Is there any threat to the Greek islands from Turkey?

[Akritas]

In international relations you are either a realist, or a liberal, or a utopist. So when someone escalates their demands(e.g. Turkey), then you either react with the appeasement policy, or you react dynamically with increasing your reaction power. Therefore, any utopian proposition is crushed by the aggression, which greedily devours it.

So the answer is clear : Yes there is, and the example of Cyprus is not the only one.

First threat came from the sea, and is the Amphibious Marine Brigade (Amfibi Deniz Piyade Tugayı), also known as Amphibious Commando ( Amfibi Komando), is the marine corps unit of the Turkish Naval Forces based in Phocaea near Smyrna , facing Lesvos island, where they exist three amphibious battalions, an MBT battalion, an artillery battalion, a support battalion and other company-sized units.
Has been founded in 1966!!!!
At the base we could clearly see at least 35 landing craft.

Second threat came again from the sea, and the Aksaz naval base where half the Turkish fleet can be stationed there, as was seen in the crisis of the summer of 2020.

Third threat came from the air, are the 2nd Land Aviation Regiment (Erhaç Airport, Malatya) and 3rd Land Aviation Regiment (Gaziemir Air Base, Smyrna, 3ncü Kara Havacilik Alayi), with the about 100 transport helicopters (UH-1H/AB-205 , AS-532UL Cougar, UH-60 Special Ops) as also and the 35 attack helicopters (T-129 ATAK, AH-1P Cobra).

Fourth threat comes from UAV/UCAV/drones, which are mainly stations at the airbases of Dalaman (opposite Rhodes) and Milas-Bodrum (opposite Kos island). From these airfields, Turkey can launch against the Greek islands, not only a large number of loitering or suicide (kamikaze) drones against the first line of Hellenic defense, but also use the large UAV/UCAV like Akinci and Aksungur as also and the known small UAV TB2 Bayraktar. The number of large UAV/UCAV is currently believed to be at least 15, while according to the program it will exceed the 30 pieces by 2024.

All the above turkish military units are facing the Greek islands.
Which we imagine are not going to land in Indonesia, Australia, Syria, France etc.

Fearful I do not think, but when you have a state that has invaded in 3 neighboring countries, has sent troops to 2 warring countries, generally has a leading role in ..... 31 conflicts, in just 10 years, you do not think that this country have to take measures of military deterrence?
The Turkish military threat is real, what is threatened is not demilitarized.

 

[Dalit]

Use the correct names. Smyrna doesn't exist anymore. It is Izmir.

 

[Foinikas]

Thing is,we need to get a solid anti-drone system like Drone Dome or Sky Warden (or both) and finally get done with the Spike SR deal and get them fast.

The rumors about a version of the Drone Dome,being already installed on the islands or that we've been developing our own,for me these are not enough. These are not enough. We need solid solutions. And to replace some old AA systems like the HAWK.

And that corvette thing...it's dragging on. We need new ships and we need them now.

 

[Akritas]

Thing is,we need to get a solid anti-drone system like Drone Dome or Sky Warden (or both) and finally get done with the Spike SR deal and get them fast.

The rumors about a version of the Drone Dome,being already installed on the islands or that we've been developing our own,for me these are not enough. These are not enough. We need solid solutions. And to replace some old AA systems like the HAWK.

And that corvette thing...it's dragging on. We need new ships and we need them now.

First of all this thread looks at the threats and if they exist. The methods of dealing with it are another issue, because we are not only talking about military but also hybrid threats, such as the use of illegal immigration flows and the overflights from Turkey.

To fly a UAV in a flare period, air supremacy must be in place, as has been demonstrated in all recent conflicts such as Ukraine. You're right that Greece seems to be using some sort of electronic warfare to intercept Turkish UAV/UCAV's, but that's just during a no-war period. That we need more is well known.
But it is essential to let the world know that the Turkish threat is not only in words, but also in action. After all, 100,000 soldiers, 100 helicopters, 50 boats and military bases cannot....hide.

 

[Dalit]

Thing is,we need to get a solid anti-drone system like Drone Dome or Sky Warden (or both) and finally get done with the Spike SR deal and get them fast.

The rumors about a version of the Drone Dome,being already installed on the islands or that we've been developing our own,for me these are not enough. These are not enough. We need solid solutions. And to replace some old AA systems like the HAWK.

And that corvette thing...it's dragging on. We need new ships and we need them now.

You cannot fight Turkey. Even if you had the best of weapons.

First of all this thread looks at the threats and if they exist. The methods of dealing with it are another issue, because we are not only talking about military but also hybrid threats, such as the use of illegal immigration flows and the overflights from Turkey.

To fly a UAV in a flare period, air supremacy must be in place, as has been demonstrated in all recent conflicts such as Ukraine. You're right that Greece seems to be using some sort of electronic warfare to intercept Turkish UAV/UCAV's, but that's just during a no-war period. That we need more is well known.
But it is essential to let the world know that the Turkish threat is not only in words, but also in action. After all, 100,000 soldiers, 100 helicopters, 50 boats and military bases cannot....hide.

Who is going to believe your story? Even if they believed you, right now Turkey is reaping the benefits from all sides. Turkey was always an important and strategic country, but Ukraine war has shown that Turkey is much more than that. I have read your fantasy topics on PDF against Turkey. Get it out of your head. Turkey is in a league of its own.

