Croatian Army

Croatian Army
Emblem of the Croatian Army
Active	1991
Country	Croatia
Type	ground army
Size	about 18.300 personnel
Part of	1 Mechanized infantry Guards brigade, 1 Armored Guards brigade, Military police regiment, Signals regiment, Military-intelligence battalion, NBC defense Battalion, Command for training and doctrine
H/Q	Karlovac
Motto(s)	"Domovini vjerni" (Faithful to Homeland)
March	Mi smo garda hrvatska (We are the guards of Croatia)
Anniversaries	28 May
Engagements	Siege of Trsat, Croatian–Bulgarian wars: *Battle of the Bosnian Highlands, Battle of Grobnik field, Battle of Gvozd Mountain, Ottoman–Hungarian Wars: *Battle of Krbava field, *Battle of Mohács, Ottoman–Habsburg wars: *Battle of Szigetvár, *Battle of Slankamen *Battle of Sisak, *Battle of Petrovaradin *Battle of Lepanto, Thirty Years' War, Napoleonic Wars, Revolutions of 1848, Battle of Lissa, World War I World War II Croatian War of Independence: * Battle of Vukovar, * Battle of the Barracks, * Operation Coast-91, * Siege of Dubrovnik, * Operation Maslenica, * Operation Winter '94, * Operation Orkan 91, * Operation Otkos 10, * Operation Flash, * Operation Summer '95, * Operation Storm, Bosnian war: * Croat–Bosniak War, * Operation Mistral, War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Mladen Kruljac
Notable commanders	Nikola Šubić Zrinski, General Martin Špegelj, General Janko Bobetko, General Petar Stipetić, General Zvonimir Červenko, Lieutenant General Ante Gotovina

The Croatian Army (also Croatian Ground Army, Croatian: Hrvatska kopnena vojska, Hrvatska vojska) is a branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.

The fundamental role and purpose of the Croatian Army is to protect vital national interests of the Republic of Croatia and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.

Basic tasks of the Croatian Army are:

• to maintain an optimal level of combat readiness of the Armed Forces
• to fight a possible aggressor's main forces on strategic-operational levels and to defend against any land, air and amphibious assaults
• to prevent, in cooperation with the other branches of the Armed Forces, an aggressor from in-depth operations on Croatian territory
• to build and develop the capability to respond to requests of non-traditional tasks that are required of the Croatian Army (floods, fires, natural disasters...)
• to assists its allies and friendly countries in time of need.

History

The Croatian Army was formed in the Croatian War of Independence, when on November 3, 1991 the Croatian National Guard was renamed Croatian Army.

Numerous Croatian army units arose from the Croatian National Guard, including:

• 1st Guards Brigade (Croatia)
• 2nd Guards Brigade (Croatia)
• 3rd Guards Brigade (Croatia)
• 7th Guards Brigade (Croatia)
• Croatian 104th Brigade
• 204th Vukovar Brigade

Organizational structure and status

The Croatian army is an all professional force with 16,000 active personal, of which 2,000 are volunteers. The Army can also rely on 8000 reserves who serve with the army up to 30 days each year.

The Croatian Army is being reorganized to fit with the NATO doctrine of a small capable force with emphasis on mobility and versatility.

With the new structure, the Croatian Army will keep two mechanized brigades, each brigade having a specific role to fill and different responsibilities.

Croatia achieved full NATO membership in April 2009. The defence reforms which Croatia initiated in 2000 have a long term agenda of replacing and modernizing the armed forces to meet the challenges of NATO membership. The plan calls for modernization of the Army and training standards. Replacing ex-Yugoslav/Soviet hardware is also one of the main priorities.

The Croatian army currently is evaluating the M-95 Degman Main Battle Tank as an upgrade solution for its tank fleet. There is a program which calls for a full upgrade of the tank fleet at a cost of 850 million Croatian kuna, replacing obsolete anti aircraft systems, introducing a new NATO standard assault rifle and so on. Procurement of new NATO standard equipment is playing a significant part in the new defense doctrine and efforts to meet the challenges of NATO membership.

