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The Underwater Demolition Team (Greek: Μονάδα Υποβρυχίων Καταστροφών), abbreviated as MYK (Greek: ΜΥΚ,Greek pronunciation: [mik]) is the Cyprus Navy's special warfare unit.

History

The Underwater Demolition Team was created in 1964, alongside the newly formed National Guard, with trainers from Greece carrying out the first underwater demolition school, only 18 graduates out of the 142 passing.

During the early hours of the invasion, OYK, at its then base in Bogazi, was placed on alert but took no further action during the invasion.

Training

MYKs training is similar to that of its Greek and American counterparts, with a school (BUD/S) lasting 6–8 months and candidates undergoing the necessary training before completion, including diving (Open and closed circuit), demolitions and undergoing hell week.

Equipment

MYK uses an array of weapons for the execution of different types of operations they may receive.

• FN SCAR
• IWI Tavor
• AK-74
• M-16
• FN Minimi

Notable people

Many MYK operators have gained either positions within the government or have been involved in high-profile events, most important being Andreas Ioannides, who was a SEAL however serving as the commander of the Navy at the time of the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion and subsequently losing his life. Other notable people who have served in the unit are:

• Costas Fitiris (Former Commander of the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center and Chief Marina Officer of the Ayia Napa Marina)
• Fidias Panayiotou (Currently serving as a Member of the European Parliament)

Gallery

• Cypriot MYK operator with his FN SCAR in a live fire exercise with US Navy SEALs
• OYK operators from Cyprus and Greece during a VBSS exercise with the USA
• Cypriot Greek and Greek SEALs secure parts of a ship during a VBSS exercise
• Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Europe (NSWTU-E), the Greek Underwater Demolition Team (DYK) and Cypriot Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), execute an Over the Beach (OTB) insertion exercise

See also

• Underwater Demolition Command
• Special Forces Command

References

1. "ΥΠΑΜ: Η ΟΥΚ η πιο επίλεκτη ομάδα της Ε.Φ (εικόνες)". Φιλελεύθερος | Philenews (in Greek). 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
2. "Τιμή για τον εκπαιδευτή των πρώτων ΟΥΚ". Φιλελεύθερος | Philenews (in Greek). 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
3. "Ο διοικητής των ΟΥΚ στη Κύπρο το 1974 μιλά για το δεύτερο κίνημα κατά της χούντας". OnAlert (in Greek). 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
4. "18o ΕΠ: ΣΤΑ "ΑΔΥΤΑ" ΤΩΝ ΟΥΚ – Α' ΜΕΡΟΣ (Γ' ΚΥΚΛΟΣ) 16/1/202". YouTube. 18 January 2021.
5. ARMYNOW.GR (2019-12-29). "ΟΥΚ Κύπρου: Μυστικές αποστολές και εκπαίδευση – Εντυπωσιακό ΒΙΝΤΕΟ". ArmyNow. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
6. "ΗΠΑ – Κύπρος και οπλισμός Ε.Φ." ΗΠΑ – Κύπρος και οπλισμός Ε.Φ. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
7. "Κυπριακές Ειδικές Δυνάμεις – Οπλισμός – hellenicdefence.gr" (in Greek). 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
8. Sigmalive (2024-07-05). "Οι τελευταίες ανατριχιαστικές στιγμές του πλοίαρχου Α. Ιωαννίδη | News". www.sigmalive.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
9. "CHENS - Chiefs of European Navies". 2011-07-14. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-05.

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