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Greek Order Of Battle 1989


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I open this thread to drop any information regarding the Greek order of battle in 1989 for Pat Callahan's project "NATO Order of Battle" which can be found in this site http://www.microarmormayhem.com.

He has asked for more info on lesser known armies like the Greek. I can provide some information on the Greek army. There is a lot of info out there but also a lot of info is missing. Unfortunately I don't believe I will ever be able to draw a complete OOB, but the current version can be improved considerably.

 

I'll start with ASDEN (High Military Command of Interior and Islands).

It is important to know that the Aegean islands except Limnos are officialy demilitarised according to certain treaties. As such the Greek army used (uses?) codified terms to refer to its units there. The island garrisons are refered to as Higher National Guard Battalions Commands (ΑΔΤΕ), whereas Limnos garisson is simply a Military Command (ΣΔΙ). In fact, although there is a number of national guard battalions (others translate them as "home guard"), most are regular army units. The same happens with untis which are always refered to as National Guard untis. For instance an artillery regiment will be called ΔΜΕΘ ("National Guard Units Command") and its arty battalions will use names like TE (national guard battalion) or ΜΕΘ (national guard unit). As far as I understand, ΜΕΘ is always an antiaircraft artillery battalion, so there is a system in the terminology. I have tried to generally ignore the codified names and use the proper terms. So instead of writing a "national guard unit" I write "light AA artillery battalion" which is the proper term (the Greek is ΜΕΑ/ΑΠ).

So to begin:

 

(1989 Greek OOB)

 

High Mil Cnd Of Interior And Islands (ASDEN) – Athens

  1. HQ Company –Athens
  2. 482 Signals Battalion –Athens
  3. 736 Military Works Directorate –Athens
  4. 471 Electronic Warfare Battalion –Athens
  5. 291 Infantry Battalion –Syros (island)
  6. Ermoupoli National Guard Battalion –Syros (island)
  7. 2 Army Aviation Battalion –Megara: 9 Chinook CH-47C
  8. 2 Parachute Regiment –Aspropyrgos
    1. Command Company –Aspropyrgos
    2. 1 Parachute Battalion –Maleme, Crete (island)
    3. 2 Parachute Battalion –Aspropyrgos
  9. 79 Military Command – Samos (island)
  10. 80 Military Command – Kos (island)
  11. 95 Military Command – Rhodos (island)
  12. 96 Military Command - Khios (island)
  13. 98 Military Command – Lesbos (island)
  14. V Infantry Division -Chania, Crete (island)
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79 Military Command – Samos (Samos island)

  1. HQ Company –Samos
  2. 79 Tank Battalion –Mavratzaioi: 9 M24, 22 M47, 16 M48
  3. 5 AT Company –Iraio (organic to the V Division; attached to 79 Mil Cnd)
  4. 212 Infantry Battalion –Malagari
  5. 239 Infantry Battalion –Mytilinioi
  6. 298 Infantry Battalion –Chora
  7. 627 Infantry Battalion –Mytilinioi (activated 1989-1990; training battalion; only 1st coy active)
  8. 649 Infantry Battalion –Karlovasi
  9. Agios Kyrikos National Guard Battalion –Agios Kyrikos (Ikaria island)
  10. Samos National Guard Battalion –Samos
  11. 79 Artillery Command –Malagari
    1. 164 Medium Artillery Battalion –Mytilinioi: 12 M114, 6 M109A2
    2. 79 Field Artillery Battalion –Mytilinioi: 18 105mm (M2A1?)
    3. 79 Light AA Artillery Battalion –Malagari: ? 20mm, ? Quad 0.50, 18 M42 SPAAG, 5 6-pdr (anti-amphibious role)
  12. 79 Support Battalion –Platanos
    1. 79 Technical Company
    2. 79 War Materiel Company
    3. 79 Supply and Transport Company
    4. 79 Forward Ammunition Depot
  13. 79 Medical Battalion –Vathy
  14. 79 Engineer Company –Vathy
  15. 79 Signals Company –Vathy
Edited by rohala
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Unfotunately my Order of Battle for the 80th Military command is incomplete. I continue with the 95 Military Command. You will notice that I do not have all the battalion locations.

