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Gunner98 -> RE: Gathering historical information about units. (9/21/2017 2:11:02 AM)
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I have been to the Pentemili beach and museum west of Kyrenia and remember pictures of several landing craft and the one landing ship but not the details. The cliffs are quite steep and about 4 Meters high, so difficult to exit the beach area.
I've got Jane's 69/70 and 72/73 which show no amphibious forces in the Turkish Navy at all. Jane's 81/82 has some:
Interesting that this article mentions the Ertugrul (L401) a Terrebonne Parish Class LST which was transferred from the US in June of 73.
http://www.network54.com/Search/view/248068/1214163007/Attila-1%2BAttila-2+July-August+1974+Chronolgy%2BAttrition+men+%26+equip+both+sides?term=Super+Streak+&page=219
In Jane's Another T Parish transferred in Aug 74
2 other LSTs transferred from W Germany (Ex US) in 74/75
Turkish build LSTs starting in 1980
5 British and 11 Turkish build French LCTs by 74 a bunch more starting in 1980
16 LCU
20 LCM
According to this source http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/10082563
the following was landed on day 1
12x 105mm Howitzers
20x M113 APCs
~3000 troops
15 M47 MBTs on the Ertugrul were not landed due to beach conditions, presumably they were landed in Kyrinia later.
And a Company of Infantry were put in by helicopter to secure the beach and the road which runs along it.
So I think it is safe to assume that most of these landing craft were used.
Here is another bit, some of the info is conflicting but the 4th photo down is the one I remember:
https://cj3b.info/World/TurkeyCyprus.html
Also there is a photo that has an M-47 wading ashore.
For Airforce – here is one site with some good detail: http://www.ole-nikolajsen.com/TURKISH%20FORCES%202004/Cyprus.htm
For surface ships it is more difficult. It’s worth noting that the only casualties they took was from a single Turkish Air Force attack. Two Cypriote MTBs were sunk, one grounded and 4 scuttled.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reported_military_losses_during_the_Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus
Of their 12 DDs, we know that at least 3 were involved in the friendly fire attack.
In 73 there were:
2x Gearing (Adatepe, Kocatepe)
1x Smith
5x Fletcher
4x Gleaves (all struck in 73/74)
2x FFs under construction
In 80 there were:
8x Gearing (Tinaztepe 73, Gayret 73, Kocatepe Jul 74, 1 in 79, 2 in 80)
1x Sumner (acquired in 72/73)
1x Smith
4x Fletcher
2x FF
We know that Adatepe (damaged), Kocatepe (Sunk) & Tinaztepe (damaged) were involved – likely the 4th Gearing (Gayret) was also in the formation.
I think it is also reasonable to assume that at least ½ the fleet would have been engaged in NATO duties which the US would not have allowed them to shirk. From what I understand the US also had quite a hand in keeping the Greek Navy out of the fight. So I wouldn’t think there would be too much more than the 4 Gearings and perhaps one or two other.
B
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