# Croatian Army

The Croatian Army (Croatian: Hrvatska kopnena vojska or HKoV) is the land force branch of the Croatian Armed Forces. It is numerically the largest of the three branches of the Croatian Armed Forces. The HKoV is the main force for the defense of the country against external threats, and in addition to the task of defending the Republic of Croatia, the HKoV also has the task of participating in peace support operations and humanitarian operations as part of international forces, as well as the task of preventing and eliminating the consequences of emergency situations in the country caused by natural and technical accidents and disasters.
The HKoV has units of combat branches (Mechanized and Armoured Mechanized infantry), combat support branches (artillery, air defense, engineering, communications, nuclear-biological-chemical defense, military police and military intelligence units) and services support (supply, transport, maintenance and sanitation).

## Role and Deployment

The basic mission of HKoV is to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia. The Croatian Army is responsible for implementing war operations independently and with the support of other branches, leading the fight on land, on the coast and on the islands.
In an assumed war or crisis situation, the land forces will act as the backbone and main force for the successful implementation of the defense of their own territory and for participation in operations outside the country in the collective defense system of the NATO alliance.
In war situations, the Croatian Army is responsible for the implementation of joint defensive and offensive operations in the defense of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia and participation in the defense of the state and allies in accordance with Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty.

### Tasks of the Croatian Army

* Achieving and maintaining the optimal level of readiness of the forces in order to deter aggression against the Republic of Croatia.
* Development and maintenance of the ability to participate in joint operations and the implementation of defensive and offensive operations.
* Development and maintenance of capabilities for the implementation of non-traditional military tasks and tasks of response to asymmetric threats (terrorism, illicit trade and smuggling of weapons of mass destruction, people and drugs).
* Development and maintenance of the ability to participate in international military operations and humanitarian operations as part of international forces
* Participation in international military peace support operations.
* Participation in supporting the allied forces in Croatia.
* Participation in arms control activities and building confidence and security measures.
* Development and maintenance of the ability to participate in the support of providing assistance to civil institutions in the country in crisis situations, protection and rescue and in support of civil society.
* Communication and information support to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.

### Recent and current operations
#### North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

The Croatian Army has contributed to the following NATO missions since 2015:
* NATO EFP Battlegroups (Hungary, Lithuania & Poland)
* Operation Resolute Support (Afghanistan)
* NATO International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) (Afghanistan)
* Operation Support for Peace (Kosovo)
* NATO Mission in Iraq
* Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea

#### United Nations (UN)

Source:
The Croatian Army was involved in the following UN missions since 2017:
* UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
* UN Interim Force in Lebanon
* UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
In the past, the Croatian Army has also contributed to:
* UN Observer Mission in Georgia
* UN Mission of Support to East Timor
* UN Mission in Sierra Leone
* UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
* UN Mission in South Sudan
* UN Mission in Liberia
* UN Mission in Cyprus

## History

The Croatian Army celebrates its day on May 28 in commemoration of the day when members of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th brigades of the Croatian National Guard were lined up and sworn in at the NK Zagreb stadium in Kranjčevićeva Street in Zagreb. The organization of the first units of the ZNG followed the "Bloody Easter" in 1991, when it became obvious that the Republic of Croatia would have to defend itself with organized military forces. The first units of the National Guard Corps are considered to be the first units of the ground forces of the Croatian Army, and from their active cores came the guard brigades: 1st Guards Brigade "Tigrovi", 2nd Guards Brigade "Gromovi", 3rd Guards Brigade "Kune" and 4th Guards Brigade "Pauci", units which during the Homeland War were the backbone and main bearers of all operations carried out by the Croatian Army. Members of the guard brigades fought on the battlefields throughout the Republic of Croatia during the most difficult battles and decisive moments in the Homeland War, and together with the members of the reserve infantry brigades, which were also founded in 1991, they participated in the battles for Vukovar, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Karlovac, Gospić, Novska and Okučane, in the battles for the preservation of state borders in Posavina, Banovina, Lika, in the east in Slavonia and in the south in the hinterland of Zadar, Sibenik and Dubrovnik. Professional and reserve members of the ground forces of the Croatian Army participated and were the main force and support in the preparation and implementation of operations such as the "Spaljena Zemlja" operation in 1992, the "Maslenica" operation in 1993, and the liberation operations in 1995 which finally led to the liberation of the occupied territory and the establishment of the integrity of the Republic of Croatia. With their strength and the art of warfare, they made the main effort and celebrated as winners in operations "Flash", "Summer '95" and "Storm". After the brilliant victory in "Storm", operations "Mistral" and "Southern Move" followed. The final operations in 1995 established a military balance of power in the region, and the opposing side had to directly recognize Croatian military power, and this balance of power forced the opposing side to peacefully resolve the reintegration of the Croatian Danube region.
Numerous Croatian army units arose from the Croatian National Guard, including:
* 1st Croatian Guards Corps
* 1st Guards Brigade "Tigrovi" (Croatia)
* 2nd Guards Brigade "Gromovi" (Croatia)
* 3rd Guards Brigade "Kune" (Croatia)
* 4th Guards Brigade "Pauci" (Croatia)
* 7th Guards Brigade "Pume"(Croatia)
* Croatian 104th Brigade
* 204th Vukovar Brigade
With the end of the Homeland War, the ground forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia begin their transformation, reduction and transition to a peacetime organization with the territorial principle of defense.
At the end of 2002, the formation of the Croatian Land Army as one of the branches of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia began. The head of the formation is Lieutenant General Marijan Mareković, who is also its first commander and held this position until March 19, 2007.
Shortly after the organization of the HKov unit, in addition to their basic tasks in the defense of the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia, they also receive the tasks of participating in NATO-led international operations and UN missions.
In 2007, the Croatian Army abandoned the corps structure and the territorial principle of defense through a reorganization, and from four brigades two were established with their commands in Vinkovci and Knin.

