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Greek-Turkish crisis of 1987.

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Perun Crew

Perun

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The US assessment of the Greek-Turkish crisis of 1987.

 

It’s been 35 years since Greece and Turkey came close to war over the disputed continental shelf between the two countries, oil exploration and a planned Turkish “research” ship’s drilling in disputed waters.

In a classified report written a few months after the crisis, a US military analyst, Harry Dinella, that Greece and Turkey would fight to a standstill at their shared land border in Thrace; that Greece was capable, thanks to its naval and air superiority in the Aegean, of defending all its major islands, forcing Turkey to seek to capture a smaller island such as Kastellorizo; and that Turkey had a decisive advantage in Cyprus that Greece could not defend against.

Then-Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, a Socialist deeply skeptical of US motives, despite – or because of – having lived there for over 20 years, suspected the Americans were behind Turkey’s move. He ordered the closure of the now-defunct US naval communications base in Nea Makri, near Athens, placed the armed forces in a state of high alert, mobilized reserves to an extent matched only in 1974, when Turkey invaded Cyprus, and sent Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias to Bulgaria to send the message that, if attacked, Greece will ask to join the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. All these years later, we don’t know if he really meant that or planned to use it as a scare tactic.

The crisis started when a Canadian-owned firm drilling for oil in Greek waters decided to expand its drilling eastward, violating a tacit 1975 agreement between the two countries to avoid drilling in disputed continental shelf areas. Greece blocked the move, but Turkey decided to send the Piri Reis research ship to those areas, with Greece threatening action.

In the end, both countries pulled back and both claimed victory. The Piri Reis did go out in the Aegean but ended up hugging the Turkish coastline, never leaving Turkey’s 6-mile territorial water zone. And the two countries still have not settled their dispute over the continental shelf.

https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1180777/when-greece-mulled-joining-the-warsaw-pact/

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Perun Crew

Perun

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1987 Aegean crisis

A crisis took place in late March 1987 between Turkey and Greece as part of the Aegean dispute. Turkey learned that Greece was starting to drill for oil in the Aegean Sea in the vicinity of Thasos, a Greek territory. In response, the Turkish survey ship Piri Reis (and later the RV MTA Sismik 1) was sent to the area with an escort of Turkish warships.

Background

Oil was discovered off Thasos, in 1973. Greece claimed ownership of mineral rights in the continental shelf extending from beneath all its islands in the Aegean. Turkey proposed that the continental shelf be divided through negotiations.

Events

In March 1987, a decision of the Greek government to nationalize the consortium of companies that was drilling oil off Thasos, and planned exploratory oil drilling 17 kilometres (11 mi) east of the island of Thasos, such as the impression by Turkey that Greece was planning new researches for oil, provoked tension between the two countries.

The crisis escalated, armed forces of both countries were on alert, and each side said they would use force if obstructed by the other. The incident nearly started a war between Greece and Turkey.

Greek prime minister Andreas Papandreou gave the orders to sink the ship if it was found in Greek waters. Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Özal said that "If Greece interferes with our vessel in any way, and this is what Papandreou is saying, we will act in the same way against him", "As a result, it could be cause for war," but he also added that "We are waiting for the first move from them." The Greek foreign minister Karolos Papoulias was sent to Bulgaria (then a member of the Warsaw Pact) for discussions. The Greek government gave orders for the suspension of operation of the base of NATO in Nea Makri, while the Greek forces and Navy were alarmed.

Britain's Lord Carrington, the secretary general of NATO, urged Greece and Turkey to avoid the use of force and offered to act as a mediator.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Aegean_crisis

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rohala Crew

rohala

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17 hours ago, Perun said:

Does anyone know when did G3 rifle replaced M1 Thompsons and M1 Garand in Greek and Turkish use

In the Greek Army the first rifle to begin replacing the M1 was the FN FAL. First FN FALs were bought for the Special Forces around 1963 and large orders for general service started around 1970. These were Belgian made parts, assembled in Greece by a private company. A Greek state-owned manufacturing plant was established around 1975. For reasons unknown to me it bought a license from HK and the FN FAL began being replaced after only a few years in general service. IIRC first Greek G3s started coming out from the production line in early 1980s and eventually replaced almost all other types. 

In 1974 during the conflict in Cyprus the Greek Army contingent stationed there was still equipped with M1 rifles but had just received a first shipment of FN FALs. Both weapons were used in the conflict side by side.

The Turkish infantry units invading the island was equipped with the G1, the German-made version of the FAL. Their special forces had already received the first G3. Thomsons can be seen in photos of the time, so it was also still in general issue.

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Perun Crew

Perun

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12 minutes ago, rohala said:

In the Greek Army the first rifle to begin replacing the M1 was the FN FAL. First FN FALs were bought for the Special Forces around 1963 and large orders for general service started around 1970. These were Belgian made parts, assembled in Greece by a private company. A Greek state-owned manufacturing plant was established around 1975. For reasons unknown to me it bought a license from HK and the FN FAL began being replaced after only a few years in general service. IIRC first Greek G3s started coming out from the production line in early 1980s and eventually replaced almost all other types. 

In 1974 during the conflict in Cyprus the Greek Army contingent stationed there was still equipped with M1 rifles but had just received a first shipment of FN FALs. Both weapons were used in the conflict side by side.

The Turkish infantry units invading the island was equipped with the G1, the German-made version of the FAL. Their special forces had already received the first G3. Thomsons can be seen in photos of the time, so it was also still in general issue.

Thanks mate

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rohala Crew

rohala

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Added detail: the G3 quickly replaced the FN FAL in Greek infantry service but never in Special Forces Service. FALs remained the general issue rifle for Special Forces battalions until around 2000, when they were replaced by the M16 and M4. Only a few years ago (2015?) I saw on facebook a guy we served together being called for refresher training and being issued an FN FAL. So your photos portray an accurate picture: the regular infantryman in 1987 would probably be issued a G3 while the marine infantryman would be issued a FAL.

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