 

 

 

95 Military Command – Rodos

  1. HQ Company –Rodos
  2. 95 Tank Battalion –Pastida: 33 M47, 21 M24 (there’s a strong possibility the battalion was all M47 in 1989)
  3. 395 Tank Battalion –Aspri Petra: M48 tanks (probably only two companies (typical strength 16 tanks))
  4. 11 AT Company –Kato Kalamonas (organic to XI division; attached to 95 Cnd)
  5. 549 Infantry Battalion –Symi island (moved from Crete –V Division- in 1989)
  6. 5 National Guard Battalion –Karpathos & Kasos islands
  7. 6 National Guard Battalion –Kalamonas
  8. 7 National Guard Battalion –Archipoli
  9. 38 Regiment –Petaloudes
    1. 548 Infantry Battalion –Ano Kalamonas (training battalion, low readiness; moved from Crete in 1989)
    2. 211 Infantry Battalion
    3. 299 Infantry Battalion
  10. 43 Regiment –Psinthos
    1. 294 Infantry Battalion –Kalyvies
    2. 541 Infantry Battalion –Eleousa
    3. 542 Infantry Battalion
    4. 1 National Guard Battalion –Rodos
    5. 2 National Guard Battalion –Kolympia
  11. 167 Artillery Command –Rodos
    1. 95 Artillery Battalion (105mm & 155mm)
    2. 115 Artillery Battalion (?)
    3. 153 Artillery Battalion –Afantou (probably 12 towed M114 and 6 self propelled M109?)
    4. 95 Light Anti-Aircraft Battalion (among others 10 M42 SPAAG)
    5. 113 Mountain Artillery Battery –Symi island
  12. 95 Support Regiment –Rodos
    1. 95 War Materiel Company
    2. 95 Supply and Transport Company
    3. 95 Technical Company
    4. 95 Forward Ammunition Depot
    5. 95 Medical Battalion
  13. 474 Signals Battalion
  14. 95 Engineer Battalion
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Thanks for the interest :)

 

EDIT: To be sure ALL the info that I have compiled is OPEN and AVAILABLE for free via http://dis.army.gr/el/content/psifiopoiimeno-arheio.

This is important because apparently the Greek Army sued a guy who uploaded on wikipedia a less detailed order of battle -although supposedly an up-to-date which mine isn't-. Said guy won the trial but really I'm in no mood to get into trials with the Greek Army.

I repeat again that all info that I complie comes from the dis.army.gr OPEN archive.

Edited by rohala
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96 Military Command – Khios

  1. HQ Company
  2. 96 Tank Battalion –Panagia Krinas: 16 M47, 16 M48, 11 M24 (the battalion had two squadrons –one M47 and one M48; in 1989 the M24 were used as static guns around the island)
  3. 8 Anti-Tank Company –Khios
  4. 228 Infantry Battalion –Khios
  5. 643 Infantry Battalion –Kardamyla
  6. 23 Regiment –Khalkeios
    1. 218 Infantry Battalion –Kalamoti
    2. 297 Infantry Battalion –Khalkeios
    3. Vrontados National Guard Battalion –Vrontados
  7. 9 Artillery Command –Khios
    1. 96 Artillery Battalion –Khalkeios: 18 or 24 towed 105mm howitzers; 6+6 medium guns were given away to 147 bn during 1989
    2. 147 Artillery Battalion –Kampi: arrived in May 1989 from the mainland with one towed battery of 155mm and received from 96 arty bn a battery of 6 155mm towed howitzers and a battery of 6 self propelled M109A2;
    3. 96 Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion –Khalkeios: M42; 20mm; 40mm; Quad 0.50; 6 6-pdr;
  8. Khios National Guard Battalion
  9. 96 Support Battalion –Armolia?
  10. 96 Engineer Company
  11. 96 Signals Company
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98 Higher Military Command – Lesbos

  1. HQ Company
  2. 98 Tank Battalion –Pagani: M48 tanks
  3. 398 Tank Battalion –Agia Paraskevi: M48 tanks
  4. 6 AT Company –Petsofas
  5. 475 Signals Battalion –Pagani
  6. 98 Engineer Battalion –Kalloni
  7. Plomari National Guard Battalion
  8. Kalloni National Guard Battalion
  9. Mytilini National Guard Battalion
  10. 22 Regiment –Moria
    1. 221 Infantry Battalion –Agia Paraskevi
    2. 264 Infantry Battalion –Polykhnitos
    3. 293 Infantry Battalion –Achladeri: low readiness training battalion
    4. 296 Infantry Battalion –Moria
  11. 36 Regiment –Kalloni?
    1. 263 Infantry Battalion –Petra
    2. 265 Infantry Battalion –Mantamados
  12. 98 Artillery Command –Pagani
    1. 98 Artillery Battalion –Petsofas: 18 105mm howitzers
    2. 124 Artillery Battalion –Larisaies Petres: 18 105mm howitzers
    3. 126 Artillery Battalion –Larisaies Petres: 12 M114A1 and 12 M109A2
    4. 98 Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion –Pagani: 20x20mm, 24x Quad 0.50, 24x40mm, 10xM42 SPAAG, ? 6-pdr
  13. 98 Support Regiment -Mytilini
    1. 98 Technical Company –Kato Tritos
    2. 98 Supply and Transport Company –Kato Tritos
    3. 98 War Materiel Company –Kato Tritos
    4. 98 Forward Ammunition Depot –Kato Tritos
    5. 98 Medical Battalion –Mytilini
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  • 2 months later...

