II Army Corps (Greece)

II Corps
File:II Army Corps Greece.jpg Emblem of the II Army Corps
Active	1913-1941, 1946-present
Country	Greece
Garrison/HQ	Veroia
Motto(s)	Either With It or On It Η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ I tan i epi tas

The IΙ Army Corps (Greek: Β' Σώμα Στρατού, abbr. Β' ΣΣ) is an army corps of the Hellenic Army. Formerly a mostly infantry formation, it now comprises the Army's special forces and army aviation units, as well as mechanized infantry.

Structure

II Corps Structure

• File:II Army Corps Greece.jpg II Army Corps (Β' Σώμα Στρατού), based at Veroia, Macedonia which includes
  • Corps Field and Air Defense Artillery Command and units (ΔΠΒ/Β' ΣΣ)
  • Corps Engineer Command and units (ΔΜΧ/Β' ΣΣ)
  • 489th Signal Battalion (489ο ΤΔΒ)
  • Corps HQ Battalion
  • I Infantry Division(I ΜΠ), based at Veroia, Macedonia organised in
    • 1st Signal Battalion (1ο TΔΒ)
    • Division HQ Company (ΛΣ/Ι ΜΠ)
    • 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade (1η ΤΑΞΚΔ-ΑΛ), based at Rentina, Macedonia
      • 480th Signal Battalion (480ο ΤΔΒ - 480 Tagma Diavivaseon)
      • 1st Raider Regiment (1ο ΣΚ - 1 Syntagma Katadromon)
        • Beta Raider Squadron (Β΄ ΜΚ - Beta Mira Katadromon)
        • Delta Raider Squadron (Δ΄ ΜΚ - Delta Mira Katadromon)
        • Epsilon Raider Squadron (Ε΄ ΜΚ - Epsilon Mira Katadromon)
        • 14th Signal Company (14 ΛΔΒ - 14 Lochos Diavivaseon)
      • 2nd Paratrooper Regiment (2ο ΣΑΛ - 2 Syntagma Alexiptotiston)
        • 1st Paratrooper Squadron (1η ΜΑΛ - 1 Mira Alexiptotiston)
        • 2nd Paratrooper Squadron (2η ΜΑΛ - 2 Mira Alexiptotiston)
        • 18th Signal Company (18 ΛΔΒ - 18 Lochos Diavivaseon)
      • 13th Special Operations Command "Ieros Lochos" (13η ΔΕΕ Ιερός Λόχος - 13 Dioikisi Eidikon Epiheiriseon)
        • Alpha Amphibious Raider Squadron (Α΄ ΜΑΚ - Alpha Mira Amfivion Katadromon)
        • Gamma Amphibious Raider Squadron (Γ΄ ΜΑΚ - Gamma Mira Amfivion Katadromon)
        • 13th Signal Company (13ος ΛΔΒ - 13 Lochos Diavivaseon)
      • Special Paratrooper Unit (ETA - Eidiko Tmima Alexiptotiston)
      • Zeta Amphibious Raider Squadron (Ζ΄ ΜΑΚ - Zeta Mira Amfivion Katadromon)
    • 32nd Marines Brigade "Moravas" (32η ΤΑΞΠΝ Mοράβας), based at Volos, Thessaly
      • HQ Company (ΛΣ/32ης ΤΞΠΖΝ)
      • 505th Marines Battalion (505ο ΤΠN)
      • 521st Marines Battalion (521ο ΤΠN)
      • 575th Marines Battalion (575ο ΤΠN)
      • Marines Artillery Battalion (32η ΜΠΠ)
      • Marines Armoured Squadron (3η ΙΜΑ)
      • Marines Engineer Company (32ος ΛΜΧ)
      • Marines Light Air Defence Battery (32η ΠΕΑ/ΑΠ)
      • Marines Signal Company (32ος ΛΔΒ)
      • Marines Support Battalion (32ο TYΠ)
    • 71st Airmobile Infantry Brigade (71η Α/M ΤΑΞ), based at Nea Santa, Macedonia
      • HQ Company (ΛΣ/71ης Α/Μ ΤΑΞ)
      • 595th Airborne Battalion (595ο A/M ΤΠ)
      • 596th Airborne Battalion (596ο A/M ΤΠ)
      • 601th Airborne Battalion (601ο A/M ΤΠ)
