper and N. Tselepidis, published October 28th 2003 for ACIG.org.

[edit] Overview

  • Cyprus National Guard Official Site [1]
  • The Cyprus Conflict [2]
  • 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
  • Cyprus 100 Years Alex Efthyvoulou, Laiki Cultural Bank Archive
  • Hellenic Nationalist Page [3]
  • ELDYK Camp 1974- the Thermopyles of Cyprus in Stratiotiki Istoria Issue 95, July 2004
  • Representative of Peloponnesian ELDYK (based on listed sources: The Battle of Cyprus ( G.P. Sergis (Colonel ret.)), Waiting for Attila (Har. Haralampopopoulos (Vice general ret.)), For Cyprus (Ministry of Defence), He called the Turks (Gr. Mixalopoulos) ELDYK album 74 (Association of Reserve Officers of Kyrenia), ELDYK album).
  • Occupied Cyprus Project [4]
  • OPERATION "NIKI" 1974 - A Suicide Mission to Cyprus. (Mihail Solanakis).
  • The Battle of the Nicosia International Airport, July 23-24, 1974
  • War in Peace, Cyprus 1974, Pages 1669 - 1673 (PJ Banyard).
  • The Action of the Captured M47 in Attila II in The Unknown Soldier of Cyprus (Savvas Vlassis)
  • Hellenic Wings over Cyprus; First hand accounts of the operations 1964-1974, by Lt.General George Mitsainas, (ISBN: 960-630-182-6, also in Greek)

[edit] See Also

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