As the thread was opened to discuss Greek organisations I thought some might be interested in some organisational details for the Greek Army in the 1980's that were posted in the Yahoo TOE group recently:

 

Greek Armor/Mechanized units/formations in the mid '80s:

First of all there where two "mobile" divisions, the XX Armored Division and the II Mechanized Infantry Division (note that in the Greek Army Corps are numbered with Greek letters and Divisions and independent brigades with Roman numbers). Each of these divisions had 2 maneuver brigades and some CS and CSS units (including a FA btln w 3 Btys with 155 SPH and 1 bty with 203mm SPH). Thus the XX Div had by 1985 the XXII and XXIV Armored Brigades, while the II Div the 33rd and 34th Mechanized Brigades.

There were also by then 3 independent armored brigades, XXI, XXIII and XXV all under the "D" Corps in Thrace .

Each Armored Brigade had 2 Tank Squadrons (i.e Btlns, the Greek Army uses cavalry terminology like the US Cavalry for its "Cavalry-Armor Corps"), 1 Mech Inf Btln, 1 Recon Sqdn, 1 SP FA Btln (M52 or later M109), 1 Engineer Co, 1 Sgn Co, 1 HQ Troop (again cavalry term for company), 1 Support Sqdn (each w 1 Ordnance, 1 Supply & Transportation, 1 Medical and 1 Repairs Company). The Mechanized Brigades were similar but with a mix of 1 tank sqdn, 2 mech inf btlns.

Each Corps (there were 4 in 1985) had 1 Recon Sqdn with HQ (2 MBT) 1 106 RCLR Pltn (w 6 106 RCLR on Jeep) and 3 Troops ea w HQ Pltn (1 MBT) 3 Pltns (ea 2 MBT, 1 APC, 2 Jeep, 1 SP 81 mortar). Each non-mechanized infantry division (there were 10 in 1985) had 1 Tank Sqdn with an attached Recon Troop. Recon Troops included Redeye teams. Each infantry division had 1 or more of its infantry btlns converted into mech btln (very much like the US NG Infantry Division of the same era).

In the Aegean Islands there were 2 National Guard Divisions and 4 National Guard Brigades each of the having 1 Tank Sqdn (each having 3 troops if under a division or 2 troops if under a brigade) and these NG formations also occasionally included mech inf btlns.

Each Tank Sqdn had a HQ Troop (2 MBT, Redeye teams, recon jeeps and 2 M113 for the Air Liaison Officer and artillery liaison officer) and 3 Tank troops ea w HQ Pltn (1 MBT, 1 M113 for the Forward Artillery Observer) and 3 Tank Pltn (ea 5 MBT).

As mentioned in the previous post, the mech inf btln included HQ & Staff, HQ co, 3 Rifle Companies and 1 CS co. The Combat Support Company had 1 HQ pltn, 1 MG/AA Pltn (6 7.62 MG on Jeeps, 4 Redeye systems), 1 mortar pltn (4 4.2" mortars), 1 RCLR Pltn (8 Jeep mounted 106 RCLRs, in the late 80s 4 of them gradually replaced by Jeep mounted Milan ATGMs) and an assault engineer platoon.

Each mech rifle company had 1 HQ Pltn (HQ section, administration section and NBC section), 3 Rifle Platoons (each 1 HQ squad [which included a 90mm RCLR team] and 3 rifle squads) and the CS pltn (HQ Squad, mortar squad (with 2 81mm mortars or SPM), 2 MG squads (ea 2 7.62mm MGs) and 1 RCLR Squad (3 90mm RCLRs).

Each Rf Pltn: HQ Squad (6 men, 1 90mm RCLR), 3 Rifle squads (ea 8 men w 7 assault rifles; 1 SAW; 1 M79; 1 rf gren launchers, some M72 LAW; possibly 1 sniper rifle replacing 1 of the rifles), 4 APCs/IFV (each 2-3 man crew).

