Cyprus Turkish Peace Force

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 (Pasaköy) to the northeast of Nicasia, and the
* 39th division - headquartered near Morphou (Güzelyurt).
* 14th Armoured Brigade - also in Asha (Paşaköy) with M48 Patton tanks. ["Turkey: A Country Study", p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268] The 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”" [http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N94/237/70/IMG/N9423770.pdf?OpenElement 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 [ [http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/1998/98-11-19.tcpr.html Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-19 ] ] .

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)

elf 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 (Günyeli 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)

ources

* 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.

ee also

* [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]

External links

* [http://www.cyprus-conflict.net The Cyprus Conflict] A website with a selection of details, reports, documents, and personal accounts on the Cyprus dispute
* [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]
* [http://www.atcanews.org Association Of Turkish Cypriots Abroad] , A non-party-political organization with the aim of partitioning Cyprus

Notes

ee also

*Peacekeepers
*Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus