Maj. Gen Bedrettin Demirel Lt. Gen Nurettin Ersin Brig Hakki Boratas Col. Konstantinos Kombokis Turkish Armed Forces Cypriot National Guard Pentemili is the Cypriot beach where troops first landed on the morning of 20 July 1974 in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

The landed force was the "Çakmak" (Chakmak) one infantry marine brigade, consisting of 4 battalions with a nominal strength of 3,500 men, 12 M101 howitzers (105mm calibre) and 20 M113 armored personnel carriers.

The Turkish forces, immediately after landing began expanding the beachhead, to give it a safe depth.

The numerical imbalance forbade any serious success, however the attack seems to have initially surprised the Turkish units and caused some casualties, but they were quickly able to answer the fire, and stop any further Greek advance.

On the western side of the beachhead, the Turkish forces advanced to about 1 km, facing no resistance, and they stopped, as their objective lied to the east.

The 326th didn't mobilize at all, as its weapons were stored north of Karavas, across the Turkish beachhead, while the 306th did so, albeit very slowly, and with reduced strength.

Because the road from Nicosia to Kerynia was under the control of the Turkish Cypriot Gönyeli enclave, these units had to follow a longer route via the Panagra pass, west of the beachhead.

These units were the 281st bn, minus a company, with the task of securing the Panagra pass, and the 286th mechanised infantry battalion, reinforced with 3 T-34/85, with the order of reaching the village Karavas, on the western flank of the Turkish beachhead.

Both units were attacked by the Turkish Air Force while passing through the village Kontemenos, and suffered heavy casualties, including 6 BTR-152V1 APCs and the commander of the 286th, who died of his wounds later.

As a result both units had a morale collapse, and both were ordered to simply move to Panagra pass securing it and regrouping.

Later in the afternoon, one company sized unit from the 286th bn, including the 3 tanks and an AT platoon (equipped with M40 recoilless rifles, calibre 106mm), was ordered to continue the advance.

It was carried out mostly by the 286th bn, which attacked on foot in a wedge formation, supported by machinegun fire by its BTR-152 vehicles.

In order to avoid the action of the Turkish Air Force after dawn, the attacking units folded back to their starting positions.

After an exchange of fire, with no serious casualties, the battalion managed to exit the Turkish ambush, and assume defensive positions.

According however to General Bedrettin Demirel's memoirs, the projectiles (two were fired), were 3.5 inch rockets, apparently from a M20 Super Bazooka.

Additionally, the maximum range of a M20 Super Bazooka is ~300m, which, judging from the direction from which the projectile came, means that it was fired from within the Turkish beachhead.

At arrival, Demirel, who knew of the cease-fire agreement, which would start at 17.00, sought to begin the attack against Kyrenia immediately.

He noticed that the Turkish troops of the first wave were in poor shape and had low morale, being sleepless and disorganised, he however insisted that the attack start as soon as possible.

At 09.00 the lightly equipped 33rd commando battalion (two companies with fewer than 150 men) arrived at the Agios Georgios village, where the 306th was supposed to be.

The elements of 251st and 306th battalions on the flank of the Turkish advance, had no ability to change the outcome of the battle, also retreated to Kyrenia.

At 18.00 Demirel met with 6th Corps' commander, Lt. General Nurettin Ersin, who had been paradropped into Gönyeli enclave.