Cyprus Navy and Marine Police
Encyclopedia
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 ship
s, but is equipped with patrol boat
s, 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
.
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 boat
s, the Phaethon (commander - Second Leuthenant Dimitrios Mytsatsos) and the Arion, manned by Greek navy personnel. 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
.
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.
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.
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
. 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.
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. 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).
acquired a single Type 32L Esterel fast patrol craft from France. 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. 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.
In 2000, the Cyprus Navy received the ex-Hellenic Navy
patrol boat "Knossos", which was renamed "Kyrenia", designated P02 and formed the Kyrenia class. 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.
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'".
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.
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 .
Main naval base - Evangelos Florakis, Zygi
Naval stations - Limassol, Pafos
Capital ship
The capital ships of a navy are its most important warships; they generally possess the heaviest firepower and armor and are traditionally much larger than other naval vessels...
s, but is equipped with patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s, landing craft, surface-to-surface missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
systems and integrated radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
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
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
.
Combat actions of 1964
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 CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
as a necessary interdiction
Interdiction
Interdiction is a military term that refers to the act of delaying, disrupting, or destroying enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. A distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction...
against a threat by Turkish Cypriot militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, who were using Kokkina as a beachhead
Beachhead
Beachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. It is sometimes used interchangeably with Bridgehead and Lodgement...
by which to land supplies and weapons shipped from Turkey. The Cyprus National Guard forces were under the command of General George Grivas
George Grivas
Georgios Grivas , also known by his nom de guerre Digenis , which he adopted while in EOKA, was a Cyprus-born general in the Greek Army, leader of the EOKA guerrilla organization and EOKA B paramilitary organisation.-Early life:Georgios Grivas was born on July 5, 1898 in Trikomo, Famagusta...
, with the blessing of Athens. A combined land and sea attack was launched against Kokkina using two Cyprus Navy R-151 Group patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s, the Phaethon (commander - Second Leuthenant Dimitrios Mytsatsos) and the Arion, manned by Greek navy personnel. 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
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
.
The battle was well underway on the 8th of August, when the Turkish Air Force
Turkish Air Force
The Turkish Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. It ranks 3rd in NATO in terms of fleet size behind the USAF and Royal Air Force with a current inventory of 798 aircraft .-Initial stages:...
commenced its own attack with fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
, 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.
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
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
, piloted by Captain Cengiz Topel
Cengiz Topel
Cengiz Topel was a fighter pilot of the Turkish Air Force, who was shot down during the Battle of Tylliria.-Career:...
, 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Germany |
Group Motor Minesweeper (R boat R boat The R boats were a group of small minesweepers but used for several purposes during the Second World War.A total of 424 boats were built for the Kriegsmarine before and during World War II. The German Navy used them in every theatre including the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea... ) |
R-151 | Arion (Leventis after 1965) | P1 (1964) 15 (1972) |
Sunk 14 August 1974 by own crew at Naval Base "Chrysulis" |
| Germany |
Group Motor Minesweeper (R boat R boat The R boats were a group of small minesweepers but used for several purposes during the Second World War.A total of 424 boats were built for the Kriegsmarine before and during World War II. The German Navy used them in every theatre including the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea... ) |
R-151 | Phaethon | P2 (1964) | Sunk 08 August 1964 near Xeros in a battle with Turkish airplanes. |
| Germany |
Group Motor Minesweeper (R boat R boat The R boats were a group of small minesweepers but used for several purposes during the Second World War.A total of 424 boats were built for the Kriegsmarine before and during World War II. The German Navy used them in every theatre including the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea... ) |
R-218 | Dedalos | Unknown | Removed from Navy lists in 1970-71 |
 Soviet Union |
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. |
| Soviet Union |
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. |
| Soviet Union |
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. |
| Soviet Union |
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" |
| Soviet Union |
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" |
| Soviet Union |
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" |
 Early Modern France |
Fast Patrol Craft (PCF) | Esterel (Kelefstis Stamou) |
Kelefstis Stamou (Embargoed, purchased by Hellenic Navy) |
P28 (1975) P287 (since 1980) |
Still active |
| Early Modern France |
Fast Patrol Craft (PCF) | Esterel (Kelefstis Stamou) |
Diopos Antoniou (Embargoed, purchased by Hellenic Navy) |
P29 (1975) P286 (since 1980) |
Still active |
 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
Motor Torpedo Boat | Type 108 | Unknown (Replaced T-5 by 1974 ) | Unknown | Probably sunk 14 August 1974 by own crew at Naval Base "Chrysulis" |
| Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
Motor Torpedo Boat | Type 108 | Unknown (Unconfirmed status) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
Motor Torpedo Boat | Type 108 | Unknown (Unconfirmed status) | Unknown | Unknown |
Main armament 40 mm Bofors Mark III L60 gun 20 mm Oerlikon Mark 10 L70 cannon
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
14,5 mm 2M-5 machine guns 450 mm type 45-52 torpedoes
Combat actions of 1974
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 SampsonNikos Sampson
Nikos Sampson was the de facto president of Cyprus who succeeded Archbishop Makarios, President of Cyprus, in 1974. Sampson was a journalist and a member of EOKA, which rose against the British colonial administration, seeking Enosis of the island of Cyprus with Greece...
. Makarios escaped an initial attempt to capture him at the Archbishiporic in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, and fled to Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
. 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.
