Cyprus Navy

Naval Command of Cyprus Ναυτική Διοίκηση Κύπρου
Cyprus Naval Command Emblem
Active	July 1964
Country	Cyprus
Branch	Navy
Size	about 400 personnel (2008)
Part of	Cypriot National Guard
Engagements	Battle of Tylliria (Cyprus 1964), Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Commanders
Current commander	Captain George Pitsiakos
Notable commanders	Lieutenant Elefterios Tsomakis
Insignia
Ensign
Naval Jack

The Cyprus Naval Command (Greek Ναυτική Διοίκηση Κύπρου) (also known as the Cyprus Navy or Cypriot Navy) is the armed sea wing of the Cyprus National Guard. This force does not possess any capital ships, but is equipped with patrol boats,^[1] landing craft, surface-to-surface missile systems and integrated radar systems, as well as SEALs-type naval underwater demolitions units. The Cyprus Navy has the primary mission of defending the sea borders of the Republic of Cyprus, but is currently unable to access waters around the island which are controlled by the Turkish Navy since the 1974 conflict.

History

Combat actions of 1964

Main article: Battle of Tylliria

On 6 August 1964, Cyprus National Guard forces commenced combat action against the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kokkina, in the north-west of Cyprus. This operation was regarded by both Cyprus and Greece as a necessary interdiction against a threat by Turkish Cypriot militia, who were using Kokkina as a beachhead by which to land supplies and weapons shipped from Turkey. The Cyprus National Guard forces were under the command of General George Grivas, with the blessing of Athens. A combined land and sea attack was launched against Kokkina using two Cyprus Navy R-151 Group patrol boats, the Phaethon (commander - Second Leuthenant Dimitrios Mytsatsos) and the Arion, manned by Greek navy personnel.^[2] Firing 40mm and 20mm shells, the two patrol boats bombarded the enclave for a period of time, in conjunction with land-based 25-pounder artillery.^[3]

The battle was well underway on the 8th of August, when the Turkish Air Force commenced its own attack with fighter aircraft, making numerous strafing passes of Greek Cypriot positions. The vessel Phaethon was struck by rocket fire and burst into flames, forcing the crew to deliberately run it aground near Xeros Harbour. Seven of the crewmembers on Phaethon were killed and several wounded in the attack, and the ship was unsalvagable and later stricken.^[3][4]

The second R-151 Group patrol boat, Arion, was attacked by the same Turkish fighter jet formations, and was reportedly struck several times by strafing fire, but escaped to Paphos. During the attack on the Arion, a Turkish F-100 Super Sabre, piloted by Captain Cengiz Topel, was struck by 40mm anti-aircraft fire and shot down. The pilot ejected over land but was promptly captured and lynched by members of the Cyprus National Guard.

• 

  The patrol boat Phaethon in 1964

• 

  The patrol boat Phaethon comes under air-attack during the sea battle off Tylliria, 1964

Navy Organization in 1970

MTB's flotilla:

• First squadron; base - Boghazi; boats: T-4, T-5, T-6
• Second squadron; base - Kyrenia; boats: T-1, T-2, T-3
• Patrol Boats squadron; base - Boghazi; boats: Leventis, Dedalos
• Four radar stations (range of detection 45 nautical miles)
• Naval stations at Famagusta, Xylophagos, Limassol, Paphos
• Underwater Demolitions Unit (Boghazi naval base)

