The new Greek government, which came to power in 1974 after the fall of the fascist junta regime, continues to strengthen its armed forces in accordance with the plans of the aggressive bloc. Tensions between Greece and Turkey have a significant influence on the development of the Greek armed forces.
An important place in the armed forces of Greece is occupied by ground forces. According to the foreign press, by the beginning of 1977 they numbered about 160 thousand people, 12 divisions, including 11 infantry and one armored. In addition, at the beginning of 1977, the ground forces had separate armored brigades (two), a parachute-sabotage brigade, a brigade marines, several training regiments, two NUR battalions, a ZUR battalion, 12 field artillery battalions and many other units and subunits.
own large military industry does not, therefore, to equip its armed forces, including the ground forces, weapons are used and Combat vehicles received from and other NATO member countries: Great Britain, Italy, and France.
Weapon
Small arms in the Greek ground forces are represented by the following main samples.The officers and partially non-commissioned officers, as well as the crew numbers of anti-tank grenade launchers, mortars, guns, tanks and self-propelled guns, are armed with 11.43-mm Colt M1911A1 pistols of American production. Non-commissioned officers and ordinary intelligence units, airborne sabotage troops and military police are equipped with British 9-mm Sten Mk5 submachine guns. The commanders of infantry company squads and reconnaissance units have American-made 11.43-mm Thompson submachine guns M1928A1. In 1965, they began to enter the troops. 7.62-mm rifles "Springfield" M1903A1, A2, A3 and A4 (made in the USA) serve as the main armament of motorized infantry (infantry) units. However, in large numbers in the troops there are American 7.62-mm rifles "Garand" Ml.
The Greek ground forces also have Belgian 7.62-mm automatic rifles T.48 (F.N.30), 5.56-mm CAL, as well as English 7.62-mm rifles L1A1.
Infantry (motorized infantry), tank, reconnaissance and sabotage and other units and subunits of the ground forces have group small arms: 7.62-mm M1918A2 and Browning M1919A6 machine guns (both American-made), as well as 7.62-mm manual Bren machine gun L4A2 (English), 7.62 mm Browning machine gun М1917А1 (American), 7.62 mm Mk1 machine gun (English) and 12.7 mm Browning heavy machine gun M2HB (American) .
The performance characteristics of some types of small arms are given in Table. one.
Table 1. Tactical and technical characteristics of small arms
anti-tank weapons
To fight tanks, as well as to destroy firing points, small concentrations of enemy manpower in open areas and in trenches, motorized infantry (infantry) and artillery units are armed with M20 and M67 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, as well as M18, M20 and M40 recoilless rifles (all American production).106-mm M40 recoilless rifles serve as the main anti-tank weapon of infantry divisions (each division has up to 45 guns) and motorized infantry units of an armored division (up to 30). This gun can be mounted on a tripod carriage in the back of a 0.25-ton vehicle.
The production of ammunition for all types of small arms and the above anti-tank weapons is organized in Greece at military factories in the cities of Athens (factories of Bodosakis), Thessaloniki and others.
There are no anti-tank guided missiles of their own design in the armed forces of Greece, but they are acquired in France, Germany and the United States. In the early 60s, French-made SS-10 and SS-11 ATGM launchers mounted on 0.25-ton vehicles entered the Greek ground forces. In the 1970s, Greece acquired a certain number of Cobra 810V ATGM launchers (in Germany), (USA), in 1975 ATGMs of Franco-West German production were purchased. These funds are in service with anti-tank units of infantry divisions.
Artillery armament
The artillery armament of the Greek ground forces is represented by various systems, mainly American and partly British production.At present, all infantry divisions, army corps, and the field army have mechanically driven floor artillery (except for self-propelled 175 mm cannons in heavy field artillery divisions of army subordination). In the armored division and in the armored brigades, everything is self-propelled.
The field artillery of the Greek ground forces is armed with 105-, 155-, 175- and 203.2-mm American-made artillery systems.
The 105-mm howitzer M2A1 (M101Al) is in service with infantry divisions (there are three divisions in the division, each with 18 mechanically driven guns). The armored division and armored brigades are armed with 105-mm American M52 self-propelled howitzers. According to the foreign press, there are about 500 105-mm howitzers in the Greek ground forces.
