Military of Northern Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot Security Forces
Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı
TCSF emblem
Founded	1976
Leadership
Commander	Major General Özer Türkmen
Manpower
Military age	18
Conscription	8 to 15 months
Active personnel	15,000
Reserve personnel	7,000
Industry
Foreign suppliers	Turkey

The Turkish Cypriot Security Force (Turkish language: Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı) is the military and security force of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, whose independence is recognized only by Turkey and which the United Nations considers to be a Turkish-Occupied territory. It is a 9,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 20 and 40. It is a combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements.

This force is supplemented by the 30,000 strong Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus stationed on the island.

History

Even before independence, the Turkish Cypriot community maintained its own paramilitary force (the Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı or TMT), trained and equipped by the Turkish Army. In 1967 this force was renamed the Mücahit (fighter), and in 1975 the Mücahit was renamed the Turkish Cypriot Security Force. In 1974, Turkey led a land invasion of Northern Cyprus with the aim of protecting the Turkish minority population after a Greek-inspired coup brought a threat of union of the island with Greece. Since then there have been no major fight for Cyprus and the nation continues to be an independent country, though strongly linked with Turkey militarly and politically.

Organization

The Turkish Cypriot Security Force was commanded by a General officer of the Turkish Army, who had both operational and administrative responsibilities, as well as control over the police force. The commander was responsible to the prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ("TRNC") through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense. A unified military-civilian defense staff of the ministry was responsible for defense policy and strategy.

Although legally separate from the Turkish Army on the island, the Turkish Cypriot Security Force was believed to remain under the de facto operational control of the Turkish forces. It also depended on Turkey for training and equipment. Most of its officers were regular Turkish Army officers on secondment. Observers believed that many of its expenses were absorbed by the Turkish Army.

Turkish Cypriot males were liable to conscription at age eighteen for a twenty-four-month period of service. However, this is easily overcome by wealthy individuals following a moderate monetary fee. Discharged soldiers served in the reserves until the age of fifty. The number of first-line and second-line reserves was estimated at 10,000 and 16,000, respectively, as of 2009.

Strength

As of 2009, the strength of this force was believed to be about 9,000. It was organized into fifteen battalions in two brigades, infantry battalions armed with light weapons plus some artillery units equipped with mortars.

Map of Cyprus showing current political divisions

Equipment

Infantry Weapons

• HK G3-A7 Main Service Assault Rifle
• M-30 Mortar

• MG3 Light Machine Gun

• MP5 Submachine Gun

• Zigana Pistol

• M72 LAW Anti-Tank Rocket

• Kalekalıp Avunya Sniper Rifle

Armoured Personnel Carriers

• Otokar Akrep 50

• Otokar Engerek 70

• M-113 266

Aircraft

• Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar (2)

See also

• Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Cyprus
• Cypriot National Guard
• Hellenic Force in Cyprus

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

• Christopher Hitchens - Cyprus, Hostage to History: From the Ottomans to Kissinger

External links

• Turkish Cypriot Security Forces (Turkish)
• Military of Northern Cyprus on Reddet
• Library of Congress - Country Study
• Cypnet