Raider Squadrons

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Mountain Raiders Squadron
Λόχος Ορεινών Καταδρομών
Active1964–present
Country Cyprus
 Greece
AllegianceChief of the National Guard General Staff
Branch Land Army
TypeSpecial Forces
Special Operations
Role
Size2 Companies
Garrison/HQLarnaca
Nickname(s)Prasinoskoufides (Green Berets)
Lokatzides (Mountain Raiders)
Motto(s)Who Dares Wins
Ο Tολμών Nικά, O Tolmon Nika
Colors  Green
Anniversaries10th December.[1]
EngagementsWorld War II (Under the Greek 1st Paratroopers Brigade)

Cyprus crises of 1963/ 1964 and 1967

Cypriot coup d'état

  • Battle at the Presidential Palace
  • Battle at RIK
  • Battle at the Police Headquarters
  • Battle at the Archdiocese

Turkish invasion of Cyprus

  • Battle of Nicosia Airport
  • Battle of Kotsa Kayia
  • Battle for Hill 126
  • Battle for Hill 1023
  • Battle of Pyroi

Egyptian raid on Larnaca International Airport

Egyptair Flight 181 hijacking
Commanders
Current
commander		Loukas Hatsikostantas.[2]
Notable
commanders

The Raider Command, aka, LOK (Greek: Λόχος Ορεινών Καταδρομών) or (Greek: Δυνάμεις Kαταδρομών) also known as Rangers, National Guard Special Forces (Greek: Kαταδρομείς, romanized: Katadromis) is a Special Forces and Special Operations Force within the Cypriot National Guard. It is currently based in Larnaca, Cyprus.[6]

Mission[change | change source]

The main mission of LOK is Mountain and Guerrilla warfighting. After its creation in the 1960s, it began training in the Troodos Mountains and soon, began operations against Turkish armed people (Mainly TMT) and elements of Turkish special forces which were operating on the island.[7]Until the invasion in 1974, this was LOKs most important mission. Since then, the unit has changed to fit the condition of the geostrategic location of Cyprus, the modern threats facing the country including but not limited to, the war on terror and the threat created by Turkey. Today LOKs missions can be from Mountain/ Border Patrols, [8] to Combat Search and Rescue.[9] It can do Direct Action missions and Paratrooping Operations. [10] LOK also focuses in Hostage Rescue and fighting in close range to the enemy.[11][12][13]

History[change | change source]

Insignia/Uniform[change | change source]

Special Forces unit flash that is emblazoned with ΔΥΝΑΜΕΙΣ ΚΑΤΑΔΡΟΜΩΝ (Raider Forces).

All members of this Military unit (or group of people) wear the unit written sign/symbol showing a winged sword, which shows of the "deadly, silent and fast" nature of special forces operations. A scroll runs across the sword and wings with the saying "Who Dares Wins" (Greek: Ο Τολμων Νικα - O Tolmon Nika), a message of thanks to the Free Greek Special Forces that served with the 1st Special Air Service (1 SAS) during World War II. The unit flash is marked with Δυνάμεις Καταδρομών (Raider Forces).

All Raiders wear the green beret with the Greek national emblem on the left.[14]

Crises of the 1960s[change | change source]

Immediately after its begining in 1964, the Commando Battalions were put into action to fight against both Turkish terrorist organisations (Such as TMT) [15] and the Turkish Armed Forces. LOK played an important role in both, the Battles of Tylliria which happened in August 1964 and in Kofinou in 1967.

In the Battle of Tillyria, LOK was responsible for clearing villages and taking on any Turkish resistance in the area. [16] Although the newly found Cypriot National Guard had just had its first victory, LOK had also lost its first 3 Commandos after being killed in the fighting. [17]

During Operation Kofinou, LOKs job was to at first clear the hills of any Turkish figthers (From either TMT or the Turkish military) and was later given the job of clearing the village of any resistance left in the area. For this operation, both the 31st and the 32nd Commando Battalions took part whilst also helping the armored division and Cyprus Police. 1 Commando was killed during the successful Operation. [18]

1970s[change | change source]

Turkish invasion of Cyprus[change | change source]

Throughout the Turkish invasion, LOK played a role in preventing the Turkish Military from moving any further, defending areas such as the Nicosia International Airport [19] taking key points such as areas of the Pentadaktylos mountains and cutting off key routes such as those seen in Operation Lavida. [20]

In the first phase of the invasion, the Raiders Command put into plan Operation Lavida, which was a plan to cut off/disturb the Kyrenia-Kionelli enclave from getting more support from the invading Army. It was a nighttime operation beginning at about 11PM and was planned into the following:

  • The 31st Raider Company was in charge of taking over Hill Kotza-Kayia.
  • The 32nd Raider Company was in charge of taking over Hill Aspri Moutti
  • The 33rd Raider Company was in charge of taking over Hill Petromouthia
  • The 34th Raider Company was in charge of taking over Hill 296 near Agirda

[21] [22]

Egyptian Raid on Larnaka Airport[change | change source]

In the late 1970s, after the murder of a an Egyptian, Yusuf Sibai, the PFLPs hijacked a Cyprus Airways DC-8.[23] The task of the Commandos units was to (if necessary) take out the hijackers, however, due to the turn of events, they ended up having to take on members of Egyptian Special Forces who tried doing a rescue operation, without authorisation from the Cypriot Government. The Commandos of the 32nd Commando Battalion successfully stopped the Egyptian attack.[24] [25]

Joining and Training in Cypriot Army Special Forces[change | change source]

Training at LOK[change | change source]

In the Cypriot Army Special Forces, they train mostly like their brothers in Greece (As they refer to as their mother unit, LOK). Candidates will do a few weeks of physical trainings and then go on to their further training which includes (But is not limited to), Survival and Evasion, Combat Diving, Paratrooping and climbing.

