2019: Chasing Aphrodite

Our site is releasing a TASMO simulation against a strong Turkish Naval Surface Attack Group south of Cyprus.

This is the final version of the requested scenario by our facebook page fans

(Check https://www.facebook.com/defencegreece/)

Special Thanks to Zaharias Tzamargias for its contribution during the development of the scenario !

Description

Date: 30 September 2019

Since the events of June 2018 when the Turkish offshore Drilling ship with the name Conqueror arrived in Attaleia port, the combined Greek-Cypriot Forces have been on High Alert.

During the following months the turkish naval presence was limited around the Turkish shores. But after the political instability in Greece due to parliamentary elections (2019), the Turkish Navy has vastly expanded its activity in the sea area south of Cyprus, Eastern Med. A long period of tension between the three countries (Cyprus, Greece and Turkey) over the disputed offshore oil reserves of Cyprus (once a home the the mythical Goddess Aphrodite) seems to be reaching a flashpoint.

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Following the last week’s hot incident, when a Patrol ship of the Turkish Coast Guard intentionally managed to ram a Greek Patrol ship near IMIA islands, the possibility of armed conflict rises. During the collision, the OPV 90 Gaydos had suffered serious damage in the rear of its hull. This combined with the fact that the Turkish navy prohibited an Italian Offshore Drilling Ship belonging to ENI, to conduct research drills inside Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone, raises a rather unfriendly situation between Greece and Turkey.

A possible armed event in the following months is highly anticipated. In this article we would try to simulate a possible Greek Armed Response to Turkey’s ambition to control the Aegean and Cyprus oil Reserves in Eastern Med.