Croatia plans to spend up to 20 billion kuna (1U$ = 5.0 kuna) on new arms over the next 7 years, of this at least 40% will be spent on the Army.

Croatia only recently operated almost 280 MBTs but this number decreased significantly due to the withdrawal of almost 200 obsolete T-55 tanks in 2006. Many have been scrapped completely, some were sent to museums but a part was stored as operational reserve in case of need. The mainstay of the force is now concentrated around relatively modern M-84A4 main battle tanks. Modernization of the tank fleet is one of the priorities set in the new defense budget so that current M-84A4 tanks can be brought up to M-84D standard..

In July, 2007 Patria AMV won a contract to supply the next generation of APCs to the Croatian Army. Only 84 vehicles were ordered at first but additional 42 were purchased in an extended contract in December, 2008. Croatia thus has 126 units on order with first six vehicles manufactured in Finland delivered by late 2008. All remaining vehicles will be locally produced. According to some information, at least 50-60 additional APCs are needed.

In early 2007, Croatia bought 10 Iveco LMV light armoured jeeps at a cost of 330,000 Euros per unit. According to official documents, 94 of these vehicles are needed by 2012 and will be ordered shortly.

As the inventory of the Croatian military is full of numerous vehicles of different origin, type and age which are not mutually compatible and are difficult to maintain, huge steps have been made to solve these problems. In 2005, the army bought 152 new trucks and jeeps, 156 more in 2006 and another 170 or so were obtained by the end of 2007. All vehicles are of prominent European or Japanese manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Iveco, MAN, Toyota and Nissan.

The Croatian Army plans to introduce a new assault rifle replacing the M-70 in 2009, the rifle will be manufactured by a local arms producer as Croatia is well known for manufacturing high quality small arms. Recently, HS Produkt developed a new assault rifle named the VHS. It is being tested in parts of Afghanistan and by the Croatian Special Forces.

Current structure of Croatian Army

Current structure of the Croatian Army

• Army command

• • Army HQ
  • 3rd Armoured Mechanized Guard Brigade Vinkovci
    • Command Company
    • 1st Mechanized Battalion "Sokolovi"
    • 2nd Mechanized Battalion "Pume"
    • Tank Battalion "Kune"
    • Armoured Battalion
    • Mixed Artillery Battalion
    • Air-defence Battalion
    • Engineer Battalion
    • Recon Company
    • Signals Company
    • Logistics Company

• • 2nd Mechanized Motorized Guard Brigade Knin
    • Command Company
    • 1st Motorized Battalion "Vukovi"
    • 2nd Motorized Battalion "Pauci"
    • 1st Mechanized Battalion "Tigrovi"
    • 2nd Mechanized Battalion "Gromovi"
    • Mixed Artillery Battalion
    • Engineer Battalion
    • Air-Defence Battalion
    • Recon Company
    • Signals Company
    • Logistics Company

• • Training and Doctrine Command
    • Command
    • Infantry Regiment
    • Artillery Regiment
    • Air-defence Regiment
    • Engineer Regiment
    • Logistics Regiment
    • Basic Training Center
    • Tactical Artillery Training Center
    • Training and Operations Simulation Center
    • Training Centre for International Military Operations
  • Military Police Regiment
  • Signals Regiment
  • Military-Intelligence Battalion
  • NBC Defence Battalion

Army Modernization plans

Croatia plans to spend about 7.5 billion Kuna (1.5 billion USD) over next 7 years on equipping its ground army.

Main Programs

• Procurement of 126 Patria AMV Modular APC/IFV - 1.2 billion Kuna (additional vehicles might be ordered after 2012 once more funds become available). Original contract with Finnish Patria was revised due to economic crisis with no changes in number of vehicles.

• Procurement of 94 Iveco LMVs at a cost of 220 million Kuna. Additional 100-150 vehicles are being considered for the needs of the army.

• Procurement of Advanced Artillery systems, 24x 155 mm Self Propelled Howitzers are to be procured before 2015 to replace obsolete 2S1 self-propelled howitzers. Program is on the back burner as there are more important defense programs and procurement of new howitzers might need to be postponed for few years. Swedish ARCHER Artillery System and French CAESAR self-propelled howitzer are most likely candidates for this program. German PzH 2000 was labeled to be too heavy for Croatian terrain. Cost of program - 1.2 billion Kuna.