155-mm howitzers M1A2 (M114A1) are available in medium field artillery battalions and mixed floor artillery battalions of infantry divisions, and in armored divisions and armored brigades - 155-mm self-propelled howitzers M44. The foreign press reported that by the beginning of 1977, the Greek ground forces had 240 155-mm howitzers.
The 175-mm M107 self-propelled gun is in service with three separate divisions (a total of 36 guns).
203.2-mm M2 howitzers are armed with mixed field artillery divisions of infantry divisions (each with one four-gun battery) and heavy field artillery divisions of army corps and field army (12 guns each). The mixed field artillery division of the armored division has 203.2 mm M55 self-propelled howitzers.
According to foreign press, in the field artillery divisions of the infantry divisions deployed in the mountainous regions of the country, as well as in reconnaissance and airborne sabotage units and subunits, there are 75-mm American mountain howitzers M1A1.
The country's ground forces have mortars M2, Ml and M30 (American), as well as Mk2 (English). All these samples are in service with battalions and regiments of infantry divisions, reconnaissance and parachute-sabotage units, as well as marine corps units. The 81-mm Ml mortar is mounted on a 0.25-ton vehicle or on an M113 armored personnel carrier and is a means of fire support for motorized infantry and armored forces.
Anti-aircraft weapons of the Greek ground forces are automatic anti-aircraft guns: Hispano-Suiza (caliber 20 mm, Swiss), M1A1 (37 mm, American) and Mk2 (40 mm, English). To cover large concentrations of troops and important military facilities from the air, the Hawk missiles are intended (Fig. 1). Along with this, the Greek government is acquiring new air defense systems - the improved Hawk and Hamlet.
Rice. 1. SAM "Hawk"
The military leadership of the country continues to purchase new artillery systems from the United States, mainly self-propelled guns, field artillery guns on mechanical traction, radar equipment, artillery instrumental reconnaissance, communications and fire control. Repair of artillery weapons is organized at military enterprises and military repair bases in the cities of Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Larisa and others. At the Bodosakis factories, they are produced for 75, 105 and 155 mm caliber guns.
The performance characteristics of some samples of artillery, mortar and anti-aircraft weapons of the Greek troops are given in Table. 2.
Table 2. Tactical and technical characteristics of artillery weapons
Tanks and armored personnel carriers
According to foreign sources, by the beginning of 1977, the Greek ground forces had 350 M47 47 medium tanks, 650 M48 Patton 48 medium tanks (Fig. 2), 160 M24 Chaffee and M41 light tanks. Medium tanks of the first type are in service with the tank battalions of infantry divisions (55 tanks per battalion), the second type - with tank battalions of an armored division and armored brigades, and light tanks - with reconnaissance units.
Rice. 2. Medium tanks M48 "Patton" 48
According to Greek military experts, all models of tanks are significantly outdated and, according to their tactical and technical data, do not meet the requirements of modern combat. In this regard, attempts are currently being made in Greece to modernize these tanks at their own military enterprises and in repair bases. For example, on M48 tanks, it is planned to replace 90 mm guns with 105 mm guns, and the gasoline engine with a diesel one. Along with this, the Greek government purchased from France, on account of a loan provided in 1975, more than 200 AMX-30 medium tanks (75 of them have already been received, 115 are planned to be received in the near future).
The motorized infantry battalions of armored formations, as well as the infantry units of infantry divisions, are armed with American M113 and M59 armored personnel carriers, and in intelligence units- M8 armored vehicles. By the beginning of 1977, the troops numbered: armored personnel carriers M59-100, M113 - 580 and armored vehicles M8 - 180.
The main tactical and technical data of some types of armored vehicles of the Greek ground forces are given in Table. 3.
Table 3. The main performance characteristics of armored vehicles
Army Aviation
Army aviation is represented in the formations of the Greek ground forces by units and subunits of army aircraft and helicopters. They are supposed to be used for dropping small airborne assault forces, for reconnaissance, communications, surveillance, evacuation of the sick and wounded, as well as for logistics purposes. To do this, in each infantry and armored division, in armored brigades and army corps there are companies army aviation. According to the foreign press, by the beginning of 1977, the Greek ground forces had 25 U.17C and 15 L-21 aircraft, five 47G helicopters (Bell), 10 UH-1D (American-made) and 40 AB-204 and AB 205 (Italian).The command of the armed forces of Greece pays considerable attention to equipping its ground forces with modern weapons. However, not having its own large military industry, Greece buys them from the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, spending large financial resources and using foreign loans. This leads to an increase in the country's economic and military dependence on the aforementioned imperialist powers.
