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Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command

{{short description|Turkish garrison in Cyprus}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command

| native_name = {{lang|tr|Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı}}

| image = File:KTBK logo.gif

| caption = Logo of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command

| start_date = 1974

| end_date = present

| country = {{flag|Northern Cyprus}}

| countries = Northern Cyprus

| allegiance = {{flagdeco|Turkey}} TAF

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| size = 40,000+

| command_structure =

| garrison = Girne

| garrison_label = Headquarters

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| commander1 = Maj. Gen. Sebahattin Kılınç

| commander1_label = Commander

| commander2 =

| commander2_label = Chief of staff

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}}

{{Turkish Army}}

File:Cyprus districts named.png

The Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command ({{langx|tr|Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı}}){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O_oJxGOBizEC&dq=Northern+Cyprus+Turkish+Armed+Forces&pg=PA206|title = Globalisation and Jurisdiction|isbn = 9789041123077|last1 = Slot|first1 = Pieter J.|last2 = Bulterman|first2 = Mielle K.|last3 = Meijers Instituut|first3 = E. M.|date = January 2004| publisher=Kluwer Law International B.V. }} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+tr0103%29 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-12-11 |archive-date=2020-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908123041/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+tr0103%29 |url-status=dead }}

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:{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

  • Gönyeli Group (Gönyeli Grubu)
  • 2nd Infantry Company (2 nci Piyade Bölüğü)
  • 3rd Infantry Company (3 ncü Piyade Bölüğü)
  • Heavy Weapons Company (Ağır Silah Bölüğü)
  • Ortaköy Group (Ortaköy Grubu)
  • 1st Infantry Company (1 nci Piyade Bölüğü)
  • 4th Infantry Company (4 ncü Piyade Bölüğü)
  • Regimental HQ Company (Alay Karargâh Servis Bölüğü)

=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:{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

  • An airborne (parachute) brigade (Commander: Brig. Gen. Sabri Evren)
  • A commando brigade (Commander: Brig. Gen. Sabri Demirbağ')
  • A Special Strike Force Landing Brigade (Turkish Marines) (Commander: Brig. Gen. Süleyman Tuncer)
  • The 39th Infantry Division (Commander: Maj. Gen. Bedrettin Demirel)
  • The 28th Infantry Division (Commander: Maj.Gen. Osman Fazıl Polat)

=Post invasion=

It has been on Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974, and initially consisted of the following Turkish Army units:{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+cy0158%29 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-12-11 |archive-date=2013-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313003017/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+cy0158%29 |url-status=dead }} 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” [http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N94/237/70/IMG/N9423770.pdf?OpenElement S994/680 7.6.1994.par.28]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}.

Turkish forces in Cyprus are part of the Turkish Aegean Army which is headquartered at İzmir 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/1998/98-11-19.tcpr.html|title=Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-19}}

Since 16 August 1974, the Turkish Army has retained control of the northern 36.2% of Cyprus.

Equipment in Northern Cyprus

=[[Main battle tank]]s=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

M48 Patton

|File:C155AmpShipTurkey.jpg

|{{US}}

|A5T2

|287{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

M60 Patton

|File:M60 Patton Tank Fort Lewis Military Museum.jpg

|{{US}}

|N/A

|N/A{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2019-05-03 |title=trmilitarynews.com |url=https://www.trmilitarynews.com/kuzey-kibrisa-leopard-tank-takviyesi-yunanistanda-ses-getirdi/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |language=tr}}

=[[Armoured fighting vehicle]]s=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

FNSS ACV-15

|File:ACV 300 Adnan 25mm Bushmaster in display during 2022 MAF's open day in RMAF Kuantan.jpg

|{{MLY}}
/ {{TUR}}

|ACV-AIFV

|145{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

=[[Armoured personnel carrier]]s=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

FNSS ACV-15

|File:ACV-300 Adnan.jpg

|{{MLY}}
/ {{TUR}}

|ACV-AAPC

|70{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

M113

|File:M113 armoured personnel carrier at Manjimup RSL Hall, January 2022 01.jpg

|{{US}}

|M113 A1/A2

|418{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

=[[MRAP|Mine-resistant ambush protected]]=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Note

BMC Vuran{{Cite web |title=Türkiye'den KKTC polisine silah, zırhlı araç ve ekipman desteği |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/turkiyeden-kktc-polisine-silah-zirhli-arac-ve-ekipman-destegi-/2859653 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}

|File:Türk Kara Kuvvetleri'ne ait BMC Vuran.jpg

|{{TUR}}

|Used by Police forces.

