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The Cypriot National Guard (Greek: Εθνική Φρουρά) is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus. It is a combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements.

Contents 1 Current Components 1.1 Land 1.2 Air 1.3 Sea 2 Current Senior officers 3 Current Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 4 Creation of the Cyprus National Guard 5 Original Components of the Cyprus National Guard from 1964 until the 1974 Intervention 5.1 Land 5.2 Air 5.3 Sea 6 Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 1964 - 1974 6.1 Land 6.2 Air 6.3 Sea 7 Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 1974 - 1994 7.1 Land 7.2 Air 8 Equipment of the Cyprus National Guard 1994 - 2004 8.1 Land 8.2 Air 9 Combat Actions 9.1 1963-1964 9.2 1964-1974 9.3 1974 9.4 1978 10 Sources 11 External links

The land forces of the Cypriot National Guard comprise the following units:

• First Infantry Division (Ιη Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
• Second Infantry Division (ΙΙα Μεραρχία ΠΖ)
• Fourth Infantry Brigade (ΙVη Ταξιαρχία ΠΖ)
• Twentieth Armored Brigade (ΧΧη ΤΘ Ταξιαρχία)
• Third Support Brigade (ΙΙΙη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)
• Eighth Support Brigade (VIIIη Ταξιαρχία ΥΠ)

• 449th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (449 ΜΑΕ)
• 450th Helicopter Gunship Squadron (450 ME)

• Cyprus Navy

• Supreme Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Bisbikas
• Deputy Commander, Cypriot National Guard: Lt. Gen. Savvas Argyrou
• Chief of Staff, Cypriot National Guard: Maj. Gen. Gregory Stamoulis

See Military of Cyprus

The General Staff of the Cyprus National Guard in known domestically by its Greek designation "ΓΕΕΦ", or transliterated in the Latin alphabet as "GEEF".

The full name is "ΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΤΕΛΕΙΟ ΕΘΝΙΚΗΣ ΦΡΟΥΡΑΣ" which translates in English as "GENERAL STAFF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD". This name was assigned to the General Staff Headquarters organisation that commanded the National Guard in 1964, before which time and since 1963, the organisation had been briefly designated "Ειδικό Μικτό Επιτελείο Κύπρου" (ΕΜΕΚ), or translated in English as "Special Mixed Staff Cyprus" (EMEK).

The formation of GEEF in 1964 coincides directly with the establishment of purely Greek Cypriot ethnicity National Guard, following the outbreak of nationwide civil disturbances between Greek and Turkish Cypriot groups. Thus, as of 1964, the Turkish Cypriot minority were forced to abandon the original provisions to them of Article 129 - 132 of the 1960 Constitution, and withdrew any further participation in the National Guard, to which they had been entitled 40% of the total manpower, i.e. 2000 men.

The GEEF was made constitutional in July 1964 by vote of the Cypriot Parliament, from which the Turkish Cypriot Vice President (along with his right of veto) and the Turkish Cypriot senators were removed, by which time the country had begun to slide into a total socio-political breakdown along ethnic lines.

• GEEF (General HQ, Cyprus National Guard)
• DPB HQ (Artillery Command HQ)
• I ATD HQ – Ammochostos
• II ATD HQ – Morphou
• III ATD HQ – Lefkosia
• II TS / III ATD HQ – Kyrenia
• IV ATD HQ – Limassol
• V ATD HQ – Paphos
• DKD (Raiders Command)

• 1SA Aircraft Flight
• 419 MPA - Air Base Protection Squadron (Lakatamia Air Base)
• 420 MPA - Air Base Protection Squadron (Tymbou Air Base)
• 3SEP (Early Warning Flight) - on Mt. Kormakitis
• 3 MSEP (Warning and Control Station Squadron) - on Mt. Kormakitis
• 4 MSEP (Warning and Control Station Squadron) - on Mt. Kantara

Cyprus Navy

• (Contains only equipment acquired during this period)

Main Battle Tanks

• T-34/85
• M47 Patton (Captured)

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

• Marmon Herrington Mk-IVF
• Daimler Dingo
• M8 Greyhound
• Shorland Mk-V

Armoured Personnel Carriers

• BTR-152V1
• M113 (Captured)

Armoured Trucks

• C17

Soft-Skin Vehicles

• ZIL 157 GS
• Bedford TK
• UAZ 469
• Land Rover Series II 109

Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns

• ZIS-3 / M1942 76.2mm
• M116 Pack 75mm
• 25-Pounder 88mm
• BS-3M / M1944 100mm
• 6-Pounder 57mm

