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PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK "FOUNDATION OF THE CYPRIOT NAVY" (1964-1966)

Curator: Vice Admirals H.N. K. Dimitriadis – G. Demestichas

Under Lieutenant General S. Panagopoulou

Under the supervision of Vice Admirals H.N. K. Dimitriadis and G. Recently, the book "Establishment of the Cyprus Navy 1964-1966" was printed by "GENIKI EKDOTIKI". This publication aims to chronicle the creation and contribution of the Cyprus Naval Command (CNC) and more generally the Cyprus Navy to the defense of Cyprus, during the period 1964-1966, based on cross-referenced information, diaries and official data recorded by an "informal" Committee of Officers who served in Cyprus and participated in the effort to establish and subsequently organize the Cyprus Navy. The language of the work is simple, understandable with good syntax, condensed concepts, pleasant and narrative. In a correct, understandable and chronological order, the evolution of the Cyprus problem is presented from the beginning of the Liberation struggle of the Greeks of Cyprus from 1950 until 1959, and in particular the political-military conditions that prevailed in the period 1960-1964 and which imposed the defensive armoring of Cyprus and the creation of the Cyprus Navy. The book then presents in order the actions for the development and organization of the Cyprus Navy, the activities of the Submarine Destroyer Group, the action and participation in the Mansoura-Kokkinon Operations (August 1964) with the participation of the Patrol Ships Phaethon and Arion, the arrival of the Greek Division, the acquisition of six (6) Soviet Missiles, etc. Additionally, the book presents the creation and operation of: Chrysoulis Naval Base, Xylofagos Naval Base, Kyrenia Naval Station and the Latsi-Paphos Naval Bases, the reception of material, the description of the Torpedo Boats, their Crews and Commanders and the Administrative Services. In a separate chapter of the work, the operational utilization of Torpedoes is presented in full (organization-training-manuals-maintenance-readiness-surveillance-operational training). The work presents in detail the social relations that were gradually created between the personnel of the Navy and the Greek Cypriot society that supported and surrounded with love those who voluntarily and with mental strength of their patriotic feelings, took on a vacuum to create the Cyprus Navy, to contribute to the defensive armor of Cyprus, to participate in the Mansoura-Kokkina Operations with the two Patrol Ships that were available at the time (summer of 1964) and the sacrifice of the personnel of the SS Phaethon (6 dead and 6 injured from its 21-member crew, which consisted of men of the Hellenic Royal Navy). Through the work and the narration of the events, it emerges that by the end of 1966, we can say that Cyprus had become armored, however, the decision to remove the Division from Cyprus in 1967 and the criminal coup of 1974 led the situation to the dramatic point where the Cyprus issue is today. The work, in addition to the necessary historical retrospective for the organization of the Cyprus Navy, I believe is an expression of honor and respect for those who fought to organize the Cyprus Navy under adverse conditions, who fell or were injured for the Homeland in the effort to preserve and protect Cyprus during the events of August 1964.