=[[Multi Purpose Vehicle|Multi-purpose vehicles]]=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Role

BMC Amazon{{Cite web |title=www.mavivatan.net |url=https://twitter.com/mavivatannet/status/1682399657186476033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name:mavivatannet%7Ctwcon%5Es1 |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Twitter |language=en}}

!-

|{{TUR}}

|Multi-purpose vehicle

Otokar Akrep{{Cite web |last=Kanal |first=Ulusal |date=2022-11-16 |title=www.ulusal.com |url=https://www.ulusal.com.tr/dis-politika/kktcnin-39-yil-donumu-cesitli-etkinliklerle-kutlandi-15005300 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website= |language=tr-TR}}

!-

|{{TUR}}

|Reconnaissance vehicle

Otokar Engerek{{Cite web |title=www.iletisim.gov.tr |url=https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/turkce/haberler/detay/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-hic-kimse-kibris-turkunden-kendi-devletinden-esit-statusunden-egemenliginden-vazgecmesini-rumlarin-iradesi-altinda-azinlik-olarak-yasamayi-kabul-etmesini-beklemesin/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=www.iletisim.gov.tr |language=tr-TR}}

|File:Macedonian Army Lend Rover Wolf.jpg

|{{TUR}}

|Special operations vehicle

Land Rover Defender{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= 16 November 2022|title=www.ulusal.com |url=https://www.ulusal.com.tr/dis-politika/kktcnin-39-yil-donumu-cesitli-etkinliklerle-kutlandi-15005300 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website= |language=tr-TR}}

|File:Land Rover Defender i robot Mali Miloš - Odbrana slobode 2019 Niš 1.jpg

|{{TUR}}{{UK}}

|Utility vehicle

=[[Self-propelled artillery|Self-propelled howitzers]]=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

T-155 Fırtına

|File:T-155Fırtına (1).jpg

|{{KOR}}
/ {{TUR}}

|Fırtına I

|4{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

M52

|File:M52 105mm Self-propelled Howitzer Display in Chengkungling 20131012.jpg

|{{US}}

|M52T1

|144{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

M44

|File:M44 self propelled howitzer 105 mm Gunfire Museum Brasschaat 13-03-2021.jpg

|{{US}}

|M44T

|30{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

=[[Multiple rocket launcher]]s=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

T-122 Sakarya

|

|{{TUR}}

|TR-122

TRG-122

TRLG-122

TRB-122

|18{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

=[[Field artillery|Towed howitzers]]=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

M101

|File:Philippine Army M101 Howitzer Side.jpg

|{{US}}

|M101A1

|36{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

M114

|File:M114 155 mm Howitzer Brady Texas 2019.jpg

|{{US}}

|M114A2

|36{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

M115

|File:M115 203mm Howitzer Display in ORDC 20121013c.jpg

|{{US}}

|

|12{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

=[[Anti-tank guided missile|Anti-tank missiles]]/[[tank destroyer]]s=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

colspan="5" |Tank Destroyer
FNSS ACV-15

|File:RoketsanIDEF2015 (13).JPG

|{{MAS}}
/ {{TUR}}

|ACV-TOW

|66{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

colspan="5" |Anti-tank missiles
MILAN{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

|File:MILAN ER.jpg

|{{FRA}}
{{FRG}}
/ {{GER}}

|I/II

!-

BGM-71 TOW

|File:BGM-71 TOW missile canister at JGSDF Camp Akeno November 4, 2018 01.jpg

|{{US}}

|I/I

!-

9M133 Kornet

|File:Kornet-E (1).jpg

|{{RUS}}

|Kornet-E

!-

colspan="5" |Rocket propelled
M72 LAW

|File:M72A2 LAW.png

|{{TUR}}{{US}}

|HAR 66

!-

RPG-7

|File:Rpg-7.jpg

|{{USSR}}

|

!-

=[[Recoilless rifle]]s=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

M40

|File:M40 105 mm RR.jpg

|{{US}}

|M40A1

|219{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

=[[Mortar (weapon)|Mortars]]=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Caliber

!Quantity

MKEK UT/NT1

!-

|{{TUR}}

|81mm

|171{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

HY-12

!-

|{{TUR}}

|81mm

120mm

|135{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

M30

|File:M30 mortar at the War Remnants Museum.jpg

|{{US}}

|107mm

|70{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

=[[Anti-aircraft warfare|Anti-aircraft]]=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