Ground troops Greece (Hellenic Army) - the largest of the military branches of the armed forces of Greece. The number of ground forces is about 79 thousand people, of which about 31 thousand are serving in the military.
The Hellenic Republic is a state in the southern part of Europe, 20% of whose territory is islands, washed by the waters of the Mediterranean, Ionian and Aegean seas. Some islands are disputed territories with neighboring Turkey, which gives rise to long-term hostile relations between Greece and Turkey and periodically leads to conflicts between these states. The last major military conflict between Greece and Turkey occurred in 1974 over the island of Cyprus (July 14 - August 17, 1974), in which the Greek Armed Forces (AF) were defeated.
Greece has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since February 18, 1952. In 1974-1980, this membership in military organization NATO was suspended due to tense relations with Turkey (also a member of the NATO bloc).
GROUND FORCES AND THE NATIONAL GUARD
The Ground Forces (SV) is the largest branch of the armed forces of the Hellenic Republic (about 79 thousand people). The general command of the ground forces is carried out by the commander of the troops through the main headquarters, which is the main body responsible for the operational and combat training of headquarters and troops, the condition and combat use of troops, the organization of command and control and communications, material and technical support army. In addition, the Greek National Guard, which is not part of the ground forces, is subordinate to the main headquarters of the SV. The National Guard is the reserve of the ground forces.
It is designed to address issues of ensuring the country's internal security, maintaining combat readiness and training reserve components. Its total number is about 100 thousand people.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Greek Land Forces consist of four army corps (AK) and two commands.
The 1st and 4th AKs are part of the 1st field army of the SV, which is responsible for the defense of the northern and eastern borders of the country. The 1st Corps has one infantry division, one infantry brigade and one armored brigade. The 4th Corps includes two motorized infantry divisions (two motorized infantry brigades each) and an armored division (three armored brigades). The 2nd AK acts as a reserve. It contains: infantry division(team airborne troops, Marine Brigade and Airmobile Brigade), motorized infantry division(two motorized infantry brigades) and an army aviation brigade. The 3rd AK is a rapid reaction force (RRF) for operations in operations as part of NATO forces. The corpus contains infantry brigade and a number of departments for various purposes.
Command interior areas and Islands is responsible for the defense of the islands in the Aegean. The command has a division stationed on the island of Crete and garrisons on various islands ranging from a company to several battalions. Support Command is responsible for logistics.
WEAPONS
The ground forces are armed with a significant amount of armored vehicles. The tank fleet includes: 353 modern German Leopard-2 tanks (183 A4 and 170 A6HEL modification units), 526 obsolete Leopard-1 models and 503 very old American M48A5 tanks, 240 M60A3 tanks. The fleet of armored vehicles consists of: 243 French VBL armored personnel carriers, 401 Soviet infantry fighting vehicles BMP-1 (inherited from the GDR), 1789 American MPZ tracked armored personnel carriers (APCs) (developed in the 1950s) and 501 light armored personnel carriers "Leonidas" of their own construction. The artillery of the Greek ground forces includes: 418 American self-propelled artillery mounts (SAU) M109 (self-propelled howitzer of 155 mm caliber), 25 of the latest German self-propelled guns PzH-2000 (155 mm), 12 old American self-propelled guns M107 (175 mm) and 145 M110 (203 mm). There are also over 700 towed guns (almost all are in safekeeping). More than 5,000 mortars and 152 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) are in service: 116 RM-70 (40 x 122 mm) Czechoslovak production and 36 MLRS (12 x 227 mm) US production.