Cyprus Navy vessels in 1964-1974

Country of Origin	Vessel Type	Class	Name	Pennant	Fate
	Group Motor Minesweeper (R boat)	R-151	Arion (Leventis after 1965)	P1 (1964) 15 (1972)	Sunk 14 August 1974 by own crew at Naval Base "Chrysulis"
	Group Motor Minesweeper (R boat)	R-151	Phaethon [5]	P2 (1964)	Sunk 08 August 1964 near Xeros in a battle with Turkish airplanes.
	Group Motor Minesweeper (R boat)	R-218	Dedalos [6]	Unknown	Removed from Navy lists in 1970-71
	Motor Torpedo Boat	P-4 Skinhead (Type 123K)	T-1 (Adopted Oct 1964)	20 (1965)	Sunk 20 July 1974 North-East of Kyrenia in a battle with Turkish invasion forces.
	Motor Torpedo Boat	P-4 Skinhead (Type 123K)	T-2 (Adopted Oct 1964)	21 (1965)	Run aground 21 July 1974 North of Naval Base "Chrysulis". Later captured by Turkish forces.[7]
	Motor Torpedo Boat	P-4 Skinhead (Type 123K)	T-3 (Adopted Oct 1964)	22 (1965)	Sunk 20 July 1974 North-East of Kyrenia in a battle with Turkish invasion forces.
	Motor Torpedo Boat	P-4 Skinhead (Type 123K)	T-4 (Adopted Oct 1964)	23 (1965)	Sunk 14 August 1974 by own crew at Naval Base "Chrysulis"
	Motor Torpedo Boat	P-4 Skinhead (Type 123K)	T-5 (Adopted Feb 1965)	24 (1965)	In 1973-74 removed from active service and disarmed. Destroyed 14 August 1974 at Naval Base "Chrysulis" [7]
	Motor Torpedo Boat	P-4 Skinhead (Type 123K)	T-6 (Adopted Feb 1965)	25 (1965)	Sunk 14 August 1974 by own crew at Naval Base "Chrysulis"
	Fast Patrol Craft (PCF)	Esterel (Kelefstis Stamou)	Kelefstis Stamou (Embargoed, purchased by Hellenic Navy)	P28 (1975) P287 (since 1980)	Still active
	Fast Patrol Craft (PCF)	Esterel (Kelefstis Stamou)	Diopos Antoniou (Embargoed, purchased by Hellenic Navy)	P29 (1975) P286 (since 1980)	Still active
	Motor Torpedo Boat	Type 108	Unknown (Replaced T-5 by 1974 ) [7][8]	Unknown	Probably sunk 14 August 1974 by own crew at Naval Base "Chrysulis"
	Motor Torpedo Boat	Type 108	Unknown (Unconfirmed status) [8]	Unknown	Unknown
	Motor Torpedo Boat	Type 108	Unknown (Unconfirmed status) [8]	Unknown	Unknown

Main armament

• 40 mm Bofors Mark III L60 gun
• 20 mm Oerlikon Mark 10 L70 cannon
• 14,5 mm 2M-5 machine guns
• 450 mm type 45-52 torpedoes

• 

  Cyprus Navy P-4 "Skinhead" class Motor Torpedo Boat

• 

  Cyprus Navy Motor Torpedo Boats during the trials near Kyrenia. (On the background is visible Pentadaktilos mountain range).

• 

  Naval base "Chrysulis" (circa 1973-74)

Combat actions of 1974

Main article: Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On the 15th of July 1974, EOKA-B and elements of the Cyprus National Guard overthrew the legitimate President, Archbishop Makarios and replaced him with Nikos Sampson. Makarios escaped an initial attempt to capture him at the Archbishiporic in Nicosia, and fled to Paphos. A naval patrol vessel, Leventis (pennant number 15) was quickly dispatched to Paphos to begin shelling a radio station there which was being operated by pro-Makarios elements.^[9]

On the 20th of July 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus in a surprise-attack, without issuing a declaration of war. A naval force of Turkish vessels was detected by coastal radar at Apostolos Andreas approaching the coast, and a second force of naval vessels was sighted off the coast of Kyrenia during the early hours. The Cyprus National Guard Naval Command quickly ordered its two motor torpedo boats, T-1 (commander - Lieutenant Junior Grade Nicolaos Verikios) and T-3 (commander - Lieutenant Elefterios Tsomakis), (based at Kyrenia) to attack the Turkish flotilla directly. Both vessels were promptly sunk by combined air and sea attack.^[9] The rest of the Cyprus Navy vessels were sunk by their own crews at Naval base "Chrysulis" in Boghazi (14.08.1974). After the conflict, two boats were refloated by Turkish troops and transferred to Golcuk Naval Museum, Turkey (on display with pennant numbers 11 and 12).^[10]

Developments from 1975 to 2008

In 1983, the Navy acquired a single Type 32L Esterel fast patrol craft from France.^[11] The vessel has been upgraded, and has heavy armament, including two 2-round Mistral-SIMBAD air-defence missile launchers, 1 40mm .70cal OTO-Breda-Bofors AA cannon and 1 20mm .90cal Rhinemettall AA cannon.^[12] Later (circa 2006-2008) 40mm .70cal OTO-Breda-Bofors AA cannon was replaced by 20mm .70cal Oerlikon Mk10 AA cannon.