      • 116th Airborne Artillery Battalion (116η Α/Μ ΜΠΠ)
      • 71st Airborne Engineer Company (71ος ΛΜΧ)
      • 71st Light Air Defence Battery (71η ΠΕΑ/ΑΠ)
      • 71st Signal Company (71ος ΛΔΒ)
      • 71st Support Battalion (71ο TYΠ)
  • II Mechanized Infantry Division (II Μ/Κ ΜΠ), based at Edessa, Macedonia organised in
    • Division Artillery Command and units (ΔΠΒ/ΙΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
    • 2nd Signal Battalion (2ο TΔΒ)
    • Division HQ Company (ΛΣ/ΙΙ Μ/Κ ΜΠ)
    • 33rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Kydoniae Regiment" (33η Μ/Κ ΤΑΞ Σύνταγμα Κυδωνιών), based at Polykastro, Macedonia
      • HQ Company (ΙΣΤ)
      • 33rd Armored Battalion (33 EMA)
      • 506th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (506 M/K ΤΠ)
      • 525th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (525 M/K ΤΠ)
      • 104th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion (104 Μ Α/K ΠΒ)
      • 33rd Antitank Company (33 ΛAT)
      • 33rd Engineer Company (33 ΛΜΧ)
      • 33rd Signal Company (33 ΛΔΒ)
      • 33rd Support Battalion (33 TYΠ)
    • 34th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Colonel Dialetes Detachment" (34η Μ/Κ ΤΑΞ Απόσπασμα Σχου Διαλέτη), based at Giannitsa, Macedonia
      • HQ Company (ΙΣΤ)
      • 34th Armored Battalion (34 EMA)
      • 501st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (501 M/K ΤΠ)
      • 507th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (507 M/K ΤΠ)
      • 162nd Self Propelled Artillery Battalion (108 Μ Α/K ΠΒ)
      • 34th Antitank Company (34 ΛAT)
      • 34th Engineer Company (34 ΛΜΧ)
      • 34th Signal Company (34 ΛΔΒ)
      • 34th Support Battalion (34 TYΠ)
  • 1st Army Aviation Brigade (1ο ΤΑΞΑΣ), based at Stefanovikio, Thessaly which consists of
    • HQ Company
    • 307th Support Battalion, based at Stefanovikio, Thessaly
    • 17th Signal Company (17 ΛΔΒ)
    • 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion (1o ΤΕΕΠ), based at Stefanovikio, Thessaly
    • 2nd Attack Helicopter Battalion (2o TEEΠ), based at Megara, Attica
    • 1st Army Air Battalion (1o TEAΣ), based at Stefanovikio, Thessaly
    • 2nd Army Air Battalion (2ο ΤΕΑΣ), based at Megara, Attica
    • 3rd Army Air Battalion (3ο ΤΕΑΣ), based at Alexandreia, Macedonia
    • 4th Army Air Battalion (4ο ΤΕΑΣ), based at Megara, Attica

Emblem and Motto

The Corps' emblem depicts an Ancient Spartan shield over crossed spears. It symbolizes strength, militancy and determination of the ancients.

The motto of the II Army Corps is "Either With It, or On It" (Greek: Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς, I tan i epi tas). Spartan mothers would utter the phrase to their sons before they went to war, reminding them to return victorious with the shield, or be brought back dead upon it. Returning home without a shield meant the soldier deserted (A hoplite could not escape the field of battle unless he tossed away the heavy and cumbersome shield).