SV are equipped with anti-tank missile systems (ATGM), which are represented by: 196 Russian ATGM "Kornet" (mounted on jeeps), 262 Russian ATGM with a semi-automatic guidance system "Fagot", 366 American ATGM "Tou" (of which 290 are self-propelled M901) and 400 French Milan complexes (42 units are installed on Hammer vehicles). The military air defense of Greece includes: 7 batteries of the American anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) "Improved Hawk" (42 launchers) and 114 short-range air defense systems (21 Russian "Tor-M1", 39 complexes of the Soviet-made "Osa- AKM" and 54 German ASRAD). In addition, there are 1567 Stinger MANPADS in the "original" version and more than 800 anti-aircraft guns (including 523 Soviet ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft guns). In December 2013, on the Greek island of Crete, the first firing was successfully carried out from the Russian-made S-300 PMU1 anti-aircraft missile system (SAM), which is in service with the Greek army. The air target was hit by the first missile. This system was purchased from Russia by Cyprus in 1999, and in 2007 the rights to it were transferred to Greece, because Turkey did not want this missile to appear in Cyprus. S-300 PMU1 became the first system in the NE of Greece with the ability to destroy ballistic missiles.
Army aviation has 32 light transport aircraft, 29 American attack helicopters AN-64 "Apache" (modifications 19A and 10D) and 155 multi-purpose and transport helicopters.
MODERNIZATION
Currently, the Greek economy is in decline (due to the global crisis), so the Greek Armed Forces are experiencing severe difficulties in financing the purchase of new equipment. Many armament programs of the Armed Forces literally "hung" at various stages of implementation. Nevertheless, the command of the ground forces in April 2014 managed to sign an agreement with the United States (the main ally of Greece in the NATO bloc) on the transfer of 460 armored combat vehicles from the US Armed Forces to Greece. According to the agreement with the United States, the equipment is transferred free of charge. The Greek army will spend only 4 million euros to deliver it. Among the transferred armored vehicles; BTR M-113A2, control vehicles M-577A2, specialized self-propelled ATGM M-901A2 "Impruvd Tou", self-propelled mortars M-106A2 and smoke screen machines M-1059. In addition, by the end of 2014, the Americans must transfer to Greece 320 Oshkosh NEMT all-terrain trucks (including M-977 / M-985 trucks and M978R1 tankers). The Greek Armed Forces also expect to receive 10 CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters from the US Armed Forces.
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Greek Armed Forces
As a member of NATO, Greece considers another NATO member, Turkey, as the only possible adversary. In connection with the permanent expectation of Turkish aggression, Greece is getting out of the general NATO trend of a significant reduction in the Armed Forces and the refusal of conscription. The Greek army continues to be recruited, and in terms of the number of military equipment it now occupies third place in NATO after the United States and, precisely, Turkey. However, a very significant part of this equipment is very outdated, and the extremely difficult economic situation of the country does not allow it to be updated, despite the presence in Greece of a fairly strong military-industrial complex. At the same time, it should be noted that today Greece is the only NATO country that acquires a significant amount of military equipment and weapons in Russia.
Ground troops have two army corps (AK) and two commands.
4th AK It is part of the 1st Field Army (PA), the strongest formation of the Greek Armed Forces, responsible for the defense of the northern and eastern borders of the country. It includes three divisions - the 12th motorized infantry (it includes the 7th and 31st motorized infantry brigades), the 16th motorized infantry (3rd, 30th motorized infantry brigades), the 20th armored (21st, 23 -I, 25th armored brigades), 29th and 50th motorized infantry brigades, 1st regiment of MLRS, 1st regiment of communications, reconnaissance and electronic warfare.
In addition to the 4th AK, the 1st PA includes the 1st Infantry Division (1st Airborne Forces, 32nd Marines, 71st Airmobile, 1st Army Aviation Brigade) and the 2nd Motorized Infantry Division (33rd I, 34th motorized infantry, 24th armored brigade).
3rd AK represents the RRF for operations within NATO. It includes the 8th, 9th, 10th, 15th infantry, 3rd communications brigade, 1st infantry regiment and a number of smaller divisions for various purposes.
The command of the interior regions and islands is responsible for the defense of the islands in the Aegean Sea, it includes the "5th division" (in fact, the 5th airmobile brigade) on about. Crete and the garrisons of the islands in the size of companies or battalions.
Support Command is responsible for logistics.
