Greek army numbers and weapons. Armament of the Greek ground forces

General information

Protecting the integrity and independence of the state, protecting national territory and borders, and supporting the government in achieving national goals is the main mission of the Greek Armed Forces.

The modern Greek army consists of three branches of the military:

- naval forces

- ground forces

- air force

The highest governing body of the Greek Armed Forces is the General Headquarters of National Defense.

In peacetime, the tasks of the Greek army include:

— participation in maintaining international security and peace;

— assistance in providing social assistance and support to other government agencies in the event of emergencies;

— maintaining one’s own combat readiness and ability to respond quickly in the event of hostilities.

Service in the Greek army is compulsory. The contract system is just beginning to be implemented, but it is not yet in full force.

Members of the Greek army are divided into three classes: volunteers, conscripts and professionals. Most of the professional military personnel graduated from the Military SchoolEvelpidonin Athens. Unlike volunteers, conscripts and professional employees wear special insignia.

Male citizens aged 19 to 45 are called up for service. Boys between the ages of 17 and 19 can volunteer. The legislation also provides for the right of women to voluntarily serve in the Greek Armed Forces.

The period of service, regardless of the type of military service, is 1 year, for repatriates - 3 months. There are groups of beneficiaries.

The equipment of the Greek army (equipment and weapons) is predominantly foreign-made from Russian, French, German, British and American suppliers. As an exception, we can mention the domestic armored personnel carrier "Leonidas", developed by a Greek companyELBO.

Who are the Evzones?

Literally from the Greek language the word “euzones” is translated as “well-belted.” They appeared in the early 19th century during the War of Independence as a mountain unit and light infantry of the Greek army. Today they are called an elite unit and the calling card of Athens, where the ceremony of changing the guard of honor is one of the brightest attractions of the city and attracts crowds of tourists.

In 1867, four battalions were formed mainly from highlanders, which were used to guard the borders. From this moment the history of the Evzones begins. The name of this unit became synonymous with the words “courage” and “heroism” throughout Greece. The Evzones stood out for their special courage in confronting the fascist invaders.

Today, this elite guard unit provides honor guard at the presidential palace and the parliament building. Over the course of two days, each evzone stands guard three times.

Volunteers from the infantry, tank and artillery corps can become Evzones. To be accepted into the ranks of an elite guard unit is a great honor for any serviceman. When selecting candidates for evzones, strict requirements are applied. For example, they must have an attractive appearance and a height of at least 187 cm, as well as psychological stability, endurance, endurance and excellent health. Recruits undergo intensive training, consisting of complex special training for five weeks.

Each element of the bright and unusual shape of the Evzones is endowed with a certain symbolic meaning, the color scheme also has its own meaning:

— fareon - a red woolen beret, decorated with a long black silk tassel. The red color symbolizes the blood of soldiers shed for freedom and independence. Black is the color of mourning for those killed on the battlefield.

- The 400 folds of the pleated wool skirt (fustanella) symbolize the number of years during which Greece was under the Ottoman Empire.

- white cotton shirt with wide sleeves. White color is considered a symbol of freedom. It is not for nothing that it prevails in the entire form of the Evzones.

- white woolen stockings, secured under the skirt with a leather belt.

- caltzodet - black garters decorated with tassels. They are attached to the boot.

- tsarukhi - characteristic footwear of the Evzones. Leather boots with large black pom-poms on the toes and 60 nails in the soles look very funny. But every detail of this unusual form element has practical significance and even its own history. For example, nails in the soles of tsarukhs make shoes less slippery and give additional sonority to the guard’s step. And large woolen pompoms, according to one version, originally served as additional insulation for the toes, protecting them from frostbite. Later, sharpened blades were hidden in them as weapons for self-defense.

Tsarukhs are made entirely by hand and exclusively from natural materials. Their weight is about 3 kg.

Service in the Greek army

The conscription age starts at 19 years old (previously - only as a volunteer). Students are given a deferment during their studies. For example, the reason for the delay may be graduate school. Family conscripts with small children and citizens from large families are provided with benefits. For preferential categories, six-month and nine-month conscription service is provided. They try to place employees geographically closer to home. The leave system is very simple; some conscripts serve practically at home, going there in the morning as if they were going to work. The concept of “hazing,” according to eyewitnesses, is absent in the Greek army.

