Reuters
Nov 3 2007
FACTBOX-How big is Turkey’s military?
Nov 3 (Reuters) – Major powers sought on Saturday to reduce tensions
on the Turkish-Iraqi border and prevent any large-scale incursion by
Turkey’s military in pursuit of Kurdish militants based in northern
Iraq.
A conference in Istanbul was meant to focus on improving security in
Iraq but has been overshadowed by the fall-out from PKK guerrilla
attacks launched from Iraq and concerns for regional stability.
* SOME BACKGROUND:
— Ankara blames the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK or Kongra-Gel),
which Washington and the EU also view as a terrorist group, for the
deaths of nearly 40,000 people since the group launched its armed
campaign for an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey in 1984.
— Washington and Baghdad have so far failed to take action against
the estimated 3,000 PKK guerrillas hiding in northern Iraq, and
Turkish frustration has grown after clashes resumed.
* MILITARY POWER:
— Turkey launched major incursions into northern Iraq in 1995 with
35,000 troops and in the second half of 1997 with tens of thousands of
troops.
* TURKEY’S ARMED FORCES:
— TOTALS:
— The armed forces are the 2nd largest standing force in NATO after
the United States.
— The armed forces have 514,850 active people. Consisting of Army –
402,000, Navy – 52,750, Air Force – 60,100. Additionally, there is a
paramilitary force of 102,200. Reservists are 378,700 over all the
services.
— ARMY:
— The Chief of General Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, is appointed
by the president as Commander of the Armed Forces and is responsible
to the prime minister.
— Turkey is divided into four military sectors on the basis of
strategic conditions of terrain, logistics, communications and the
potential external threat. These sectors are assigned to four field
armies, the first three of which would come under NATO command in the
event of a NATO reinforced alert.
— The four field armies are headquartered in Turkey’s largest city
Istanbul; in Malatya in southeastern Anatolia with a defensive mission
facing Syria, Iraq, and Iran; in Erzincan in eastern Anatolia covering
the borders with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan; and in Izmir on the
Aegean coast, established in mid-1970s amid growing tensions with
neighbouring Greece.
* NAVY:
— The navy has among its fleet 13 submarines, 20 frigates, 21 fast
patrol boats, 21 mine sweepers or hunters or layers, 52 various
landing ships.
* AIR FORCE:
— Turkish Air Forces have 19 combat squadrons, two reconnaissance
squadrons, five training squadrons, six transportation squadrons, one
tanker squadron, and eight surface to air missile (SAM)
squadrons. These units are organized into two tactical air forces —
1st TAF HQ in Eskisehir in western Turkey and 2nd TAF HQ in Diyarbakir
in the southeast. Turkey has over 440 combat capable aircraft.
Sources: Reuters/Military Balance 2006/Turkish Armed
Forces/allaboutturkey.com
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