[26] [27][28][29] [30]

Cypriot Special Forces Operator with his FN SCAR

Inventory[change | change source]

Weapons and Gear[change | change source]

FN P90[31] [32]

IWI Tavor X95[33]

Heckler & Koch G3[34]

SCAR-L[35]

AX-50[36]

IWI Negev[37]

FN Minimi[35]

Milkor MGL[36]

Multimedia[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ "Ημέρα Καταδρομών – Επίδειξη Εκπαιδευτικών και Επιχειρησιακών Δυνατοτήτων | Υπουργείο Άμυνας".
  2. ↑ Μαύρος, Λάζαρος. "Νέος Διοικητής ΛΟΚ της Εθνικής Φρουράς (ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΙΕΣ) | News". www.sigmalive.com.
  3. ↑ "Κύπρος 1974: Γεώργιος Κατσάνης - Η ιστορία ενός Ήρωα". The TOC. February 15, 2020.
  4. ↑ ">> Ο Υπολοχαγός Ηλίας Γλεντζές και η μάχη στο Κοτζάκαγια, Κύπρος 1974". www.spartorama.gr.
  5. ↑ "Ο «Λεωνίδας της Κερύνειας Επέστρεψε «…Στα Άγια χώματα της Κύπρου επιχειρεί το Λιοντάρι μας". veteranos |Εθνικά Θέματα. March 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Εθνική Φρουρά - Διευθύνσεις - Διοικήσεις Όπλων". www.army.gov.cy.
  7. ↑ Μαριος Αδαμου, Δεκαετια εν Οπλοις 1964-1974, Αμμοχωστος, Cypriot Institute of Scientific and Historic Research
  8. ↑ "'Game of Thrones': Israeli Commandos Train in Cyprus" – via www.youtube.com.
  9. ↑ "SAREX "TEFKROS 01/2021"" – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ↑ "Άλμα Αλεξιπτωτιστών σε Συνεργασία με τις Ελληνικές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις". www.army.gov.cy.
  11. ↑ "Impressive training of commandos (PHOTOS)". in-cyprus.philenews.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  12. ↑ "Ειδική Εκπαίδευση Μονάδων Πεζικού από Διοίκηση Καταδρομών" – via www.youtube.com.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2022-11-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ↑ "Διευθύνσεις - Διοικήσεις Όπλων". GEEF. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  15. ↑ "Το Έπος και οι Μάχες της Τηλλυρίας Αύγουστος του 64 … «Η νίκη που την κάναμε ήττα» ( φωτό & Video !)". veteranos |Εθνικά Θέματα. August 8, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Αύγουστος 1964: Η διαταγή του ταγματάρχη Καρούσου στη μάχη της Αγίας Τηλλυρίας στην Κύπρο!". August 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Μνημείο Επιχειρήσεων Καταδρομών Κύπρος 1964-1974". February 2020.
  18. ↑ "Μνημείο Επιχειρήσεων Καταδρομών Κύπρος 1964-1974". February 2020.
  19. ↑ "Η τουρκική εισβολή και οι προσπάθειες της Εθνικής Φρουράς για αντιμετώπισή της". Philenews.
  20. ↑ "ΚΥΠΡΟΣ 1974: Επιχείρηση Λαβίδα - Militaire.gr".
  21. ↑ https://www.militaire.gr/%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83-1974-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CF%81%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7-%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B1/
  22. ↑ https://www.smashpoint.gr/guest-hour/%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%AF%CF%82-%CE%BA%CF%8D%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-1974/
  23. ↑ "Assassination of Yusef Sebai and hijacking of Cyprus Airways DC 8 at Larnaca Airport".
  24. ↑ http://www.psek.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=76
  25. ↑ "1978: Egyptian forces die in Cyprus gunfight". February 19, 1978 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  26. ↑ https://www.psek.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=71
  27. ↑ https://www.psek.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=65
  28. ↑ https://www.psek.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=72
  29. ↑ https://www.psek.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=73
  30. ↑ "17ο ΕΠΕΙΣΟΔΙΟ: 24 ΩΡΕΣ ΣΤΙΣ ΔΥΝΑΜΕΙΣ ΚΑΤΑΔΡΟΜΩΝ - ΛΟΚ 19/1/2019" – via www.youtube.com.
  31. ↑ "Η ΕΦ σε νέα εποχή: Αντικαθιστά το G3 – Ακτινογραφία νέου οπλισμού". September 14, 2017. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Τελετή απονομής πράσινου μπερέ στους συμβασιούχους οπλίτες των Δυνάμεων Καταδρομών". December 15, 201.
  33. ↑ "Κυπριακές Ειδικές Δυνάμεις – Οπλισμός – hellenicdefence.gr".
  34. ↑ Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Σταυροβούνι:Εντυπωσιακά πλάνα-"Ηθικό ψυχή και θέληση των κομάντος μας!" | News". www.sigmalive.com.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Η παρέλαση της 1ης Οκτωβρίου 2018 στην Κύπρο". October 1, 2018.
  37. ↑ Boguslavsky, Eyal. "Cypriot paratroopers use Israeli weapons". Israel Defense.
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