The following may be exempt from military service:

- fathers with many children (three or more children);

- the eldest child in a family where the parents died, if he has a minor sister or brother;

- the widowed father is a minor, or the spouse whose wife is incapacitated.

In accordance with recent changes in legislation, church ministers are no longer exempt from the army, but are required to serve under general conditions.

According to current laws, the entire male population is required to serve, but the tendency to switch to a professional basis is gradually increasing.

Plaka in Athens

The old, medieval center of Athens is Plaka. Plaka is Athens as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries. The easiest way to get to Plaka is from the Monastiraki metro station.

Labyrinth of the Minotaur and modern Labyrinth in Greece.

Holidays in Athens

Athens is the legendary capital of Greece, which bears the name of the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. This city is considered the cradle of a great civilization, the symbol of which is the luxurious ensemble of the Acropolis. Athens includes the ancient city, suburbs, central areas, and the port of Piraeus. In the central part of Athens there are several hills: Lycabetus, with the picturesque Church of St. George at the very top, and the Acropolis hill with the Parthenon and ancient buildings.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Nikos Kazantzakis, Greek philosopher and writer, lived and worked at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries - a turning point in the history of Hellas. He gained worldwide fame thanks to the novel “The Life and Work of Alexis Zorbas”, based on which the feature film “Zorba the Greek” was shot in the 1960s, which received positive reviews from critics and three highest awards from the American Film Academy - an Oscar for best cinematography, best artist's work and best supporting actress.

Herodotus and his role as a historian

The new Greek government, which came to power in 1974 after the fall of the fascist junta regime, continues to strengthen its armed forces in accordance with the plans of the aggressive bloc. The construction of the Greek armed forces is significantly influenced by the tense relations between Greece and Turkey.

Ground forces occupy an important place in the Greek armed forces. According to the foreign press, by the beginning of 1977 they numbered about 160 thousand people, 12 divisions, including 11 infantry and one armored. In addition, at the beginning of 1977, the ground forces had separate armored brigades (two), a parachute sabotage brigade, a marine brigade, several training regiments, two NUR divisions, a missile defense division, 12 field artillery divisions and many other units and subunits.

It does not have its own large military industry, therefore, to equip its armed forces, including ground forces, it uses weapons and military equipment received from other NATO member countries: Great Britain, Italy, and France.

Weapon

Small arms in the Greek ground forces are represented by the following main types.

The officers and some of the non-commissioned officers, as well as crew numbers of anti-tank grenade launchers, mortars, guns, tanks and self-propelled guns, are armed with 11.43-mm American-made Colt M1911A1 pistols. Non-commissioned officers and rank-and-file reconnaissance units, airborne sabotage troops and military police are equipped with English 9-mm Sten Mk5 submachine guns. Commanders of infantry company squads and reconnaissance units have American-made 11.43-mm Thompson M1928A1 submachine guns. In 1965, the troops began to receive. 7.62-mm Springfield M1903A1, A2, A3 and A4 rifles (made in the USA) serve as the main weapons of motorized infantry (infantry) units. However, the troops have large quantities of American 7.62-mm Garand Ml rifles.

The Greek ground forces also have Belgian 7.62 mm automatic rifles T.48 (F.N.30), 5.56 mm CAL, as well as English 7.62 mm L1A1 rifles.

Infantry (motorized infantry), tank, reconnaissance and sabotage and other units and divisions of the ground forces have group small arms: 7.62-mm M1918A2 and Browning M1919A6 light machine guns (both American-made), as well as 7.62-mm light machine guns Bren L4A2 machine gun (English), 7.62 mm Browning M1917A1 heavy machine gun (American), 7.62 mm Mk1 heavy machine gun (English) and 12.7 mm Browning M2HB heavy machine gun (American) .

The tactical and technical characteristics of some types of small arms are given in table. 1.

