The Cyprus Turkish Peace Force (Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus (TUPFICYP)) is the dominant military force in the Turkish-administered northern part of Cyprus.

Contents 1 History 2 Military Personnel in Northern Cyprus 3 Military Equipment in Northern Cyprus 3.1 Main Battle Tanks 3.2 Armoured Fighting Vehicles 3.3 Armoured Personnel Carriers 3.4 Self Propelled Howitzers 3.5 Multiple Rocket Launchers 3.6 Towed Howitzers 3.7 Anti-Tank Missiles 3.8 Recoiless Rifles 3.9 Mortars 4 Historical Background to the Turkish Military in Cyprus 5 Sources 6 See also 6.1 External links 7 Notes 8 See also

[edit] 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 Nicosia, and the
• 39th division - headquartered at Camlibel within the district of Girne.
• 14th Armoured Brigade - also in Asha (Paşaköy) with M48 Patton tanks.^[1]

The corps reserve was at Kythrea (Degirmenlik) to the northeast of Nicasia.

Turkish Land Forces Türk Kara Kuvvetleri

Components Turkish Army Structure List of formations 2008 Administration İlker Başbuğ Overseas Deployments Forces in Cyprus Equipment Modern equipment History History Timeline Personnel Officer rank insignia Other ranks insignia

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^[2].

Since the 16th of August 1974, the Turkish Army has retained control of the northern 37% of Cyprus.

[edit] 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:

[edit] 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.

[edit] Main Battle Tanks

• MİTÜP Altay ~ 70 Planning After 2014
• M48A5T2 ~ 231 (Imported between 1994 and 1998)
• M48A5T1 ~ 156 (Imported between 1994 and 1998)

[edit] Armoured Fighting Vehicles

• AIFV / AAPC ~ 208 (Imported after 1995)

[edit] Armoured Personnel Carriers

• M113A1 ~ 600 (Imported after 1995)

[edit] Self Propelled Howitzers

• M-110 ~ 12
• M44T ~ 24
• M52T ~ 36

[edit] Multiple Rocket Launchers

• T-122 ~ 89

[edit] Towed Howitzers

• various calibers (including M114A1)~ 138

[edit] Anti-Tank Missiles

• Kornet-E ~ 60
• TOW ~ 36 (Imported in 1994)
• MILAN ~ 48

[edit] Recoiless Rifles

• M40A1 ~ 170

[edit] Mortars

• various calibers ~ 205
• radar-assisted ~ 78

[edit] Historical Background to the Turkish Military in Cyprus

The Turkish Army has retained a permanent military presence in Cyprus since 1974. Before this date, the Turkish Army was permanent in Cyprus between 1570 and 1878.

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)

[edit] Sources

1. ^ Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268
2. ^ Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-19

• 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.

[edit] See also

• 2007 letter from Cypriot Government to UN, giving details of Turkish forces in Cyprus

[edit] External links

• The Cyprus Conflict A website with a selection of details, reports, documents, and personal accounts on the Cyprus dispute
• Chronology - Cyprus Issue
• 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

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

• Peacekeepers
• Military of Northern Cyprus