Turkish invasion of Cyprus 1974

[Sunray]

With a little counter factual beefing up of Cypriot National Guard, this could be a decent game.

Does any publishers cover the "war" in terms of uniforms and kit?
Youtube video covers the Turks in olive green and M1 helmets (plus some Brit WW1 helms). CNG appear to have been in British helmet and khaki drill.
Does Osprey T34 TANK cover the ones used by CNG?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Can't remember if it does. They had M36 as well. Don't think there are many sources on this one.

[fsn]

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/ripped-apart-volume-1-cyprus-crisis-1963-1974.php?sid=4fa344835657c1d1374b246d66ca1b1a

Coming in Spring 23

[sultanbev]

New Vanguard 20 on T-34/85 has a brief mention, no plates. Old Vanguard #14 the T-34 has a colour plate, dark green overall with earth brown patches, and a .50" Browning AAHMG.

Full OOB/TOE are in the MicroMark collection
GK16M: Greek Cypriot National Guard, 1966-1974, Cyprus
GK17M: Greek Cypriot National Guard Corps Support, 1966-1974, Cyprus
T24M: Turkish Order of Battle, July-August 1974, Invasion of Cyprus
T25M: Turkish Airborne Brigade, 1970-1980, all theatres
T26M: Turkish Commando Brigade, 1970-1980, all theatres
T27M: Turkish Special Strike Force Landing Brigade, July 1974, Cyprus
T28M: Turkish 39th Infantry Division, July-August 1974, Cyprus
T29M: Turkish 28th Infantry Division, July-August 1974, Cyprus
T30M: Turkish 5th Armoured Brigade, July-August 1974, Cyprus
T31M: Turkish Cypriot forces, 1966-1974, Cyprus

I do have a few photos of Cypriot Greek kit:
Matador truck with quad .50" AA which were battalion AA vehicles:
free image hosting
Infantry in DPM

M-H Mk.IV armoured car

[Big Insect]

There are both Greek & Turkish NATO CWCII army lists - fast approaching the front of the publication roster, that both includes their respective Cypriot militias and also the Cypriot National Guard units.

We are probably c.6 weeks away from having these ready (what with Christmas in the midst of that).

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

There's a map sequestered in the Military Intelligence Museum archive, that was drawn by a British Intelligence Officer who mapped every beach and village on the island, noting loyalties too. His driver was tasked with wading out into the water and swimming on each trip, to see what the beach shelved like.
He unfortunately went missing shortly after, presumed offed by Greek Cypriot resistance.
His driver is one of the volunteers at the Museum, he refused to comment on the possible rumour he was a Turkish agent, but he did confirm it was on his day off, and if he had been on duty 'he would still be with us, and there would have been a lot less of them, and a lot less ammunition on Cyprus.'

[Sunray]

First many thanks to my forum friends who took the trouble to both post info, reference works and these images above. Love the fifty AA quad in the old Matador.

Do I note a Browning on the T34? Not the usual mount.

Lots of leads to check out. But do feel some counter-factual beefing up of CNG will be required to at least give a game. Apart from Turkish M113s running into Cypriot T34s it was pretty onesided.

Thanks everyone !

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Well you could always advance to the early 2000's and give en T80U... that would worry the Turkish M48's 

[Big Insect]

M-H Mk.IV armoured car

Is that a White Armoured Car in the background or a BTR 40 maybe?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Vehicle in the distance looks to be a BTR-152, both the armoured cars are M-H IV

[Sunray]

Correct!  CNG had 45 BR152s in inventory plus 4 Daimler Dingos and 3 Landrover Shorlands

[Big Insect]

a BTR152 it is then 

[Sunray]

Well you could always advance to the early 2000's and give en T80U... that would worry the Turkish M48's 

Nah! Way TOO modern for me. A few cheap and cheerful T55s perhaps? Plus RPG7s and Sagger?

[sultanbev]

But do feel some counter-factual beefing up of CNG will be required to at least give a game. Apart from Turkish M113s running into Cypriot T34s it was pretty onesided.

You could always add a Greek army intervention force, or even a UN-sponsered multi-national force tasked with kicking out the Turks completely. Looking at the 1973-74 Military Balance & Pivka's Armies of Europe today, the Greeks had:
1 armoured division: 6x 54x M48A2 tanks & 18 recce tanks in theory
3 infantry divisions+ 8 cadre ones@ 54 tanks & 5 recce tanks in theory
1 independent Tank Battn: AMX-30
1 independent Armoured Brigade: M48A2
10 cadre infantry brigades
1 commando Regiment
1 Para Regiment
Tanks are 320x M48A2 and 300x M47 and 30x AMX-30, with some M26 Pershings; M24 Chaffee, M41 Walker Bulldog, M8 & M20 Greyhounds for recce; APCS include M2 H/T, M3 H/T, M59 APC, M113 APC
Artillery includes M107, 25pdrs, 105mm M101, 155mm M114, 203mm M115, 40mm Bofors AA, 75mm AA, 90mmm AA, 12x HAWK SAM (and no doubt lots of other stuff that we'd have to look on SIPRI for)
Naval landing capacity = 8x LST, 5x Medium landing ships, 1x dock landing ship, 8x LCM (this is probably incorrect, a look at Janes or Conways would get better detail)

Mark

[Sunray]

Hi Mark

First, thank you very much for all this data and potential OOB.

My own modest research uncovered that fact that the Greeks had 10,000 men (a full Division) on the island prior to 1967, so moving a Turkish invasion back in time is a serious option.

However, prompted by my son, I dug a little deeper into 1974 and focused on relatively small actions that would transfer to a table top.

Two scenarios have emerged:

1. The assault on Pentemille beach

The Turks approached in their WW2 LSTs. But had failed to reconnoiter the beach. The landing ships could not get close enought to disembark their load of 12 M47s, at the same time as the 20 M113s. Thelatter being fully amphibious plowed ahead without tank support. The ran into 5 T-34/85s. It was sometime before the M47s were landed. I can see a few anxious dice throws to decide when the M47s can come ashore.

2. The Turkish Airborne assault on Mia Millia

The objective appears to the airport. One company of elite Turkish paras.
However their chosen DZ was compromised by a Cypriot National Guard column. The result makes Arnhem look like a garden party (as opposed to Market Garden?). Of the 120 men who jumped, 93 became casualties. I am still researching the composition of the CNG force. Did it include armoured cars? Or is it a simple case of MMGs and mortars being rushed into action and dominating the killing ground? (A bit like WW1 on the Somme as the British assault troops fail to get to their objective as the Germans emerge from dugouts and manup the MMGs?). Again dice can roll to alleviate with an airstrike by the Turks to allow the paras to regroup, recover weapons and engage in the firefight. A hot DZ is never easy.   

Action One could play very well in 6mm. The Cypriots also launched an MTB attack on the Turkish Task Force.(Remember Lyme Bay 1944?). Plenty of Cruel Sea and H&R models to play out this scenario.

Action Two with the small force of paras is ideal for 10mm.British WW2 infantry for CNG and US paras for the Turks.With the DZ compromised, and the objective out, the mission for the Turks - subject to air support-is a fighting withdrawl or a defensive position that they can "hold until relieved" and a troop of M47s come over the hill.

Comments very welcome.