Table 1. Tactical and technical characteristics of small arms

Anti-tank weapons

To combat tanks, as well as to destroy firing points, small concentrations of enemy personnel in open areas and in trenches, motorized infantry (infantry) and artillery units are armed with M20 and M67 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, as well as M18, M20 and M40 recoilless rifles (all American production).

106-mm M40 recoilless rifles serve as the main anti-tank weapon of infantry divisions (each division has up to 45 guns) and motorized infantry units of an armored division (up to 30). This gun can be mounted on a tripod carriage in the back of a 0.25-ton vehicle.

The production of ammunition for all types of small arms and the above-mentioned anti-tank weapons is organized in Greece at military factories in the cities of Athens (Bodosakis factories), Thessaloniki and others.

The Greek armed forces do not have their own anti-tank guided missiles, but they are purchased in France, Germany and the USA. In the early 60s, the Greek ground forces received French-made SS-10 and SS-11 ATGM launchers mounted on 0.25-ton vehicles. In the 70s, Greece acquired a number of Cobra 810B ATGM launchers (in Germany), (USA), and in 1975, French-West German ATGMs were purchased. These weapons are in service with anti-tank units of infantry divisions.

Artillery weapons

The artillery armament of the Greek ground forces is represented by various systems, mainly American and partly English-made.

Currently, all infantry divisions, army corps and the field army have mechanically driven floor artillery (except for self-propelled 175 mm guns in heavy field artillery divisions of army subordination). In the armored division and in the armored brigades, everything is self-propelled.

The field artillery units of the Greek ground forces are armed with 105-, 155-, 175- and 203.2-mm American-made artillery systems.

The 105-mm M2A1 (M101Al) howitzer is in service with infantry divisions (there are three divisions in the division, each with 18 mechanically driven guns). The armored division and armored brigades are armed with 105-mm American M52 self-propelled howitzers. According to foreign press reports, the Greek ground forces have about 500 105 mm howitzers in total.

155-mm M1A2 (M114A1) howitzers are available in medium field artillery battalions and mixed field artillery battalions of infantry divisions, and in armored divisions and armored brigades there are 155-mm M44 self-propelled howitzers. The foreign press reported that by the beginning of 1977, the Greek ground forces had 240 155-mm howitzers.

The 175-mm M107 self-propelled gun is in service with three separate divisions (36 guns in total).

203.2 mm M2 howitzers are armed with mixed field artillery divisions of infantry divisions (each with one four-gun battery) and heavy field artillery divisions of army corps and field army (12 guns each). The mixed field artillery battalion of the armored division has 203.2 mm M55 self-propelled howitzers.

According to foreign press reports, field artillery battalions of infantry divisions stationed in the mountainous regions of the country, as well as reconnaissance and airborne sabotage units and subunits, have 75-mm American M1A1 mountain howitzers.

The country's ground forces have M2, Ml and M30 (American) mortars, as well as Mk2 (British). All these models are in service with battalions and regiments of infantry divisions, reconnaissance and parachute sabotage units, as well as marine units. The 81-mm Ml mortar is installed on a 0.25 vehicle or on an M113 armored personnel carrier and is a means of fire support for motorized infantry and armored forces.

The anti-aircraft weapons of the Greek ground forces consist of automatic anti-aircraft guns: “Hispano-Suiza” (caliber 20 mm, Swiss), M1A1 (37 mm, American) and Mk2 (40 mm, English). The Hawk missile defense system is intended for air cover of large concentrations of troops and important military installations (Fig. 1). Along with this, the Greek government is acquiring new air defense systems - the improved Hawk and Hamlet.

Rice. 1. SAM "Hawk"

The country's military leadership continues to purchase new artillery systems from the United States, mainly self-propelled guns, mechanically propelled field artillery guns, radar equipment, artillery instrumental reconnaissance, communications and fire control. Repair of artillery weapons is organized at military enterprises and military repair bases in the cities of Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Larisa and others. Bodosakis factories produce guns of 75, 105 and 155 mm caliber.

