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Cyprus Turkish Peace Force
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The Cyprus Turkish Peace Force (Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus (TUPFICYP)) is the dominant military force in the Turkish-administered northern part of Cyprus. The principal missions of the CTPF is to protect Turkish Cypriots, secure the 1974 borders, protect against any Greek Cypriot guerrilla attacks or other cross-border actions, and assist in the training of members of the Turkish Cypriot Security Force.
History
It has been on Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974, and initially consisted of the following Turkish Army units:
28th Infantry Division - headquartered at Asha (Pasakoy) to the northeast of Nicasia, and the
39th division - headquartered near Morphou (Guzelyurt).
14th Armoured Brigade - also in Asha (Paakoy) with M48 Patton tanks.Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268The corps reserve was at Kythrea (Degirmenlik) to the northeast of Nicasia.
The original force of 40,000 troops was reduced with Turkish authorities claimed that the CTPF had 17,500 in the 1990's. 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 S994/680 7.6.1994.par.28.
The CTPF is part of the Turkish Aegean Army which is headquartered at Izmir in Turkey. However, the commander of the Turkish troops reported directly to the Turkish General Staff in the capital, Ankara. The CTPF is responsible for all security and not directly involved in political matters of northern Cyprus.
Since the 16th of August 1974, the Turkish Army has retained control of the northern 37% of Cyprus.
Military Personnel in Northern Cyprus
It is not possible to give an exactly accurate number of military personnel serving in northern Cyprus, due to conflicting public sources of information.
There are an Estimated 35,000 regular troops of the Turkish Army serving in northern Cyprus at any given time are:
Military Equipment in Northern Cyprus
Again, it is not possible to give an exactly accurate number of types of military equipment in northern Cyprus, due to conflicting public sources of information, and in this case, the information is presented as estimates.
Main Battle Tanks
M48A5T1 ~ 156 - 169 (Imported before 1990)
M48A5T2 ~ 231 (Imported between 1994 and 1998)
M48A2C ~ 9 (Imported before 1990)
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
AIFV / AAPC ~ 208 (Imported after 1995)
Armoured Personnel Carriers
M113A1 ~ 255 (Imported after 1995)
Self Propelled Howitzers
M110A2 ~ 12
M44T ~ 24
M52T ~ 36
Multiple Rocket Launchers
T-122 ~ 18
Towed Howitzers
various calibers (including M114A1)~ 138
Anti-Tank Missiles
Konkurs ~ 18
TOW ~ 36 (Imported in 1994)
MILAN ~ 48
Recoiless Rifles
M40A1 ~ 170
Mortars
various calibers ~ 205
radar-assisted ~ 4
Historical Background to the Turkish Military in Cyprus
The Turkish Army has retained a permanent military presence in Cyprus since 1974, along with Greece, who was ultimateley the root of the military coup that triggered the Turkish military presence.
Gonyeli Grubu (Gunyeli 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)
In July 1974, Turkey landed forces on the northern part of Cyprus after a coup by the Cypriot National Guard Turkish forces involved in the 1974 action included:
An airborne (parachute) brigade (Brig.Gen. Everen)
A commando brigade (Brig.Gen. Demirbag)
A Special Strike Force Landing Brigade (Brig.Gen. Tuncer)
The 39th Infantry Division (Maj.Gen. Demirel)
The 28th Infantry Division (Maj.Gen. Polat)
Sources
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 28th 2003 for ACIG.org.
See also
2007 letter from Cypriot Government to UN, giving details of Turkish forces in Cyprus
External links
The Cyprus Conflict A website with a selection of details, reports, documents, and personal accounts on the Cyprus dispute
Aspects of the Cyprus Problem from The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office
Association Of Turkish Cypriots Abroad, A non-party-political organization with the aim of partitioning Cyprus
See also
Peacekeepers
Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Cyprus Turkish Peace Force