Rh-202

|File:JASDF Rheinmetall Rh 202 at Hamamatsu Air Base Publication Center 20141124-01.JPG

|{{FRG}}

|20mm

|44{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

GAI-D01

| rowspan="2" |File:Oerlikon GDF-003 35mm Twin Cannon Rear View at Songshan Air Force Base 20110813.jpg

| rowspan="2" |{{CHE}}

| rowspan="2" |35mm

|78{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

GDF-003

|16{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

FIM-92 Stinger{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

|File:FIM-92 (JASDF) noBG.png

|{{US}}

|A/C

!-

=[[Aircraft]]/[[Helicopter|Helicopters/]][[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]]=

class="wikitable"

|+

!Name

!Image

!Origin

!Variant

!Quantity

colspan="5" |Aircraft
Cessna 185

|File:Cessna A185F Skywagon 185 AN1818103.jpg

|{{US}}

|U17

|3{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

colspan="5" |Helicopters
AS532 Cougar

|File:AS532 Cougar 20100724 (4831054021).jpg

|{{FRA}} /
{{EUR}}

|UL

|2{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

UH-1 Iroquois

|File:Bell UH-1 Iroquois Huey 5D4 3606 (48706920071).jpg

|{{US}}

|AB-205

|1{{Cite web |title=The Military Balance 2023 |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=IISS |language=en}}

colspan="5" |Aerial Firefighting
Kamov Ka-27{{Cite web |title=Türkiye, KKTC'de yangın söndürme helikopteri görevlendirdi |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/turkiye-kktcde-yangin-sondurme-helikopteri-gorevlendirdi/2283250 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}

|File:Kamov Ka-32A-11BC, Private JP6037694.jpg

|{{RUS}}

|Ka-32

!-

Mil Mi-17{{Cite web |title=Türkiye'den yangın söndürme helikopteri |url=https://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/kibris/turkiyeden-yangin-sondurme-helikopteri-h93016.html |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.kibrisgazetesi.com |language=tr}}

|File:Bomba Mil Mi-17 MRD.jpg

|{{USSR}}
/ {{RUS}}

|Mi-17

!-

colspan="5" |Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Bayraktar TB2{{Cite web |date=2021-08-25 |title=Türkiye'nin Kuzey Kıbrıs'taki İHA'larından bölge ülkeleri tedirgin |url=https://tr.euronews.com/2021/08/25/turkiye-nin-kuzey-k-br-s-taki-iha-lar-ve-us-kurma-planlar-bolge-ulkelerini-endiselendiriyo |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=euronews |language=tr}}

|File:Baykar Bayraktar TB2 TEKNOFEST 2022.jpg

|{{TUR}}

|A/B

!-

See also

Notes

{{Country study}}

{{Reflist}}

References

  • Cyprus Mail, Thursday, November 19, 1998
  • Phileleftheros, Wednesday, November 18, 1998
  • Cyprus News Agency, October 8, 1998
  • Cyprus News Agency, November 21, 1997
  • Cyprus News Agency, October 27, 1997
  • The Military Balance 1996/97, The International Institute for Strategic Studies, London.
  • 2004 - 2005 Defence Bible (Stratigiki)
  • "Cyprus, 1974", by T. Cooper and N. Tselepidis, published October 28, 2003 for ACIG.org.

External links

  • [http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/MOI/pio/pio.nsf/All/4FC90989378EAD00C225729000290986?OpenDocument 2007 letter from Cypriot Government to UN, giving details of Turkish forces in Cyprus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000404/http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/MOI/pio/pio.nsf/All/4FC90989378EAD00C225729000290986?OpenDocument |date=2007-09-27 }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20081014004038/http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/ The Cyprus Conflict] A website with a selection of details, reports, documents, and personal accounts on the Cyprus dispute
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20051123015411/http://www.turkishweekly.net/articles.php?id=55 Chronology - Cyprus Issue]
  • [http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/a_problem_en/a_problem_en?OpenDocument Aspects of the Cyprus Problem from The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520042546/http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/a_problem_en/a_problem_en?OpenDocument |date=2019-05-20 }}
  • [http://www.atcanews.org Association Of Turkish Cypriots Abroad], A non-party-political organization with the aim of partitioning Cyprus

{{Turkish army formations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turkish Military Presence On Cyprus}}

Category:1974 establishments in Cyprus

Category:1974 establishments in Turkey

Category:Army units and formations of Turkey

Category:Military of Cyprus

Category:Military units and formations established in 1974

Category:Northern Cyprus–Turkey relations

Category:Overseas or abroad military installations