The tactical and technical characteristics of some types of artillery, mortar and anti-aircraft weapons of the Greek troops are given in Table. 2.

Table 2. Tactical and technical characteristics of artillery weapons

Tanks and armored personnel carriers

According to foreign sources, by the beginning of 1977, the Greek ground forces had 350 M47 47 medium tanks, 650 M48 Patton 48 medium tanks (Fig. 2), 160 M24 Chaffee and M41 light tanks. Medium tanks of the first type are in service with tank battalions of infantry divisions (55 tanks per battalion), of the second type - with tank battalions of an armored division and armored brigades, and light tanks - with reconnaissance units.

Rice. 2. Medium tanks M48 Patton 48

According to Greek military experts, all tank models are significantly outdated and, in terms of their tactical and technical data, do not meet the requirements of modern combat. In this regard, attempts are currently being made in Greece to modernize these tanks at their own military enterprises and repair bases. For example, on M48 tanks it is planned to replace the 90 mm guns with 105 mm caliber guns, and the gasoline engine with a diesel engine. Along with this, the Greek government purchased from France, on account of a loan provided in 1975, more than 200 AMX-30 medium tanks (75 of them have already arrived, 115 are planned to be received in the near future).

Motorized infantry battalions of armored formations, as well as infantry units of infantry divisions, are armed with American M113 and M59 armored personnel carriers, and reconnaissance units are armed with M8 armored vehicles. By the beginning of 1977, the troops had: M59-100 armored personnel carriers, M113 - 580 and M8 armored vehicles - 180.

The main tactical and technical data of some types of armored vehicles of the Greek ground forces are given in table. 3.

Table 3. Main tactical and technical characteristics of armored vehicles

Army aviation

Army aviation is represented in the formations of the Greek ground forces by units and subunits of army aircraft and helicopters. They are supposed to be used for the release of small airborne assault forces, for reconnaissance, communications, surveillance, evacuation of sick and wounded people, as well as for logistics purposes. For this purpose, each infantry and armored division, armored brigades and army corps have army aviation companies. According to foreign press reports, by the beginning of 1977, the Greek ground forces had 25 U.17C and 15 L-21 aircraft, five 47G helicopters (Bell), 10 UH-1D (American production) and 40 AB-204 and AB 205 (Italian).

The command of the Greek Armed Forces pays considerable attention to equipping its ground forces with modern weapons. However, not having its own large military industry, Greece purchases them from the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, spending large financial resources and using foreign loans. This leads to increased economic and military dependence of the country on the above-mentioned imperialist powers.

She made an invaluable contribution to European culture. Literature, architecture, philosophy, history, other sciences, state system, laws, art and myths of ancient Greece laid the foundation of modern European civilization. Greek gods known all over the world.

Greece today

Modern Greece little known to most of our compatriots. The country is located at the junction of West and East, connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. The length of the coastline is 15,000 km (including islands)! Our map will help you find a unique corner or island, which I haven’t been to yet. We offer daily feed news. In addition, for many years we have been collecting photo And reviews.

Holidays in Greece

Acquaintance with the ancient Greeks in absentia will not only enrich you with the understanding that everything new is well-forgotten old, but will also encourage you to go to the homeland of gods and heroes. Where, behind the ruins of temples and the debris of history, our contemporaries live with the same joys and problems as their distant ancestors thousands of years ago. An unforgettable experience awaits you rest, thanks to the most modern infrastructure surrounded by pristine nature. On the site you will find tours to Greece, resorts And hotels, weather. In addition, here you will learn how and where to register visa and you will find Consulate in your country or greek visa center.

Real estate in Greece

The country is open to foreigners wishing to purchase real estate. Any foreigner has the right to this. Only in border areas do non-EU citizens need to obtain a purchase permit. However, finding legitimate houses, villas, townhouses, apartments, correct execution of the transaction, and subsequent maintenance is a difficult task that our team has been solving for many years.