 

Infantry Organisations

 

some information on Greek Army platoon/squad level organization based on official Greek Army publications (FM 7-51 [infantry Rgt -Btln], 7-53 [infantry/Mechanized Infantry Co/Pltn/Squad], 7-57 [infantry Platoon Exercises], all issued in 1978-1980 and still in force through the 80s) and other open sources that are only available in Greek. Also beware that, n general, sources on Greek TOEs available in other languages are not reliable.

In the late 70s and throughout 80s the Greek Army was greatly expanded in size, although its organization remained very conservative and based on US Army of the late 60s. Its equipment included both obsolete (in adequate quantity) and modern (in smaller quantity) weapons. So. for example, the tank platoon still had 5 MBTs (M-47, M-48, AMX-30 or Leo1); the Infantry Regiment was retained as the basic maneuver element of the Division, each Infantry Rgt with HQ & Staff, HQ co, 3 Inf Btlns and an attached signals co.

I also include some information on Btln/Co level organization as their combat support element might be attached to a platoon during combat. The inf btln included HQ & Staff, HQ co, 3 Rifle Companies and 1 CS co. The Combat Support Company had 1 HQ pltn, 1 MG/AA Pltn (4 .50" Browning HMGs, 4 Redeye systems), 1 mortar pltn (4 4.2" mortars), 1 RCLR Pltn (8 Jeep mounted 106 RCLRs, in the late 80s 4 of them gradually replaced by Jeep mounted Milan ATGMs) and an assault engineer platoon. In the Mechanized Infantry Btln instead of the MG/AA Ptln there was a Recon/MG Pltn with Redeye systems and 6 7.62mm MGs instead of .50" HMGs; all other platoons as in the Infantry Btln's CS co. Typical attachments to infantry pltns from the Btln CS company included 106 RCLR sections (each 1 command jeep and 2 jeeps with 106 RCLR), assault engineer sections or teams and HMG/Redeye teams/sections.

The Rifle Company had 1 HQ Pltn (HQ section, administration section and NBC section), 3 Rifle Platoons (each 1 HQ squad and 3 rifle squads) and the CS pltn (HQ Squad, mortar squad (with 2 81mm mortars), 3 MG squads (ea 2 7.62mm MGs) and 2 RCLR Squads (each 3 90mm RCLRs). In the mechanized infantry btln the rifle company had 1 HQ Pltn (HQ section, administration section and NBC section), 3 Rifle Platoons (each 1 HQ squad [which included a 90mm RCLR team] and 3 rifle squads) and the CS pltn (HQ Squad, mortar squad (with 2 81mm mortars), 2 MG squads (ea 2 7.62mm MGs) and 1 RCLR Squad (3 90mm RCLRs). So the mechanized infantry company had the same number of 90mm RCLRs (namely 6, although differently organized, but only 4 7.62mm MGs (yet it also had 6 7.62mm in the Btln level CS co, thus having the same number of 7.62mm MGs at the btln level!)

Rifle Pltn: HQ squad with Pltn Leader (subaltern officer), Pltn Sgt and Pltn Runner (who also operated the pltn radio). In the mechanized infantry a 90mm RCLR team (prob of 3 men) was added to the Pltn HQ Squad
The 3 rifle Squads included the maneuver half squad and the support half-squad. In the Infantry Btln the maneuver half-squad included the Squad Leader (sgt), the squad sniper, 1 rifleman/minesweeper and 2 riflemen. In the mechanized infantry the maneuver squad included the Squad Leader (sgt), the squad sniper, 1 rifleman/minesweeper and 1 rifleman, does to vehicle space restrictions. Supposedly the sniper had a scope-equipped rifle and the minesweeper special training in mine warfare/scouting, although these provisions of the manuals were not always implemented in reality. The support half squad had both in the infantry and mechanized infantry 4 men, namely the Assistant Squad Leader (cpl), the Squad Automatic Weapon Gunner (with the SAW), the SAW Loader and the Rifleman/Grenadier (with a M79 AND his rifle). In the mechanized infantry the squad rode on an APC (M113, M59 [being phased out during the late 70s early 80s], Saurer 4K 4F (Greek assembly, called "Leonidas 1" delivered in 1982-1983) or ELVO Leonidas 2 (from 1986); in all cases with a 2 man crew of driver and MG gunner) or on a IFV (AMX-10P with 3 man crew). Typically, MG and RCLR squads from the CS platoon were attached to combat platoons.