## Organizational Structure and Status
### Operational art and tactical doctrine

The Croatian Army is an all-volunteer force numbering 7,000 active-duty personnel and 150 civil servants and employees as of 2020. The Army can also call on 6,000 reserve personnel who serve up to 30 days every year.
Two major combat formations of the Croatian Army are the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade which in turn is divided into one tank battalion equipped with M-84A4 Sniper main battle tanks and two armoured mechanized battalions supplemented by M-84A4 Sniper main battle tanks as well as M80A1 infantry fighting vehicles. Second major combat units of the Army are Guards Mechanized Brigade divided by three mechanized battalions equipped with Patria CRO armoured personnel carriers and one motorized battalion equipped with Oshkosh M-ATV vehicles. Both Brigades come equipped with one Artillery Battalion, Air Defence Battalion, Engineer Battalion, one Reconnaissance Company, Signals Company, as well as one Logistics Company.
Such unique organizational structure of the major combat formations, to be organized as a small, highly capable force with an emphasis on mobility, versatility and quality, has as a clear aim of being able to be deployed rapidly and operate with high degree of flexibility as part of a larger multinational combat force. For such an organizational structure to work, it must be deployed with high level of training and equipped with modern weapons systems that put emphasis on precision, quick mobility and interoperability with other NATO partners. To that end, Croatian Army has also been extensively training with its NATO partners in number of yearly exercises such as "SHIELD", “Immediate response”, “SAVA STAR” among the others, as well as being part of NATO Enhanced Forward Presence.

### Reserve component of the Croatian army

Reserve units were one of the foundations on which the Croatian Army was built in the Homeland War. The Home Guard was restored and became a separate part of the Croatian Army as a reserve unit and was subjected to a unique command system. After the war, the Home Guard was disbanded and demobilized, and in 2003, with the reorganization of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Home Guard was abolished. After Croatia had only active units of a total of about 16,000 people for several years after joining NATO, in 2014 it was decided to start re-organizing the reserve component.
In 2018 six reserve units were first formed: 2 artillery and missile regiments, 1 air defence regiment, 1 logistics regiment, and 1 battalion engineering and communications each. In 2020, the Chief of Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Robert Hranj, spoke about plans to establish a certain operational reserve in the coming period whose units will be smaller, but will be characterized by a higher degree of readiness and develop the ability to perform all types of tasks, from supporting civilian institutions in the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia to combat tasks.
Due to Russo-Ukrainian War and intense regional security it has become apparent current Army organization requires significant re-organization. What this re-organization entails is a formation of a 3rd (reserve) mechanized brigade which will need to be fully equipped and ready to be deployed at moment's notice.

### Order of battle

Source:
* Commander of the Croatian Army
** Land Forces Command (Karlovac)
*** Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade - (Vinkovci)
**** Command Company (Vinkovci)
**** Tank Battalion "Kune" (Đakovo)
**** 1st Armoured-Mechanized Battalion "Sokolovi" (Našice)
**** 2nd Armoured-Mechanized Battalion "Pume" (Varaždin )
**** Mixed Artillery Battalion (Bjelovar)
**** Air Defence Battalion (Vinkovci)
**** Engineer Battalion (Vukovar)
**** Reconnaissance Company (Vinkovci)
**** Signals Company (Vinkovci)
*** Guards Mechanized Brigade - (Knin)
**** Command Company
**** 1st Mechanized Battalion "Tigrovi" (Petrinja)
**** 2nd Mechanized Battalion "Gromovi" (Petrinja)
**** 3rd Mechanized Battalion "Pauci" (Knin)
**** Motorized Battalion "Vukovi" (Gospić)
**** Mixed Artillery Battalion (Slunj)
**** Air Defence Battalion (Benkovac)
**** Engineer Battalion (Sinj)
**** Reconnaissance Company (Knin)
**** Signals Company (Knin)
*** Training and Doctrine Command "Fran Krsto Frankopan" (Osijek)
**** Command Company (Osijek)
**** Infantry and Armoured Training Center (Požega/Đakovo)
**** Combat Training Center (Slunj)
**** Simulation Center (Zagreb)
**** Combat Leaders Training Center "Marko Babić" (Udbina)
**** International Military Operations Center ''Josip Briški'' (Rakitje)
**** Reserve Regiments
***** 1st Infantry Regiment (Zagreb)
***** 2nd Infantry Regiment (Osijek)
***** 3rd Infantry Regiment (Karlovac)
***** 4th Infantry Regiment (Pula)
***** 5th Infantry Regiment (Split)
***** 6th Infantry Regiment (Dubrovnik)
***** 2nd Mixed Artillery Regiment (Knin)
*** Air Defence Regiment (Zadar)
**** Command Battery (Zemunik)
**** 1st Mixed Battalion (Zemunik)
**** 2nd Mixed Battalion (Udbina)
**** 3rd Mixed Battalion (Zagreb)
*** Home Command (Karlovac)
*** Mixed Artillery Regiment (Bjelovar)
*** Engineer Regiment (Karlovac)
*** Signals Battalion (Velika Gorica)
*** NBC Defence Battalion (Velika Gorica)

### Training Grounds

* Eugen Kvaternik Training Grounds (Slunj)
* Crvena Zemlja Training Grounds (Knin)
* Gašinci Training Grounds (Đakovo)