The tank fleet includes 353 modern German Leopard-2s (183 A4, 170 A6HEL), 526 old German Leopard-1A5s (up to 249 more in storage), 503 very old American M48A5s and 240 M60A3s (another 72 and up to 359 A1 in storage); also in storage are up to 124 French AMX-30V. All tanks in storage are actually incapacitated and are used as sources of spare parts.
There are 243 French VBL armored personnel carriers, 379 Soviet (from the former GDR) BMP-1 (another 22 are in storage, like tanks, only as a source of spare parts), 1384 American M113 armored personnel carriers and 491 own Leonidas armored personnel carrier (produced under an Austrian license) .
420 American M109 self-propelled guns (12 A5, 273 A3, 84 A2, 51 A1), 25 newest German self-propelled guns PzH-2000 (155 mm), 12 old American self-propelled guns M107 (175 mm) and 145 M110 (203 mm) are in service ( 36 more in storage). There are 18 Italian 105-mm M-56 towed guns, 263 old American M101 (198 more in storage) (105 mm), 253 American M114A1 (15 more in storage) (155 mm). The number of mortars exceeds 5 thousand - 500 M2, 125 M6S-210 (60 mm), 690 E-44E1, 1134 M29A1, 1616 M1 (in storage) (81 mm), 620 M30 (including 167 self-propelled M106 on M113) (107 mm). There are 116 MLRS from the former Czechoslovakia RM-70 (122 mm) and 36 American MLRS (227 mm).
In service are 196 Russian ATGM "Cornet" (mounted on jeeps) and 262 "Bassoon", 696 American "Tou" (including 330 self-propelled M901), 332 French "Milan" (including 42 on " Hammer").
Military air defense includes 7 batteries of the American Improved Hawk air defense system (42 launchers) and 104 short-range air defense systems - 21 Russian Tor-M1, 29 Soviet Osa-AKM, 54 German ASRAD (8 Stingers each on the Hammer) ). In addition, there are 476 Stinger MANPADS in the "original" version and more than 800 anti-aircraft guns - 523 Soviet ZU-23-2 (23 mm), 285 German Rh-202 (20 mm), 17 own "Artemis" (30 mm ).
Army aviation has 3 American C-12R light transport aircraft and up to 31 U-17A (up to 10 more in storage), 28 American AN-64 Apache combat helicopters (19 A, 9 D), about 150 multi-purpose and transport helicopters (1 Bell-212, up to 15 AB-206B, up to 26 AB-205, up to 71 UH-1H (up to 3 more in storage), up to 20 NH-90TTH, 25 CH-47D (including 6 SD)), up to 20 NH-300С training helicopters. 2 Commander-680 aircraft are in storage.
air force have three commands in their composition - tactical (it includes all combat aircraft and ground air defense), training (all training aircraft), support (transport and auxiliary aviation).
The most modern fighters of the Greek Air Force are 42 French Mirage-2000 (16 EG, 19 improved 5EG, 7 combat trainers - 2 BG, 5 5BG) and 154 American F-16s (115 C, 39 combat training D; another 1 C damaged, in storage). Old American aircraft remain in service - 33 F-4E fighters (up to 21 more and up to 23 RF-4E reconnaissance aircraft in storage). Up to 74 American A-7 attack aircraft (up to 27 E, up to 29 N, up to 13 combat training TA-7C and up to 5 TA-7H) are in storage, as well as even older fighters - up to 16 French Mirage-F1 , up to 70 American F-5s (up to 45 A, up to 7 NF-5A, up to 7 RF-5A scouts, up to 11 combat training F-5B) and up to 41 F-104 (including up to 13 RF scouts -104, up to 13 combat training TF-104).
In service are 22 Polish light reconnaissance aircraft M-18, 4 Brazilian AWACS aircraft EMB-145.
Transport aircraft - 13 American C-130s (10 N, 3 V; 2 more V in storage), 3 Cessna-406, 1 Cessna-172 (1 more in storage) and 1 Gulfstream, 8 Italian C -27J, 2 Brazilian EMB-135s, 11 Canadian CL-215s and 7 CL-415s; 10 German Do-28Ds in storage.
Training aircraft - 21 T-2 (3 C, 18 E; still up to 9 C, up to 16 E in storage), 10 T-41D (8 more in storage), 45 T-6 (all American-made), from 7 to 12 Italian P2002JF; up to 17 T-37s in storage.