• Procurement of 550 5-ton army trucks, 200 7.5-ton military trucks and 300 4WD vehicles - program is in a full swing and first batch of MAN (150), Mercedes (30) and Iveco (50) military trucks was delivered. Croatian Army also ordered large numbers of new 4WD vehicles, Mercedes-Benz G-Class - 160(320), Land Rover Wolf - 30, Toyota Land Cruiser - 50, Nissan Navara - 50, delivered in 2005-2007. Cost of program - 570-580 million Kuna.

• Modernization of M-84A4 Snajper MBTs and their upgrade to M-84D standard. Program calls for an upgrade and modernization of 75 existing tanks and procurement of additional 29 new tanks over the next 4 years due to a plan which requires Croatia to operate at least 104 modern tanks before 2015. Cost of program - 850 million Kuna.

• Introduction of new 5.56 mm NATO standard assault rifle. Cost of program - unknown. (20,000 rifles with day/night sights and grenade launchers are planned). Most likely choice is domestic VHS assault rifle, contract for acquisition of first 1,000 rifles was signed with HS Produkt.

• Scores of smaller programs, communication equipment, night vision capability, electronic sensors, NBC equipment, battlefield management systems and modernization of Artillery systems with new sights and electronic fire control systems.

Other programs:

• • Equipping motorized infantry battalion (800-1000 men) with night vision equipment, including advanced optoelectronics and sensors, ground radars, thermal imaging cameras – 120 million Croatian Kuna
  • NBC equipment for biological/chemical-decontamination unit – 150 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of new army engineering vehicles, armored recovery vehicles, mine clearance vehicles and armored personal vehicles designed to withstand mine blasts – 320 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of modern communication and battlefield management systems – 50 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of new logistic and amphibious vehicles – 250 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of 3-4 Artillery Radars – 30-40 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of 8-12 Mobile air defense radars – 200-300 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of Army Field Hospital - 80-100 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of 16 Army Tank transporters, Heavy Equipment Transporters – 80-100 million Croatian Kuna
  • Procurement of Bridge laying equipment – 100 million Croatian Kuna

Equipment

• Handguns

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Quantity	Note
HS Produkt HS 2000		9x19mm	Croatia	40 000	standard sidearm
FN Five-seven		5.7x28mm	Belgium	-	used by BSD

• Submachine guns

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Quantity	Note
Arma ERO / Mini ERO		9x19mm	Croatia	2500	-
H&K MP5		9x19mm	Germany	-	-
H&K UMP		9x19mm	Germany	-	-
H&K MP7		4.6x30mm	Germany	850	-

• Assault rifles

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Quantity	Note
Izhmash AK-47		7.62x39mm	Soviet Union	-	standard assault rifle
Zastava M70		7.62x39mm	Yugoslavia	142 000	standard assault rifle
HS Produkt VHS		5.56X45mm	Croatia	1000	new standard assault rifle candidate
H&K G36		5.56X45mm	Germany	850	standard assault rifle, more to be acquired
FN F2000		5.56x45mm	Belgium	120	used in army and special force
FN FAL		7.62x51mm	Belgium	2 000	-
Colt M4		5.56x45mm	United States	400	-

• Sniper rifles

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Quantity	Note
Zastava M76		7.92x57mm	Yugoslavia	-	standard sniper rifle
Metallic MACS M3		12.7x99mm	Croatia	240	standard sniper rifle
Metallic RT-20		20x110mm	Croatia	80	anti-materiel rifle
Remington M40		7.62x51	United States	260	-
Barrett M82		12.7x99mm	United States	150	anti-materiel rifle

• Grenade launchers

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Quantity	Note
Metallic RBG-6		40x46mm	Croatia	-	-
H&K AG36		40x46mm	Germany	-	-

• Machine guns

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Quantity	Note
Zastava M84		7.62x54mm	Yugoslavia	1400	-
Browning M2		12.7x99mm	United States	500	-
FN M249		5.56x45mm	Belgium	-	-
FN MAG		7.62x51mm	Belgium	400	-
CIS Ultimax 100		5.56x45mm	Singapore	100	-

