Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

Discovery channel had a program about the top 10 tanks of all time. Number one was the German Leopard. I know in Cyprus we have the Russian T-80. What other tanks we have?

[Piratis]

not sure.

But we are 3rd in weapons per capita: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/mil_wea_hol_cap

[andytandreou]

http://news.pseka.net/index.php?module=gallery&gid=5

New Generation Armor: T-80U Main Battle Tank
The T-80U is a next generation platform of armor, which is equivalent in its lethality to all other armor options in the European theatre. Capability of firing both anti-tank missles and projectiles while moving, the T-80U represents the most durable and capable defensive weapon that the Cypriots have in case of a military conflict.

The T-80U has a crew of three.


New Generation Air Support and Transport: Mil Mi-35
The Mil Mi-35 is the export version of the Mi-24 attack transport helicopter. Designed originally as a platform for both troop transport and anti-tank operations, the Mi-35 has evolved into a lethat anti-tank platform using the ATAKA anti-tank missle system. The Mi-35 can carry up to 8 ATAKA missles into battle, including two salvos of anti-personnel rockets and a powerful 30mm machine gun. The Mi-35 can carry in addition eight fully armed troops (air cavalry or commandos) and a crew of two.

Transport Armor: Greek "Leonidas" AIFV
Developed by a consortium that includes Daimler Steyr and the Hellenic Defence Industry (EBO), the "Leonidas" armored infantry fighting vehicle, or AIFV, is the backbone of both the Greek Army and the Cypriot National Guard. The "Leonidas" can carry 12 fully armed soldiers into battle.

The "Leonidas" is also the progenitor of the "Centauros" next generation AIFV that Greece is developing, hoping to capture an export market. "Centauros" is meant to match the capabilities of the American Bradley AIFV which has seen use in both the first and second Persian Gulf wars.

The "Leonidas" has a crew of two.

Anti-Tank Capability: VAB w/ MILAN-3
In the mid-1990's, France's GIAT announced it had developed a new variant of the MILAN anti-tank missle. The variant, known as MILAN-3 was capable of out smarting anti-missle defences, and was capable of destroying armored targets with reactive armor, the latest defence against anti-tank missles at that time.

GIAT placed the MILAN-3 on top of their already popular VAB troop carrier, and the Cyprus National Guard inducted this lethal defensive weapon into its arsenal. To date only Cyprus, France and two other countries utilize the VAB MILAN-3 platform.

The VAB Milan-3 can carry 8 troops into battle, with an additional crew of three to drive, navigate and fire the main weapon (MILAN-3)

Reliability: AMX 30 B2
The french made AMX 30 B2 has been in the arsenal of the Cyprus National Guard since the 1980's. Currently the AMX 30 B2 has undergone several upgrades since its original purpose, none of which is more impressive than the ability to fight in all conditions. Night time fighting ability and the ability to fire while in motion make this main battle tank a worthy opponent on the field of battle.

Most notable of all is that the Cyprus National Guard maitains these vehicles in excellent condition. As a result of their high degree of readiness, and all the upgrades over the years, this tank is capable of continuing its role as the main battle tank of choice for Cypriot field commanders. It might not be as flash as the T-80U, but its a better work horse in battle.

Reconaissance: VAB 30mm Gun Carrier
The french firm GIAT thought of putting a 30mm anti-infantry gun on top of a VAB troop transport, and the Cyprus National Guard liked that idea and inducted the VAB VCI Variant into its ranks. As a reconaissance vehicle, the VAB VCI allows for rapid entrance and exit to the field of battle, and the ability with its 30mm gun to do severe damage to soft targets like radar emplacements and low flying objects like helicopters.

The Cyprus National Guard retains high degrees of war-time information gathering capabilities by having weapons like the VAB VCI on hand. The VAB VCI can also transport 8 fully armed me into battle in addition to a driver, a navigator and a gun operator.


Russian Workhorse: BMP-3
The BMP-3 has been around for over four decades, and has gone through three major variations, the -1, -2 and -3 variants. The latest variant is the BMP-3, which has both troop transport capability, as well as anti-tank and as well as anti-personnel capabiltiy. Did we mention it is also fully amphibious? 10 fully armed soldiers can be transported in this armored infantry vehicle.

The BMP-3 program aims to increase the ability of the Cyprus National Guard to be rapidly mobile in response to the needs of battle. The crew of the BMP-3 includes one driver, and a gunner.

Brazilian Muscle: EE-9 Cascavel
In the late 1990's Brazil began to flex its muscles in the weapons market, and one of the results was the introduction of the EE-9 Cascavel to the Cyprus National Guard. The Cascavel is in essence an all-purpose armored vehicle. It can be used to spearhead an attack, or it can be used as a purely defensive weapon, depending on the scenario.

The small frame of the Cascavel makes it difficult to sqare off with a main battle tank, but that was never its purpose. The Cascavel is meant to give infantry just the right amount of protection to complete its mission. A crew of three mans this vehicle.

Brazilian Muscle #2: EE-3 Jararaca w/ MILAN-3
Remember earlier when we mentioned the VAB+MILAN-3 combination and how lethal it can be... now imagine placing that kind of firepower on a vehicle with increased fuel efficiency, endurance and speed... what you get is the Jararaca Anti-Tank variant with MILAN-3 launcher.

Each vehicle has a crew of two only, one driver, one gunner. Each vehicle can carry up to 7 (one already loaded, six in the cabin) MILAN-3 missiles. The Cyprus National Guard uses this vehicle as a scout to search and destroy enemy armor.

French Troop Carrying Workhorse: VAB NG
The VAB NG has about 1400 improvements from the original model, and the Cyprus National Guard is in the process of making the transition to the NG standard. The VAB NG can carry up to 12 armed soldiers into battle, including a driver and a navigator. The VAB is a product of the french firm GIAT, and is a completely amphibious vehicle, with all terrain capability.

The Cyprus National Guard uses the VAB as a robust troop transporting workhorse, usually in conjuction with the need to pull large transport dollies for water, fuel and ammunition. In this capacity the VAB resembles more a donkey on wheels.

Advanced Scout: Gazzelle w/HOT Missle System
In the late 1980's Cyprus purchased these scout helicopters from France with the purpose of using them for advanced scout missions for search and destroy scenarios. Each Gazelle can carry four HOT missles into battle.

The HOT missle platform is an older anti-tank missle platform, but it serves the purpose of giving the Cyprus National Guard an air scouting ability with increased lethality.

[Sotos]

andy, so the only tanks we have are the T80? Do you know how many we have?

[andytandreou]

all the above are types of tanks sotos!!! the names "leonidas" and "Cascavel" should have given that away!! I don't know how many we have but the're a lot!

[andytandreou]

sorry... I mean to say that all the above are types of tanks the National Guard hasat the moment!

[Sotos]

I am talking about what they call here a "main battle tank". Leonidas is an "armored infantry fighting vehicle" I guess it depends on how you define "Tank".

[andytandreou]

there is no "main battle tank" sotos they all have their purpose in battle and they all form a piece of a puzzle! IF there was ever a war they would be dispatched according to a "master plan" which we will never know

[michalis5354]

I dont know what other tanks we have but anyway they are a waste of our money!

[Sotos]

andy, according to what you quoted there is a "main battle tank" Also here is what Wikipedia say:

A tank is a tracked, armoured combat vehicle (armoured fighting vehicle), designed primarily to engage enemy forces by the use direct fire. A modern main battle tank (MBT) is distinguished by its high level of firepower, mobility and armour protection relative to other vehicles of its era.