Helicopters - up to 4 American Bell-212 and up to 16 Bell-205, 59 OH-58D, 3 Italian A109E, 12 French AS332; up to 4 AB-206 in storage.
Ground-based air defense includes 6 batteries of the American Patriot air defense system (36 launchers), 1 division of the Russian S-300PS air defense system formally belonging to Cyprus (12 launchers), 33 short-range air defense systems - 9 French Crotal, 4 Russian Tor-M1, 20 Italian Skyguard Sparrows. There are about 400 anti-aircraft guns - 24 Swiss GDF (35 mm), 38 own "Artemis" (30 mm), 326 German Rh202 (20 mm).
The development of the Greek Armed Forces is greatly influenced by the Turkish factor. / Reuters
The number of the Greek army is 161 thousand people with 252 thousand reservists. Greece is one of the few NATO countries that has retained the conscription system, although the service life of young people has been reduced from two years to 6-9 months. / Reuters
According to Greek law, all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 are subject to conscription. /AFP
Greece is the third country in NATO (after the US and Turkey) in terms of the number of weapons. On the balance sheet of the Greek Armed Forces are 1.3 thousand tanks, 4.2 thousand armored vehicles, 547 self-propelled artillery mounts and 152 MLRS. / Giannis Papanikos/NurPhoto/ZUMA Wire / globallookpress.com
Greek tank forces consist of German Leopard-2A6HEL, Leopard-2A4, Leopard-1, American M60A1/A3 and M48A5. The share of modern tanks does not exceed 30%. By the way, the problem of obsolescence of tanks is also facing the Turkish Armed Forces. /AFP
Greece is very dependent on the import of military equipment. The Greek defense complex looks much more modest than the Turkish one, which is capable of producing fairly modern weapons. / Reuters
In the Greek Armed Forces, you can find weapons from Germany, the USA, Austria, Italy, France and Czechoslovakia. A large proportion is military equipment Soviet or Russian production. / Reuters
Of the weapons produced in the USSR or Russia, the Greek army includes S-300PMU1, Tor-M1, Osa-M anti-aircraft missile systems, Kornet-E and Fagot anti-tank systems, BMP-1A1. / Marios Lolos/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire / globallookpress.com
The Greek Land Forces include four army corps and two commands. The most powerful grouping is the 1st field army, which is responsible for the defense of the northern and eastern territories of the country. / Marios Lolos/Xinhua/ZUMA Wire / globallookpress.com
The 1st and 4th Corps are the vanguard of the military power of Greece and are in constant combat readiness. The third corps consists of a rapid reaction force and is designed to perform tasks within NATO. The second building serves as a reserve. / Kostas Pikoulas/Pacific Press via ZUMA Wire / globallookpress.com
The Greek Navy, like the ground forces, is having difficulty replacing aging equipment. The Greek Ministry of Defense writes off obsolete ships, but does not receive new ones. In addition, Greek shipyards are directly dependent on foreign technologies and components. / Giannis Papanikos/NurPhoto/ZUMA Wire / globallookpress.com
From the data of the Stockholm Institute (SIPRI) it follows that the military budget of Greece is decreasing due to the crisis in the economy. Defense spending peaked in 2009 (€7.66 billion). In 2016, the Greek military budget was reduced to the level of the late 1990s (€4.4 billion). /AFP
According to Global Firepower, the Greek Navy consists of 13 frigates, 25 patrol ships, 4 minesweepers and 11 submarines. Greece produces surface ships under license from foreign countries, and imports submarines from Germany. / Reuters
The Greek Air Force is one of the largest in Europe. The basis of the fighter wing is the American F-16C / D, F-4E PI-2000, RF-4E, A / TA-7Ε / H (attack aircraft). The most modern combat aircraft are the French Mirage 2000. / George Panagakis/Pacific Press via ZUMA Wire / globallookpress.com
According to experts, the United States will not allow a military clash between Greece and Turkey. However, tensions between the two countries will continue in the coming decades. Every year, Athens and Ankara accuse each other of numerous airspace violations. / Marios Lolos/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire / globallookpress.com