• Main battle tanks

Model	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Note
M-95 Degman		MBT	Croatia	2	in operational service, first prototype delivered in 2003, second one in 2007, development transferred to M-84D.
M-84D		MBT	Croatia	4-8	still under development, entire M-84A4 fleet to be brought to this level starting 2011
M-84A4 Snajper		MBT	Croatia	75	all M-84A tanks brought to this standard by 2008, awaiting further upgrade

• According to the long-term defense plan Croatia is to have 2 tank battalions or at least 104 modern battle tanks by 2015.

• Tracked vehicles

Model	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Note
BVP M-80A		IFV	Yugoslavia	128	of which there are 104 IFVs awaiting possible modernization, plus additional 24 surplus or conversions
BTR-50PK		APC	Soviet Union	18	to be replaced by Patria AMV by 2012
MT-LB		APC	Poland	10	to be replaced by Patria AMV by 2012

• Wheeled Armoured Personnel Vehicless

Model	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Note
Patria AMV		APC	Finland	126	15 delivered by mid 2010, according to a new agreement signed with Patria in April, 2010, domestic production of the remaining vehicles to be speeded up and all units to be delivered by the end of 2012, since mid-2010 four units are being produced per month
BOV VP		APC	Yugoslavia	54	some used by the Military Police and in ISAF missions
LOV-1		APC	Croatia	72	light APC of indigenous design, total 72 produced.
M-83 Polo		APC	Yugoslavia	37	the anti-tank variant, with the withdrawal of 9K11 Malyutka missiles from the operational service it is scheduled to be modernized and relegated to other duties
HMMWV 1114		IMV	United States	72	twelve vehicles donated by the US Army in 2007, additional 30 in 2008 and again 30 vehicles in 2009, mostly used by ISAF forces in Afghanistan but some are home-based, 40 new M1151 Up-Armored Capable HMMWV will partially replace the M1114 version in 2011
Iveco LMV		IMV	Italy	10 in active service, 94 on order	additional 84 planned to enter service by 2012
Cougar_(vehicle)		MRAP	United States	10	US Army donated several Mine Resistant Vehicles to Croatian Army contingent in Afghanistan. [1]]]

• Combat engineering vehicles

Model	Type	Origin	Quantity	Note
M-84AI	Armoured Recovery Vehicle	Croatia	unkonown	last vehicle entered service in 2002
T-55TZI	Armoured Recovery Vehicle	Soviet Union	unkonown	awaiting replacement
MT-55A	Armoured Bridge Vehicle	Czechoslovakia	unknown	additional bridge units mounted on KrAZ 6x6 heavy trucks, awaiting replacement
PTS-M	Amphibious Vehicle	Soviet Union	unknown	awaiting replacement
PMS	Pontoon Bridge	Soviet Union	unknown	mounted on Tatra T813 8x8 trucks

• Anti-tank weapons

Model	Type	Origin	Quantity	Note
Spike ER	Fire-and-forget anti-tank missile	Israel	secret number	on order for Patria AMV 30mm/Spike Kongsberg RWS
9К115-2 Metis-M	wire-guided anti-tank missile	Soviet Union	54
9K111 Fagot	wire-guided anti-tank missile	Soviet Union	119
9K11 Malyutka	wire-guided anti-tank missile	Soviet Union	360	no longer a frontline system but in operational reserve
M80 "Zolja"	RPG	Yugoslavia	1000	available in large quantities
RL90 M95	RPG	Croatia	1500	available in large quantities

• Anti-aircraft warfare

Model	Type	Origin	Quantity	Note
Strijela - 10CROA1	short range surface-to-air missile system	Croatia	10	additional 5 units to be acquired, system currently undergoing modernization and test trials, will probably be mounted on Patria AMV vehicles to increase maneuverability
9K38 Igla	MANPADS	Soviet Union	67	to undergo modernization in 2010
9K32 Strela-2M	MANPADS	Soviet Union Yugoslavia	141	additional 372 systems are being withdrawn
BOV 20/3	SPAAG	Yugoslavia	64	triple M55 20mm anti-aircraft guns mounted on a BOV APC
M55 A4 20/3	anti-aircraft gun	Yugoslavia	73	19 units to be withdrawn by 2015
Bofors 40 mm L/70	anti-aircraft autocannon	Sweden	12	possibly withdrawn

