Photos Cyprus 1974

[CengizSögütlü]

I wanted to open a new topic, I wanted to share the photos of Operation Atilla ~~Turkish invasion of Cyprus 1974.

 

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Tanks beloning to 23 ΕΜΑ medium tank battalion Captured/Destoyed

 

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2. Commando brigade at skirts of Pendadáktylos/Besparmak mountain

 

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Captured Greek headquarters/Barracks visited by senior officials

 

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A sunken attack/torpido boat of Cypriot national guard

 

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Commandos are heading towards the Gönyeli (northern nicosia(capital)). There are also members of TMT Turkish Resistance Organisation with them

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TMT

 

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The Turkish Resistance Organisation (Turkish: Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı, TMT) was a Turkish Cypriot paramilitary organisation formed Turkish military officers in 1958 as an organisation to counter the Greek Cypriot Fighter's Organization "EOKA"(later "EOKA-B"). In 1967 to "Mücahit", and in 1976 to "Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı"(Security Forces Command Center).

 

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Turkish Resistance Organisation

 

[berkut76]

1974, but most of the personal equipment and even fire arms are from WWII era.

 

[guest0001]

Great pics!!! Thx for sharing!!!!

 

[CengizSögütlü]

1974, but most of the personal equipment and even fire arms are from WWII era.

Few TMT photos are from begin 60s (M1) Thompson and sten used mostly by Gendermarie, Tank and APC drivers. T34s are donations from Egypt to Cyprus.

 

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FUN FACT

The Greek Cypriots operated a total of 38-39 Russian-made T-34/85 tanks that were acquired from Soviet Union and delivered via Egypt in 1964–65. These tanks were supplied to the 23ΕΜΑ Medium Tank Battalion, with the main base at Kokkinotrimithia, Kyrenia which is located at North of Cyprus and landing area/beach of Turkish army (this base was vacant at the time of the Turkish invasion, since tanks were needed in Nicosia for the 15 July coup).

Cypriot National Guard T-34's were entirely unique from all Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries in that they mounted the US M2 Browning .50cal machine gun, originally on the rear of the turret roof, on top of the ventilator domes. Some time before 1974, the armament was then moved forward to the front of the turret, in front of the commanders cupola. The standard identifying marking was a dark blue square overlaid with a white cross, identical to that used by the Hellenic Army, and intended to show the obvious affinity of the indigenous population majority towards Hellenism, and to some extent, unionism with Greece(Enosis).

In order to realize this plan (Enosis : merger with Greece), on 15 July, they hit the city of Nicosia ( capital & center of Cyprus) togetter with their tanks from North to Capital. On 15 July, the president of Cyprus, fled to Malta. Some Cypriot generals arrested. 5 days later Turkey launch the operation Atilla and land on Kyrenia near HQ of 23ΕΜΑ Medium Tank Battalion.. The first landing of Turkish troops success Junta fails in Cyprus. After collapse of the Greek junta starts of peace talks in Geneve. Turkey could not get what they want at the table. On 14 August Turkey launched its "Second Peace Operation", which eventually resulted in the Turkish occupation of 37% of Cyprus. Second operation was accepted as an invasion...

In short, if the tanks did not goes to capital, Turkish troops would land infront of 3 dozen tanks with each has .50cal MG...

Landing

Logo of 23ΕΜΑ Medium Tank Battalion.

Captured HQ of 23ΕΜΑ Medium Tank Battalion.

 

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Turkish Commando's seize a lot of UN equipment in Cypriot/Greek HQ's. Doing such things to hide risked the lives of several UN soldiers.

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

was established under United Nations Security Council Resolution 186 in 1964 to prevent a recurrence of fighting..

Upon UNFICYP's arrival on the island, the national contingents were each assigned a sector, which mostly coincided with the boundaries of the civil districts:

• Paphos District – Austrian contingent
• Lefka District (consisting of the Western part of Nicosia District) – Danish contingent
• Limassol Zone (consisting of Limassol District New Zealand contingent and the Western half of Larnaka District) – British contingent
• Nicosia District – British contingent
• Larnaca Sector (consisting of the Eastern half of Larnaka District) – Irish contingent
• Kyrenia District – Finnish contingent
• Famagusta District – Swedish contingent

On the Map;

 

[DENO]

Few TMT photos are from begin 60s (M1) Thompson and sten used mostly by Gendermarie, Tank and APC drivers. T34s are donations from Egypt to Cyprus.

Not at all. Gendarmerie was freshly introduced with MP5A3 sub-machine guns instead of Thompson, M3A1 Grease and Sten sub-machine guns used by the Army/Navy/Air Force in the same time. Although the license produchion of HK G3, Rheinmetall MG3 an HK MP5 in Turkey by MKEK was started in 1967, the bulk of the Turkish Military was relying on US donated .30 caliber M1 Garand, M1918 BAR and M1919 Browning for its conscripts back then. And also the troops who were using British Bren lmg, Sten smg and Lee-Enfields are TMT paramilitia and the guns were lefted over from British.

For the overall weapons and equipment of the Turkish Army back then is a mixture of all. Proffessional personnel of the military were using G3 and FN FALs ( Idendified as G1 that transferred from West German inventory) and the regular conscripts were using M1 Garand as standard service rifle. And also large amounts of captured Sa Vz.58 and AK rifles from Greeks were also used by mechanized infantry and the VIP guards of the general due to their their compacity against G3 and FAL

1974, but most of the personal equipment and even fire arms are from WWII era.

For the personal equipment they were using British Brodie and US M1 helmets came as donations back in 1950-1960s and also Turkish verison of M1 with improved material and 4-point chin strap. For the field dress uniform commandos were using "Aegean Spot" camo which was improved over USMC frogskin camouflage and also the local made canvas webbing with attached with canteen, bayonet, utility and 20rd magazine pouches for G3 and FAL.



Here is a Gendarmerie pic with MP5A3 smgs in Cyprus 1974 as I shared it on the Turkish Military thread before.

Officers and press inspecting a captured Sa vz.58 from Greek forces.

Evacuation of the British tourists from island in coordination with the Royal Navy during the invasion

Turkish war reporter Engin Konuksever posing with the equipment of the troops he had worked with. Later on of the conflict he captured by the Greek forces as he mistakenly drove his Jeep through their frontline.