In 1994, Cyprus acquired 24 Aerospatiale MM40 Exocet Block-II anti-ship missiles (reportedly initially intended for Iran) from France, along with 3 coastal defence batteries.^[12]

In 2000, the Cyprus Navy received the ex-Hellenic Navy patrol boat "Knossos", which was renamed "Kyrenia", designated P02 and formed the Kyrenia class.^[13] This vessel was Greek made, of the Dilos-class, previously designated P269. This vessel is armed with one single 20mm .70cal Oerlikon Mk10 AA cannon and one 2-round Mistral-SIMBAD air-defence missile launcher.^[12]

In 2002, the Cyprus Navy acquired two Rodman 55 fast assault boats for the purpose of serving her Special Forces units. These fast craft are named Agathos" and Panagos'".^[12][14]

During 2004-2006, Cyprus took delivery of four P-190 type fast patrol craft from manufacturer Cantierre Navale Vittoria of Italy, of which two were intended for the Navy, and two intended for the Marine Police. These vessels were fitted with single 25mm .80cal KBA OTO-Melara automatic cannons and two single 12.7mm machine guns, equipped with radars and Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIRs). The Navy pair were issued the pennant numbers P03 and P04.

2011 Base Disaster and Naval Reconstruction

On 11 July 2011, the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion resulted in the destruction of much of the infrastructure of the nation's main naval port and loss of the Commander of Cyprus navy Captain Andreas Ioannides. Reconstruction began immediately on the strength of domestic contracts for buildings and structures. An Israeli consortium has since proposed, via Israel's Government, to completely refurbish and modernise the base for all types of military capability, in a deal that it is also reported to include favourable financing and licensing.

In addition, Israel has offered to supply the Cyprus Navy with two modern warships, capable of far greater operational range and much greater weapons capability than that already offered by existing Cypriot patrol boats. According to reports, the ships are offered for immediate production with a 3200 nautical miles range and 32 knot top speed, a helicopter flight deck capability and three automatic gun armaments with a high rate of fire, as well as missile armaments for surface-air and surface-surface roles ^[15].

Current organizational structure

• Sub-Commands
• 

  Warships Command

• 

  Coastal Batteries Command

• 

  Underwater Demolitions Unit Command

• 

  Coastal Surveillance Command

• 

  Navy Base Command

Current inventory of vessels

Country of Origin	Vessel Type	Class	Name	Pennant
	Fast Patrol Boat (FPB)	Type 32L Esterel	Salamis	P01
	Fast Patrol Boat (FPB)	Dilos	Kyrenia	P02
	Fast Patrol Boat (FPB)	Corrubia	Lieutenant Commander Elefteriou Tsomaki	P03
	Fast Patrol Boat (FPB)	Corrubia	Lieutenant Commander Nicola Georgiou	P04
	Motor Launch (ML)	Rodman 55	Agathos	N/A
	Motor Launch (ML)	Rodman 55	Panagos	N/A
?	Landing Craft (LCP)	Rotork	Unknown	N/A
?	Landing Craft (LCP)	Rotork	Unknown	N/A
?	Landing Craft (LCP)	Rotork	Unknown	N/A

Main naval base - Evangelos Florakis, Zygi

Naval stations - Limassol, Pafos

Navy Commanders

• 09.2000-10.07.2002 Captain Nicholas Georgiou (killed in air accident)
• 07.2002-20.08.2008 Captain Evangelos Valvis
• 20.08.2008-11.07.2011 Captain Andreas Ioannides (killed in Naval base disaster)
• 11.07.2011- till present Captain George Pitsiakos

See also

• Cyprus Port & Marine Police
• Evangelos Florakis Naval Base
• Military Equipment of Cyprus
• Military operations during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
• Timeline of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

References

1. ^ • 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.)
2. ^ / Unknown bombardment of Patrol boat "Phaethon" in Cyprus 1964, in Greek
3. ^ ^{a b} Cyprus, 1955-1973 By Tom Cooper, www.acig.org
4. ^ Cyprus 100 Years Alex Efthyvoulou, Laiki Cultural Bank Archive
5. ^ Erich Gröner "Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945", Band 2, Munchen, 1983; p.197
6. ^ Erich Gröner "Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945", Band 2, Munchen, 1983; p.199
7. ^ ^{a b c} Georgiou P.Sergi - "Battle for Cyprus. July–August 1974", Athens 1999 (in Greek)
8. ^ ^{a b c} Conway’s all the World's Fighting Ships 1946-1995, US Naval Institute Press 1996
9. ^ ^{a b} Cyprus 1974 - The Greek coup and the Turkish invasion, Makarios Drousiotis, Hellenic Distribution Agency
10. ^ www.turkishnavy.info/thumbnails.php?album=12
11. ^ Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005; ISBN 0710626231; p.167
12. ^ ^{a b c d} The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems By Eric Wertheim Published by Naval Institute Press, 2007 ISBN 159114955X, 9781591149552
13. ^ / Greek Embassy Website
14. ^ Original research from photos posted on www.militaryphotos.net, accessed 07/12/08
15. ^ http://maxhnews.com/content/6349

External links

• Cyprus Naval Forces in 1964-1974 (Russian)