 

[Akritas]

Who is going to believe your story? Even if they believed you, right now Turkey is reaping the benefits from all sides. Turkey was always an important and strategic country, but Ukraine war has shown that Turkey is much more than that. I have read your fantasy topics on PDF against Turkey. Get it out of your head. Turkey is in a league of its own.

So do you think that Turkey (as you utopically describe it) is threatening the Greek islands militarily?

 

[Akritas]

The army forces of Turkey to invade the Greek islands​

Turkey maintains that it can uncontrollably strengthen the offensive forces it keeps ready against the Greek islands in the Aegean, but Greece must withdraw its forces from them... Otherwise, it threatens an attack. It is outrageous and sounds funny but this is the Turkish "logic".

But let's see who they are and how the Turkish forces east of the Aegean have been upgraded and strengthened in recent years.

The 4th Army based in Smyrna(aka Izmir), which the Turks also call the "Aegean Army", is made up of the following Formations:

• 7th Commando Brigade (Sakaria).
• 11th Commando Brigade (Denizli).
• 19th Commando Brigade (Adramytio).
• 57th Artillery Brigade (Bornova).

We note that the above Commando Brigades are respectively the former 1st, 11th and 19th Mechanized Brigades that were transformed into elite Commando Formations in recent years. The development reflects the perception of the Turkish leadership that offensive operations against Greek islands in the special environment of the Aegean must be based on elite units of special composition so that they can be deployed rapidly from the air, mainly by helicopters.

However, the 4th Army can count on reinforcements from the forces of the 4th Army Corps, which gathers the strategic reserves of the Turkish army (Land Forces Command) and is therefore directly subordinate to it. These Formations can be placed under the Command of the 4th Army to launch an attack on Greek islands.

The 4th Army Corps has the following Formations:

• 1st Commando Brigade (Caesarias).
• 2nd Commando Brigade (Bolu).
• 28th Motorized Infantry Brigade (Chankiri).
• 58th Artillery Brigade (Polatli).

Apart from these brigade combat units of the Turkish army, the Formation specializing in amphibious landing operations is the Focaia-based Marine Brigade belonging to the Turkish navy (Naval Forces Command).

From the above, it is established that Turkey maintains three Commando Brigades and one Marine Brigade directly oriented against the Greek islands in the Aegean, for attack by airborne or amphibious maneuver. The Turkish attack can be reinforced by two additional Commando Brigades and the heavier units of a Motorized Infantry Brigade from the reserves of the 4th Army Corps.

To these forces, units of the Special Forces Command of the Turkish Armed Forces General Staff can be added. The Special Forces Command has three Special Forces Brigades active, one of which may be placed under Command to support the operations of the 4th Army.

Overall, the offensive spearhead of a Turkish attack on the Greek islands will be based on elite forces of high readiness units, manned primarily by professional personnel. A special feature of the commando brigades is that the contractors are largely selected based on the criteria of the ruling Islamist AKP, especially after the failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016. Thus, the commando forces as a military body are in a way the "Waffen SS ” by Erdogan.

The support of the operations of the 4th Army for airborne operations has been undertaken by the 3rd Army Aviation Regiment based in Gaziemir, Izmir. But in addition, in recent years in Isparta, the Army Aviation School is also based, with an additional number of helicopters. The Army Aviation School was previously based in Ankara but was moved further west, apparently to facilitate the execution of offensive operations against the Greek islands.

The above means that a force of 50,000 men of the Turkish army is oriented for operations against the Greek islands in the Aegean.
This does not include the personnel that the Turkish Gendarmerie can provide, which also has raiding units against the Greek islands. Also not counted are the forces of the Turkish navy and Turkish air force, which will seek to isolate the Greek islands, facilitating ground invasion forces.

These are aggressive forces, which due to their nature, there is no point in assuming that if the 4th Army is disbanded, they cease to pose a threat to the Greek islands. Opposite them, they have Greek forces scattered due to geographical space, much smaller numerically and with a completely defensive arrangement and capabilities, which is a joke and derogatory of intelligence, to be considered a "threat" for Turkey.

It is clear that " NATO's second largest army " is geared for a war against another NATO member, in line with Turkey's expansionist policy against Greece and Cyprus. Ankara wants to turn an EU and NATO country into a failed state like Iraq and Syria under its own rule. The Turkish military forces vis-à-vis Greece are being upgraded as a matter of priority, both qualitatively and numerically, while the main means are constantly being used in peace, to challenge Greek sovereign rights and responsibilities in the region.

Οι δυνάμεις στρατού της Τουρκίας για εισβολή στα ελληνικά νησιά - Δούρειος Ίππος

Η Τουρκία προβάλει τελευταίως την ύπαρξη ελληνικών στρατιωτικών δυνάμεων σε ελληνικές νήσους, προπαγανδίζοντας ότι αυτό αντιβαίνει στις

doureios.com

 

[Foinikas]

Akar and Erdogan claiming that the islands are a threat to Turkey is as ridiculous as Stalin's "Finland is a threat Leningrad" or Hitler's attacks here and there.

First of all,the one with a disadvantage is Greece. As the islands are an easy target for the Turkish forces.

Second,even if we had enough forces to invade Turkey and even if we did want to invade Turkey,gathering big forces on the islands would have been extremely easy for the Turkish forces to see this.

Third,in reality the islands that have garrisons,only have very few soldiers. These forces are purely defensive. They can't do anything other than defend until reinforcements arrive.

On the other hand,Turkey enjoys the advantage of having big army formations in the mainland,just opposite these islands,as well as Air Bases,long-range artillery and dozens of landing craft.