Field Anti-Tank Rifles / Rocket Launchers

• B-10 82mm
• M18 57mm
• M40A1 106mm
• SPG-9 73mm

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

• AT-3 Sagger-B / 9M14M Malutka

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Unguided Weapon

• RG-7V 85mm
• M20 "Super Bazooka" 3.5-inch
• EM-67 90mm

Helicopter

• Agusta Bell AB-47J (Loaned)
• Fairchild Hiller FH-100

Fixed Wing

• Dornier Do-27Q
• Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
• Piper PA-22 Colt 108
• T-6A Harvard (Embargoed)

• R-41 Group Motor Minesweeper
• P-6 / Type - 083 Motor Torpedo Boat
• Esterel / Kelefstis Stamou Fast Patrol Craft (Embargoed)

• (Contains only equipment acquired during this period)

Main Battle Tanks

• AMX-30
• AMX-30B2

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

• VAB-VCI/-VTT
• VAB-VCAC
• EE-9 Cascavel
• EE-3 Jararaca

Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns

• M56 105mm
• Mk F-3 155mm

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

• Euromissile Milan-2

Helicopter

• PZL Swidnik Kania (Mil Mi-2 Hoplite)
• SA-342L1 Gazelle

Fixed Wing

• Pilatus PC-9M

• (Contains only equipment acquired during this period)

Main Battle Tanks

• T-80U
• T-80UK

Armoured Personnel Carriers

• Leonidas-I
• Leonidas-II

Field Artillery Guns / Anti-Tank Guns

• Zuzana 155mm
• TRF-1 155mm

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

• Euromissile Milan-3

Helicopter

• Mil Mi-35P Hind-F

Significant combat actions were seen between the Cyprus National Guard and Turkish Cypriot combatants during this period, as the country slid into a state of civil-war.

Sporadic low-intensity conflict continued during parts of this period between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot armed elements across the island.

The Cyprus National Guard, under control of an Athens-inspired junta, seize control of the country in a short-lived coup, beginning on July 15, 1974. High intensity combat commences between the Cyprus National Guard and pro-Makarios supporters (including the Tactical Police Reserve). Consequently on July 20 1974, Turkey launches an invasion of the island, which is intensively resisted by the Cyprus National Guard and virtually all Greek Cypriot elements for a period of roughly one month. Ultimately, Turkish forces successfully captured and occupied 37% of the island.

On the 19 February 1978, Egyptian commando forces attempted to intervene in a hijacking situation at Larnaca International Airport, without authorisation from the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The Cypriot National Guard and Police forces surrounding the hijacked DC-8 aircraft responded with force, killing 15 Egyptian commandos and destroying the Egyptian C-130 transport plane in open combat. The result of the incident caused Egypt to severe diplomatic ties with Cyprus for a period of time.

Creation of National Guard

• Cyprus National Guard Official Site
• The Cyprus Conflict

Order of Battle

• "Cyprus, 1974", by T. Cooper and N. Tselepidis, published October 28 2003 for ACIG.org.

Armaments

• Cyprus National Guard Official Site
• Table 23, Republic of Cyprus: Major National Guard Equipment, 1990, Library of Congress (Additional sourcing: Based on information from The Military Balance, 1989- 1990, London, 1989, 85; and Christopher F. Foss, "Cypriot Rearmament Completed," Jane's Defence Weekly [London], March 12, 1988, 445.)
• APORRITOS ATILLAS, Savvas Vlassis
• "1974: The Unknown Backstage of the Turkish Invasion", Makarios Drousiotis, Nicosia 2002, ISBN 9963-631-02-9
• Cyprus 1974 - The Greek coup and the Turkish invasion, Makarios Drousiotis, Hellenic Distribution Agency
• Conway´s: All The World´s Fighting Ships 1947-1995
• Cyprus, 1955-1973 By Tom Cooper, www.acig.org
• Cyprus 100 Years Alex Efthyvoulou, Laiki Cultural Bank Archive
• British Pathe Archive

Combat Actions

• The Cyprus Conflict
• "1974: The Unknown Backstage of the Turkish Invasion", Makarios Drousiotis, Nicosia 2002, ISBN 9963-631-02-9
• Cyprus 1974 - The Greek coup and the Turkish invasion, Makarios Drousiotis, Hellenic Distribution Agency
• Cyprus, 1955-1973 By Tom Cooper, www.acig.org

• National Guard website

Military of Cyprus
Cypriot National Guard