| Cypriot National Guard Εθνική Φρουρά Kıbrıs Ulusal Muhafızları |
|
|---|---|
| Founded | 06.1964 |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Lieutenant General Stylianos Nasis |
| Chief-of-Staff | Brig. Gen. Georgios Karagiannis |
| Manpower | |
| Active personnel | 12,000 + 750 paramilitary |
| Reserve personnel | 75,000 |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Cyprus |
The Cypriot National Guard (Greek: Εθνική Φρουρά, Ethnikí Frourá; Turkish: Kıbrıs Ulusal Muhafızları), also known as the "Greek Cypriot National Guard" or simply as "National Guard", is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus. This force consists of Air, Land, Sea and Special Forces elements, and is highly integrated with its first and second line reserves, as well as supporting civilian agencies and paramilitary forces.
Greece currently maintains a garrison in the Republic of Cyprus under the designation ELDYK or Hellenic Forces in Cyprus (Greek: Ελληνικές Δυνάμεις Κύπρου or ΕΛΔΥΚ), but this is not officially part of the Cyprus military and primarily serves as a NATO brigade-level influence for training and support of the National Guard.
Contents |
The National Guard was established in 1964 as a force composed entirely of ethnic Greeks, 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.
The Cypriot National Guard has been involved in multiple combat operations, all within Cyprus territory.
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.
The main body of the Cypriot ground forces is made up by 2 infantry divisions, 3 infantry briagdes, 1 armored brigade and 1 support brigade.
The Naval Component of the Cypriot National Guard is alternatively known as the "Cyprus Navy" (Greek: Ναυτική Διοίκηση Κύπρου). The force is organised into a Warships Command (with 4 Fast Patrol Boats, 3 Ramped Craft Logistics and 2 Fast Assault Boats); a Coastal Battery Command (with 24 MM40 Exocet Block-II sea-skimming missiles); a Coastal Surveillance Command (with classified integrated radar systems); and a Command of the Navy Base (Evangelos Florakis Navy Base).
The Naval Component also operates a Special Forces Sub-Command known as OYK (Under Water Demolitions Unit), the operations of which are totally classified.
The Air Component of the Cypriot National Guard is typically referred as the Cyprus Air Command (Greek: Διοίκησης Αεροπορίας Κύπρου). The Cyprus Air Command consists of the 449 Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron (with 4 SA-342L Gazelles and 2 Bell-206L-3s), the 450 Attack Helicopter Squadron (with 11 Mi-35PN Hind-F heavy attack helicopters, 1 PC-9 and 1 BN2B-21), the 460 Helicopter Squadron (with 3 AW-139s), and a secret UAV squadron (designation and equipment not officially acknowledged). Additionally, the Air Defence Sub-Command of the Air Force, which operates air-defence weapons, is kept secret in terms of its organisation and equipment.
The Cyprus armed forces operate a pool of three Army Special Forces Groups (plus one auxiliary) known colloquially as LOK (Greek: ΛΟΚ - Λόχοι Ορεινών Καταδρομών, Lochoi Oreinōn Katadromōn). All LOK Groups are part of the Army Special Forces Command DKD (Greek: ΔΚΔ - Διοίκησης Καταδρομών - Diikisis Katadromon), and a soldier belonging to the Brigade is called a Raider (Greek: Kαταδρομέας, Kαταδρομείς - Katadromeas, Katadromeis). Cyprus Special Forces training is based closely on their Greek Counterparts.
All members of the Brigade wear the unit insignia depicting a winged sword, representative of the "deadly, silent and swift" nature of special forces operations. A scroll runs across the sword and wings with the motto Who Dares Wins (Greek: Ο ΤΟΛΜΩΝ ΝΙΚΑ - O Tolmon Nika), a tribute to the Free Greek Special Forces that served with the 1st Special Air Service (1 SAS) Brigade during World War II. The unit flash is emblazoned with ΔΥΝΑΜΕΙΣ ΚΑΤΑΔΡΟΜΩΝ (Raider Forces). While on operation, low-visibility patches are worn.
All Raiders wear the green beret with the national emblem on the left.
The Navy has a Special Forces Group known as OYK (Greek: ΟΥΚ - Ομάδα Υποβρυχίων Καταστροφών, Omada Ipovrixion Katastrofon)
The police also have an armed paramilitary Special Operations Groups related to anti-terrorism, as well as the MMAD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Command of the Cyprus Police.
The Republic of Cyprus is thought to possess ready reserves (first and second line reserves of fighting fitness and age) in the order of 75,000 men (some estimates of 50,000 exclude the trained and organised Home Guard or Third Line). These numbers do not include females of voluntary military experience or fighting fitness / age.
Formed reserve units in existence include six light infantry brigades (maintained at cadre strength during peacetime). Each of these brigades has three battalions with supporting command, control, communications and supply infrastructure.
The main armoured capability of the Cypriot National Guard is structured under the command of the 20th Armoured Brigade. This force includes a nominal strength of 3 tank battalions (82 T-80U MBTs and 54 AMX-30B2s) with an auxiliary unit of spare tanks (50 AMX-30s slated for phase out, to be replaced with 41 T-80Us). The XX brigade also includes a nominal strength of 3 or 4 mechanized infantry battalions, a reconnaissance battalion, a self-propelled artillery battery and a mobile air-defence battery (TOR-M1s).
The remaining armoured forces are distributed to units of mechanised infantry and self-propelled anti-tank systems deployed at the divisional and brigade level.
Land Component
| Main Battle Tanks | |||
| With 125mm Armament | T-80U | 82 | Active |
| With 105mm Armament | AMX-30B2 | 54 | Active |
| With 105mm Armament | AMX-30 | 50 | Spare |
| Armoured Fighting Vehicles | |||
| With 100mm Armament | BMP-3 | 43 | Active |
| With 90mm Armament | EE-9 | 54 | Active |
| With 30mm Armament | VAB-VCI | 27 | Active |
| With 90mm Armament | EE-9 | 53 | Spare |
| Armoured Personnel Carriers | |||
| With 12.7mm Armament | Leonidas-1/2 | 168 | Active |
| With 12.7mm Armament | VAB | 126 | Active |
| Guided Missile Carriers | |||
| With MILAN Missile | EE-3 | 15 | Active |
| With HOT Missile | VAB-VCAC | 18 | Active |
| Self Propelled Artillery | |||
| 155mm Howitzer | ZUZANA | 12 | Active |
| 155mm Howitzer | MK F3 | 12 | Active |
| 122mm multiple rocket launcher | BM-21 | 18 | Active |
| Towed Artillery | |||
| 155mm Howitzer | TRF-1 | 12 | Active |
| 105mm Howitzer | Mod 56 Howitzer | 72 | Active |
| 100mm Howitzer | M1944 | 20 | Active |
| 128mm multiple rocket launcher | M-63 Plamen | 18 | Active |
Creation of National Guard
Order of Battle
Armaments
Combat Actions
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||