The rifles were either FN FAL (from 1973) or G3 (from early 80s) or the M1 Garand (being phased out in that era to reserve/national guard (on Aegean islands) units). Units of the "D" Army Corps in Thrace and all elite forces (rangers, marines and paras) retained the FN FAL ever after the introduction of the G3. The pistol used was the M1911A1 Colt .45" while NCOs used submachine guns or folded stock versions of the assault rifles. Rifle squads also had 1-2 rifle grenade launcher (probably for the 1-2 riflemen of the maneuver half-squad) and M72 LAWs would be issued in combat as needed. In general, the type of SAW or 7.62mm used depended on the rifle used in the same unit.

 

To sum up:

Rifle Pltn: HQ Squad (3men), 3 Rifle squad (ea 9 men w 8 assault rifles or 7 rifles (M1) and 1 SMG; 1 SAW; 1 M79; 1-2 rf gren launchers, some M72 LAW; possibly 1 sniper rifle replacing 1 of the rifles)

In Mech Infantry: HQ Squad (6 men, 1 90mm RCLR), 3 Rifle squad (ea 8 men w 7 assault rifles or 6 rifles (M1) and 1 SMG; 1 SAW; 1 M79; 1 rf gren launchers, some M72 LAW; possibly 1 sniper rifle replacing 1 of the rifles), 3-4 APCs/IFV (depending on vehicle space; each 2-3 man crew)

Attachments: 90mm RCLR teams or squads (i.e 1-3 90mm RCLRs), MG teams (2 MGs), 106 RCLR teams or squads (1-2 RCLR on Jeeps), assault engineer teams or sections, HMG/Redeye teams or sections, medical orderlies, mortar observers.

 

Special Forces:

There were no Greek commando "Katadromon" units in Cyprus in 1974. the Greek Army paras made a short operation in August 1974.

The 4 bttns of raiders (Katadromon) that fought there were Greek-Cyrpiot National Guard not Greek Army units. There constituted the entire elite forces component of the Cyprus National Guard.

Their TOE (from the sources I could find): 3 assault companies (ea 3 pltn w 3 squads ea 1 Bren plus a CS pltn w 1 60mm mrt, 1 3.5" bazooka and 2 2.56" bazookas); 1 HQ and CS company w 1 MG ptln (Browning M1919A4), 1 mortar pltn (81mm mortars) and 1 RCLR Pltn (57mm RCLRs). By August the Cypriot "Katadromeis"; were reequipped with FN FALs and added .50" HMG to their CS companies

In 1974 the Greek Army had the following elite forces: a) 2 Para-Commando Btlns and a Pathfinder unit; the 32nd Marine Regiment w 3 btln, organized like a regular inf rgt; c) 3 "Mountain Raider" btlns; d) 2 "Amphibious Raider" Btln. Units under c) and d) are the "Katadromeis"; you mentioned. I have no information as to the internal organization of the "Katadromon" units at that time, but they would be similar to the Greek-Cypriot units mentioned above, but with BARs instead of Brens, of course.

 

Hope its of use to some.

Edited by Captain Hurricane
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Why would light anti aircraft battalions have 6 pounder AT guns on strength?

Island garrisons' main mission is to repel turkish amphibious and air assaults. Even AA guns' main role seems to be anti-amphibious fire.

 

 

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Unfotunately my Order of Battle for the 80th Military command is incomplete. I continue with the 95 Military Command. You will notice that I do not have all the battalion locations.

 

Since I stopped working on this OOB I should post at least what have got so far for 80th Military command. Unfortunately the digitalization of the Greek Army's History directorate's archives is poor and unreliable, and I could not find a history for the 80th command. What I have comes from other documents that are related in some way to the 80th command.

 

80 Military Command – Kos

  1. HQ Company
  2. 80 Tank Battalion –Linopoti: 55 M48
  3. 15 AT Company -Linopoti: TOW
  4. 282 Infantry Battalion -Linopoti
  5. 295 Infantry Battalion
  6. 543 Infantry Battalion
  7. 544 Infantry Battalion –Linopoti, raised in 1989, probably of low readiness
  8. 588 Infantry Battalion –Partheni, Leros island
  9. Kos National Guard Battalion
  10. Leros National Guard Battalion
  11. 8 (Patmos) National Guard Battalion
  12. 15 Artillery Command
    1. Field Arty Battalion?
    2. AAA Battalion?
    3. 148 artillery Battalion –Pyli: 12 M114 & 6 M109A2, arrived in 1989
  13. 80 Support Battalion?
  14. 80 Engineer Company?
  15. 80 Signals Company?
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  • 6 years later...

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