The 25th Armoured Brigade "2nd Cavalry Regiment - Ephesus" ( el, XXV Τεθωρακισμένη Ταξιαρχία «2ο ΣΙ - Έφεσσος») is an

armoured Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or f ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. B ...

of the

Hellenic Army The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is th ...

History

The 25th Armoured Brigade traces its origin to the 20th Armoured Division's 2nd Battle Command (2η Διοίκηση Μάχης, 2η ΔΜΑ), created in June–July 1959 at

Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...

. In July 1974, following the crisis with Turkey as a result of the

Turkish invasion of Cyprus The Turkish invasion of Cyprus began on 20 July 1974 and progressed in two phases over the following month. Taking place upon a background of intercommunal violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and in response to a Greek junta-s ...

, the unit moved to the area of

Xanthi Xanthi ( el, Ξάνθη, ''Xánthi'', ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi regional unit of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Amphitheatrically built on the foot of Rhodope m ...

, where it has remained since. In January 1979, the 2nd Battle Command was reorganized as an armoured brigade, and received its present name. It remained an integral part of the 20th Armoured Division until 2013, when it passed directly to IV Army Corps control, but remaining under the disposal of the 20th Division. In January 2001, the brigade received the honorific designation "2nd Cavalry Regiment - Ephesus" in honour of the historic 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which distinguished itself during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922.

Structure

* HQ Company (ΙΣ/XXV ΤΘΤ) * 22 Armoured Battalion (22 ΕΜΑ) * 25 Armoured Battalion (25 ΕΜΑ) * 645 Mechanized Infantry Battalion (645 M/K ΤΠ) * 139 Self Propelled Artillery Battalion (139 Α/Κ ΜΜΠ) * 25 Engineer Company (25 ΛΜΧ) * 25 Signal Company (25 ΛΔΒ) * 25 Support Battalion (25 ΕΥΠ)

Gallery

Greek Army's Leopard 2A6 HEL arrives at Strike Back 19 Arrives at Strike Back 2019 (2).jpg, MAN 40.633 FX DFAETX tank transporter Greek Army's Leopard 2A6 HEL arrives at Strike Back 19 Arrives at Strike Back 2019 (3).jpg Greek Army's Leopard 2A6 HEL arrives at Strike Back 19 Arrives at Strike Back 2019 (4).jpg Greek Army's Leopard 2A6 HEL arrives at Strike Back 19 Arrives at Strike Back 2019 (5).jpg Leopard 2A6 HEL (1).jpg Leopard 2A6 HEL (2).jpg, Leopard 2A6 HEL Olympic Cooperation 2021 at Triantafyllides Camp (1).jpg, M2 Browning Olympic Cooperation 2021 at Triantafyllides Camp (2).jpg, M113 APC

Emblem

The unit emblem was adopted in 1979, and features the head of a horse and a tank within a green circle—the traditional colour of the

's Cavalry–Armour arm—on a black background. It also includes the unit motto, «ΘΝΗΣΚΕ ΥΠΕΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ» ("Die for the fatherland"), attributed to the Ancient Corinthian statesman Periander.

References

{{Hellenic Army 1979 establishments in Greece Military units and formations established in 1979 Armoured brigades of Greece Xanthi