Croatian Army
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
- Army command[1]
- 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
- 2nd Mechanized Motorized Guard Brigade Knin
- 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
- Training and Doctrine Command
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
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 |
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 | - |
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 | - |
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 |
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Quantity | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metallic RBG-6 | 40x46mm | Croatia | - | - | |
H&K AG36 | 40x46mm | Germany | - | - |
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 | - |
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.
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 |
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]]] |
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 |
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 |
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.
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)
- Army Trucks 5-15t (1200)
- Field Ambulance Trucks and 4WD vehicles (100)
- Special Vehicles (150)
- Withdrawn from service or in store
- T-55AMBT Poland, 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)