• Although Croatia acquired the S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile system in 1994 and demonstrated some of its parts on a military parade in 1995, it is believed that the system was never fully completed and operational although the training of crews was sought as late as 1998. Some sources claim that the weapon was subsequently handed-over to the USA or Israel in 2002-2004. However, officials still claim that the system is stored somewhere in Croatia.

• Artillery

Model	Caliber	Type	Origin	Active	Reserve	Note
M57	60mm	Mortar	Croatia	69	270
M96	82mm	Mortar	Croatia	69	270	improved copy of the Yugoslav M69 mortar
M75	120mm	Mortar	Croatia	43	140
M56	105mm	Howitzer	Yugoslavia United States	160	43	used only for training, license-produced copy of the M101 howitzer, additional 95 units being withdrawn till 2015
D-30 HR M94	122mm	Howitzer	Croatia	36	?	improved Russian D-30 howitzer brought up to NATO standards, additional one unit withdrawn
M-46H1	130mm	Howitzer	Soviet Union	32	?
M84 "NORA"	152mm	Howitzer	Yugoslavia	16	/	additional two units being withdrawn till 2015
CITER 155mm L33 Gun	155mm	Howitzer	Argentina	8	/	all systems operational
M114	155mm	Howitzer	United States	18	/	all system operational
2S1 Gvozdika	122mm	Self-propelled howitzer	Soviet Union	9	/	due to be replaced by 18 more modern systems
RAK-12	128mm	Towed MRL	Croatia	8	60	Croatian-built version of the M-63 Plamen
M-63 Plamen	128mm	Towed MRL	Yugoslavia	200	?	total number is 200, but systems are mostly in reserve
M-94 'Plamen S	128mm	MRL	Yugoslavia	/	14	stored
APR-40	122m	MRL	Romania	36	/	improved Romanian version of the BM-21, some additional units in reserve
M-96 Tajfun	122mm	MRL	Croatia	4	/	based on the Yugoslav M-77 Oganj but of 122mm calibre instead of 128mm, mounted on Tatra T813 instead of FAP trucks
M-91 Vulkan	122mm	MRL	Croatia	8	/	based upon the Yugoslav M-77 Oganj but of 122mm calibre instead of 128mm
M-87 "Orkan"	262 mm	MRL	Yugoslavia		4	in reserve due to lack of adequate rocket ammunition

• Logistics
• Army Jeeps, 4WD (550)
  • • Mercedes-Benz G-Class Germany
    • Land Rover Wolf United Kingdom
    • Toyota Land Cruiser Japan
    • Nissan Navara Japan

• Army Trucks 5-15t (1200)
  • • Mercedes-Benz Germany
    • Iveco Italy
    • MAN Germany
    • TAM (will be retired within next 3–5 years) Slovenia
    • FAP (will be retired within next 3–5 years) Serbia

• • Field Ambulance Trucks and 4WD vehicles (100)
  • Special Vehicles (150)

• Withdrawn from service or in store
  • T-55AMBTPoland, withdrawal of over 200 units started in 2006 with a dozen or so tanks used for training until late 2009, but even that is no longer the case due to shortage of funds and all units have now been withdrawn and awaiting disposal.
  • M60P/M60SAN (45) (Yugoslav-made APCs - scrap heap and 2 in the local army museum)
  • T-55 (207) (slowly being withdrawn from service since 2006, part still operational)
  • M-47 Patton (16) (2 in the local army museum and rest are target practice)
  • BRDM-2
  • BTR-60 (16) (2 in the local army museum, scrap heap)
  • ZSU-57-2 (2) (target practice)
  • M53/59 Praga (24) (2 in the local army museum, scrap heap)
  • 9K11 Maljutka (360) (partially operational and in operational reserve)

See also

• List of military equipment of Croatia
• List of Croatian soldiers