On the 20th of July 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus in a surprise-attack, without issuing a declaration of war
Declaration of war
A declaration of war is a formal act by which one nation goes to war against another. The declaration is a performative speech act by an authorized party of a national government in order to create a state of war between two or more states.The legality of who is competent to declare war varies...
. 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
Kyrenia
Kyrenia is a town on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. Internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyrenia has been under Turkish control since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974...
) to attack the Turkish flotilla directly. Both vessels were promptly sunk by combined air and sea attack. 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).
Developments from 1975 to 2008
In 1983, the NavyNavy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
acquired a single Type 32L Esterel fast patrol craft from France. 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. Later (circa 2006-2008) 40mm .70cal OTO-Breda-Bofors AA cannon was replaced by 20mm .70cal Oerlikon Mk10 AA cannon.
In 1994, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
acquired 24 Aerospatiale MM40 Exocet Block-II anti-ship missiles (reportedly initially intended for Iran) from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, along with 3 coastal defence batteries.
In 2000, the Cyprus Navy received the ex-Hellenic Navy
Hellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
patrol boat "Knossos", which was renamed "Kyrenia", designated P02 and formed the Kyrenia class. 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.
In 2002, the Cyprus Navy acquired two Rodman 55 fast assault boats for the purpose of serving her Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
units. These fast craft are named Agathos" and Panagos'".
During 2004-2006, Cyprus took delivery of four P-190 type fast patrol
Patrol
A patrol is commonly a group of personnel, such as police officers or soldiers, that are assigned to monitor a specific geographic area.- Military :...
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 explosionEvangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion
The Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion was the worst peacetime military accident ever recorded in Cyprus. The incident occurred on 11 July 2011, when 98 containers of explosives that were being stored for 2½ years in the sun on the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base near Zygi self-detonated.The...
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
Andreas Ioannides (naval officer)
Captain Andreas Ioannides was a Greek Cypriot naval officer and head of the Cyprus Navy until his death in the Evangelos Florakis Navy Base explosion, which took place at the Evangelos Florakis Navy Base on July 11, 2011....
. 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 .
Current inventory of vessels
| Country of Origin | Vessel Type | Class | Name | Pennant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Modern France |
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) | Type 32L Esterel | Salamis | P01 |
 Greece |
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) | Dilos | Kyrenia | P02 |
 Italy |
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) | Corrubia | Lieutenant Commander Elefteriou Tsomaki | P03 |
| Italy |
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) | Corrubia | Lieutenant Commander Nicola Georgiou | P04 |
 Spain |
Motor Launch (ML) | Rodman 55 | Agathos | N/A |
| Spain |
Motor Launch (ML) | Rodman 55 | Panagos | N/A |
 Cyprus ? |
Landing Craft (LCP) | Rotork | Unknown | N/A |
| Cyprus ? |
Landing Craft (LCP) | Rotork | Unknown | N/A |
| Cyprus ? |
Landing Craft (LCP) | Rotork | Unknown | N/A |
Main naval base - Evangelos Florakis, Zygi
Evangelos Florakis Naval Base
The Evangelos Florakis Naval Base is a Cyprus Navy base, situated on the island's southern coast adjacent to the Vasilikos industrial area and power plant, near Zygi, between Limassol and Larnaca. Prior to 11 July 2011, it was the main location of the Command of the Navy Base, one of the five...
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 IoannidesAndreas Ioannides (naval officer)Captain Andreas Ioannides was a Greek Cypriot naval officer and head of the Cyprus Navy until his death in the Evangelos Florakis Navy Base explosion, which took place at the Evangelos Florakis Navy Base on July 11, 2011....
(killed in Naval base disasterEvangelos Florakis Naval Base explosionThe Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion was the worst peacetime military accident ever recorded in Cyprus. The incident occurred on 11 July 2011, when 98 containers of explosives that were being stored for 2½ years in the sun on the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base near Zygi self-detonated.The...
) - 11.07.2011- till present Captain George Pitsiakos
See also
- Cyprus Port & Marine Police
- Evangelos Florakis Naval BaseEvangelos Florakis Naval BaseThe Evangelos Florakis Naval Base is a Cyprus Navy base, situated on the island's southern coast adjacent to the Vasilikos industrial area and power plant, near Zygi, between Limassol and Larnaca. Prior to 11 July 2011, it was the main location of the Command of the Navy Base, one of the five...
- Military Equipment of CyprusMilitary Equipment of CyprusCurrently, the Cyprus National Guard is a combined arms force and represents the organised air, land and sea capabilities of the Republic of Cyprus. Equipment has in the past, and usually still is, imported from other countries, since the country has only very limited heavy industrial and...
- Military operations during the Turkish invasion of CyprusMilitary operations during the Turkish invasion of CyprusIn 1974, Turkey invaded the northern portion of the Republic of Cyprus in response to a military coup taking place on the island, in attempt to annex the island to Greece. Turkey claimed that their intervention is in accordance to Treaty of Guarantee. The invasion consisted of two major Turkish...
- Timeline of the Turkish invasion of CyprusTimeline of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus* 15 July 1974 – The Cypriot National Guard and EOKA B led by the Greek Junta launch a coup to overthrow the democratically-elected President, Archbishop Makarios III....
External links
- Cyprus Naval Forces in 1964-1974 (Russian)