Battle of Pentemili beachhead

Battle of Pentemili
Part of Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Pentemili beach
Battle of Pentemili beachhead is located in Cyprus
Pentemili
Pentemili
Battle of Pentemili beachhead (Cyprus)

Above: Pentemili beach
Date20–22 July 1974
Location
Result Turkish victory
Belligerents
 Turkey Cyprus
Commanders and leaders

Turkey Maj. Gen Bedrettin Demirel
Turkey Lt. Gen Nurettin Ersin
Turkey Brig Hakki Boratas

Turkey Col. Karaoglanoglu  

Col. Konstantinos Kombokis

Lt. Col Pavlos Kouroupis  
Units involved

Turkey Turkish Armed Forces

Cyprus Cypriot National Guard

  • 23rd ΕΜΑ medium tank battalion
  • 251st infantry battalion
  • 281st battalion
  • 286th mechanised battalion
  • 306th battalion
  • 316th reserve battalion
  • 326th battalion
  • 346th infantry battalion
  • 33rd commando battalion
Strength
First Wave:
3,500 soldiers
12 M101 howitzers
15 M47 tanks
20 M113 APCs
Second Wave:
Unknown
Around 3,800 men in total
Casualties and losses
77 killed
5-6+ M47 destroyed
Unknown
5 T-34 destroyed
1 T-34 abandoned
8 BTR-152 destroyed
1 Daimler Dingo destroyed
2 M-H Mk-IVF destroyed
2 torpedo boats sunk

Pentemili is the Cypriot beach where troops first landed on the morning of 20 July 1974 in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. It is located 5 miles (8 km) west of Kyrenia, thus the name.[1] For three days (20–22 July 1974), heavy fighting took place around the beachhead between Turkish and Greek Cypriot forces.

  1. ^ Savvas D. Vlassis, O Aporritos Attilas, Athens 2004 ISBN 960-630-211-3