Russian Greece

Subject immigration remains relevant not only for ethnic Greeks living outside their historical homeland. The immigrant forum discusses how legal issues, as well as the problems of adaptation in the Greek world and, at the same time, the preservation and popularization of Russian culture. Russian Greece is heterogeneous and unites all immigrants who speak Russian. At the same time, in recent years the country has not met the economic expectations of immigrants from the countries of the former USSR, and therefore we are seeing a reverse migration of peoples.

The Greek Ground Forces (Greek Army) is the largest branch of the Greek Armed Forces. The number of ground forces is about 79 thousand people, of which about 31 thousand are in military service.

The Hellenic Republic is a state in southern Europe, 20% of whose territory is islands, washed by the waters of the Mediterranean, Ionian and Aegean seas. Some islands are disputed territories with neighboring Turkey, which gives rise to long-term hostile relations between Greece and Turkey and periodically leads to conflicts between these states. The last major military conflict between Greece and Turkey occurred in 1974 over the island of Cyprus (July 14 - August 17, 1974), in which the Greek armed forces (AF) were defeated.

Greece has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since February 18, 1952. In 1974-1980, this membership in the NATO military organization was suspended due to tense relations with Turkey (also a member of the NATO bloc).

GROUND FORCES AND NATIONAL GUARD

The Ground Forces (LF) are the largest branch of the armed forces of the Hellenic Republic (about 79 thousand people). General management of the ground forces is carried out by the commander of the troops through the main headquarters, which is the main body responsible for the operational and combat training of headquarters and troops, the condition and combat use of troops, the organization of command and control and communications, material and technical support for the army. In addition, the Greek National Guard, which is not part of the ground forces, is subordinate to the main headquarters of the Army. The National Guard is the Army's reserve force.

It is intended to address issues of ensuring the country's internal security, maintaining combat readiness and training reserve components. Its total number is about 100 thousand people.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Greek ground forces consist of four army corps (AK) and two commands.

The 1st and 4th AK are part of the 1st Field Army of the Army, which is responsible for the defense of the northern and eastern borders of the country. The 1st Corps has one infantry division, one infantry brigade and one armored brigade. The 4th Corps includes two motorized infantry divisions (two motorized infantry brigades each) and an armored division (three armored brigades). The 2nd AK serves as a reserve. It consists of: an infantry division (an airborne brigade, a marine brigade and an airmobile brigade), a motorized infantry division (two motorized infantry brigades) and an army aviation brigade. The 3rd AK is a rapid reaction force (RRF) for operations in NATO forces. The corps includes an infantry brigade and a number of units for various purposes.

The Hinterland and Islands Command is responsible for the defense of the islands in the Aegean Sea. The command includes a division stationed on the island of Crete and garrisons on various islands ranging from a company to several battalions. The Support Command is responsible for logistics support.

WEAPONS

The ground forces have a significant number of armored vehicles. The tank fleet includes: 353 modern German Leopard-2 tanks (183 A4 and 170 A6HEL modification units), 526 obsolete Leopard-1 models and 503 very old American M48A5 tanks, 240 M60A3 tanks. The armored vehicle fleet consists of: 243 French VBL armored personnel carriers, 401 Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (inherited from the GDR), 1,789 American MPZ tracked armored personnel carriers (APCs) (developed in the 1950s) and 501 Leonidas light armored personnel carriers of our own construction. The artillery of the Greek ground forces includes: 418 American self-propelled artillery mounts (SPG) M109 (self-propelled howitzer of 155 mm caliber), 25 newest German SPG PzH-2000 (155 mm), 12 old American SPG M107 (175 mm) and 145 M110 (203 mm). There are also over 700 towed guns (almost all are in safekeeping). It is armed with over 5,000 mortars and 152 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 116 RM-70 (40 x 122 mm) made in Czechoslovakia and 36 MLRS (12 x 227 mm) made in the USA.

The SVs are equipped with anti-tank missile systems (ATGM), which are represented by: 196 Russian Kornet ATGMs (mounted on jeeps), 262 Russian ATGMs with the Fagot semi-automatic guidance system, 366 American Tou ATGMs (of which 290 are self-propelled M901) and 400 French Milan complexes (42 units are installed on Hummer vehicles). The military air defense of Greece includes: 7 batteries of the American Advanced Hawk anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) (42 launchers) and 114 short-range air defense systems (21 Russian Tor-M1, 39 Soviet-made Osa- AKM" and 54 German ASRAD). In addition, there are 1,567 Stinger MANPADS in the “original” version and more than 800 anti-aircraft guns (including 523 Soviet twin ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns). In December 2013, on the Greek island of Crete, the first firing of the Russian-made S-300 PMU1 anti-aircraft missile system (AAMS), which is in service with the Greek army, was successfully carried out. The air target was hit by the first missile. This system was purchased from Russia by Cyprus in 1999, and in 2007 the rights to it were transferred to Greece because Turkey did not want this missile defense system to appear in Cyprus. The S-300 PMU1 became the first system in the Greek Army with the ability to destroy ballistic missiles.

Army aviation has 32 light transport aircraft, 29 American AN-64 Apache attack helicopters (modifications 19A and 10D) and 155 multi-purpose and transport helicopters.

SV MODERNIZATION

Currently, the Greek economy is in decline (due to the global crisis), so the Greek Armed Forces are experiencing severe difficulties in financing the purchase of new equipment. Many armed forces weapons programs are literally stuck at various stages of implementation. Nevertheless, in April 2014, the command of the ground forces managed to sign an agreement with the United States (Greece’s main NATO ally) on the transfer of 460 armored combat vehicles from the US Armed Forces to Greece. According to the agreement with the United States, the equipment is transferred free of charge. The Greek army will spend only 4 million euros on its delivery. Among the transferred armored vehicles; M-113A2 armored personnel carrier, M-577A2 control vehicles, specialized self-propelled ATGM M-901A2 "Improvd Tou", M-106A2 self-propelled mortars and M-1059 smoke screen vehicles. In addition, by the end of 2014, the Americans must transfer to Greece 320 all-terrain HEMT trucks produced by Oshkosh (including M-977/M-985 trucks and M978R1 tankers). The Greek Armed Forces also expect to receive 10 CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters from the US Armed Forces.

The creation of regular army units based on partisan units and militia began in the 1820s during the War of Liberation.

XX century

After the creation of the Balkan Union in the spring of 1912, Greek troops participated in the first Balkan War against the Ottoman Empire. In the Second Balkan War in the summer of 1913, Greek troops fought against Bulgaria. After the outbreak of the First World War, Greece declared its neutrality, but in October 1914, taking advantage of the situation in the Balkans, Greek troops occupied Northern Epirus. On June 30, 1917, Greece declared war on the Central Powers and entered the war on the side of the Entente countries. After the outbreak of the Russian Civil War, Greek troops, as part of the Entente forces, took part in foreign military intervention against Soviet Russia.

In October 1925, in the area of ​​​​the city of Petrich on the line of the Bulgarian-Greek border, a border conflict took place: after a Bulgarian border guard shot a Greek border guard on October 19, 1925, the Greek government sent an ultimatum to the Bulgarian government, and on October 22, 1925, part of the VI Greek divisions crossed the border without declaring war and occupied ten villages on Bulgarian territory (Kulata, Chuchuligovo, Marino pole, Marikostinovo, Dolno Spanchevo, Novo Khodzhovo, Piperitsa and Lehovo). Bulgaria protested; on the left bank of the Struma River, Bulgarian border guards, with the assistance of volunteers from the local population, set up defensive positions and prevented the further advance of Greek troops; units of the 7th Bulgarian Infantry Division began moving to the border. On October 29, 1925, Greek troops retreated from occupied Bulgarian territory.

In 1936, construction began on the fortified Metaxas Line.

In 1952, Greece joined NATO; in 1953, the Greek government allowed the deployment of US and NATO military bases in Greece on the territory of the country; their service life ranged from three to six months. The Greek military carried out construction work, reconstructed the infrastructure of Kabul, trained Afghan soldiers, delivered humanitarian aid, and ensured the operation of the 299th mobile surgical hospital. On November 30, 2012, the Greek contingent was withdrawn from Afghanistan, but seven instructor pilots remained in the country to train Afghan pilots