Special Forces Command (Croatia)

The Zrinski Battalion (Croatian: Bojna Zrinski) was the first special forces unit of the Croatian National Guard (Zbor narodne garde – ZNG) and later of the Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska – HV) established in Kumrovec on 18 May 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence. The unit drew personnel from the special police forces and a former French Foreign Legion troops serving as its core. The battalion was set up and initially commanded by Ante Roso, while Major Miljenko Filipović took over as the commanding officer in August.

On 18 May 1991, the Zrinski Battalion was established as a special forces unit of the ZNG. The core of the unit consisted of 27 volunteers drawn from the Kumrovec Special Police Unit (SPU). Initially, it relied on former French Foreign Legion troops.[1] The most senior among the former legionnaires was Ante Roso,[2] previously a Sous-Officier (non-commissioned officer – NCO) in the 4th Foreign Regiment.[3] In consequence, Roso was tasked with setting up the unit as its initial commander.[2] Major Miljenko Filipović, likewise a former French Foreign Legion member, was assigned the battalions deputy commander.[4] The unit was based in the village of Kumrovec in the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje, on the grounds of the former "Josip Broz Tito" political school.[4] The site, adjacent to the border of Slovenia, was selected to be inaccessible to Yugoslav Air Force raids without violation of Slovene or possibly Austrian airspace.[5] In June 1991, the Kumrovec SPU was transferred to Sljeme Peak north of Zagreb leaving Kumrovec base to the Zrinski Battalion,[6] as well as the second special forces unit, the Frankopan Battalion.[5]

The Zrinski Battalion was deployed for the first time on 15 June. It was stationed in Vukovar, tasked with preparation of city defences and organization and training of volunteer troops in Vukovar in June 1991. In August Filipović took over command of the battalion from Roso.[4] The same month, the Zrinski Battalion went to Banovina, where it pushed the Croatian Serb forces out of the town of Hrvatska Kostajnica. In September, the battalion was deployed to Gospić, where it took part in battle to control Gospić against the JNA. Troops assigned to the battalion captured Kaniža barracks in Gospić.[4] During combat in Gospić, 30 troops of the Zrinski Battalion, assisted by Lučko SPU, captured JNA Major General Trajče Krstevski, along with three armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and 32 soldiers.[7] The unit was deployed to Metković on 28 October, tasked with recapturing Slano from the JNA. After the deployment to Gospić, a part of the unit personnel left to Bosnia and Herzegovina anticipating further conflict there, while the remainder of the unit returned to Kumrovec.[4] The ZNG was renamed the Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska – HV) on 3 November 1991.[8] In late 1991, personnel of the Zrinski Battalion set up another special forces unit of the HV — the Matija Vlačić Battalion based in Opatija.[9]

In 1992, elements of the Zrinski Battalion took part in the Battle of Kupres, before setting up a training camp in the town of Tomislavgrad. There the battalion personnel assisted in setting up and trained the Croatian Defence Council (Hrvatsko vijeće obrane – HVO).[4] Later that year, elements of the battalion took part in Operation Tiger—aimed at lifting of the Siege of Dubrovnik.[10] In 1993, elements of the Zrinski Battalion took part in Operation Maslenica, fighting in the area of Škabrnja.[11] The Central Intelligence Agency assessed the Zrinski Battalion as one of the best units of the HV.[1]

On 25 February 1994, the Zrinski Battalion was amalgamated with parts of other special forces units of the HV: Frankopan Battalion, Ban Jelačić Battalion, Matija Vlačić Battalion, Ferdo Sučić Battalion and part of 8th Light Assault Brigade[12] forming the 1st Croatian Guards Brigade (1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug), a component of the 1st Croatian Guards Corps (1. hrvatski gardijski zbor),[12] directly subordinated to the Ministry of Defence rather than the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.[13]

The HGZ took part in several battles of the Croatian War of Independence and the Bosnian War. In late November and December 1994, it participated in Operation Winter '94, the joint offensive of the HV and the Croatian Defence Council (Hrvatsko vijeće obrane – HVO) which pushed the Army of Republika Srpska (Vojska Republike Srpske – VRS) from the western parts of the Livanjsko field in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[14] Elements of the HGZ also saw action along the Novska–Okučani axis of advance in the HV's Operation Flash offensive that took place in western Slavonia in early May 1995.[15] By this time, the HGZ also commanded its own artillery and Mil Mi-24 helicopter gunships, in addition to Mil Mi-8 transport helicopters.[16] The HGZ redeployed west of Livno once again in early June to take part in Operation Leap 2, extending the salient that had been created in late 1994 west towards Bosansko Grahovo and Glamoč.[17] The unit participated in the capture of those towns in late July 1995 during Operation Summer '95.[18]

In preparation for Operation Storm, the HV 4th Guards and 7th Guards Brigades were pulled back from positions facing the VRS that had been established during Operation Summer '95 and were reoriented south towards the Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina (ARSK). The ARSK was protecting the northern approaches to Knin − the capital of the unrecognised Republic of Serbian Krajina − which Croatia claimed as part of its own territory. As the two brigades turned over the positions north and west of Bosansko Grahovo to the HV 81st Guards Battalion, the HGZ was deployed to the rear of the battalion, tasked with intervening in case of any VRS attack towards Bosansko Grahovo.[19] On the second day of the operation, 6 August, after Knin was captured by the HV, the HGZ was airlifted from the Livanjsko field to the village of Rovanjska north of Zadar.[20] They then linked up with the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Guards Brigade and advanced east to capture the villages of Muškovac and Kaštel Žegarski.[21] On 8 August, the HGZ participated in an operation against the last significant ARSK pocket in the area of Donji Lapac and Srb, alongside the three guards brigades and special police forces.[22]

In September 1995, the HGZ took part in Operation Mistral 2, which extended HV and HVO control in western Bosnia and Herzegovina and captured the towns of Jajce, Šipovo and Drvar, moving the confrontation line north towards the Bosnian Serb capital of Banja Luka.[23] In October, the HGZ also participated in Operation Southern Move, which captured the town of Mrkonjić Grad, and reached the southern slopes of Mount Manjača, 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Banja Luka.[24] During Croatian war of independence 71 members of Zrinski Battalion and 1st Croatian Guards Brigade was killed in action, 2 were MIA and 286 were wounded.

The corps was disbanded in 2000 and its constituents reorganized.[25] A part of the HGZ was amalgamated with the Special Combat Skills Centre Šepurine to form the Special Operations Battalion (Bojna za specijalna djelovanja, BSD).[26] The remainder of the brigade was amalgamated with the Reconnaissance-Sabotage Company based in Pula, the 350th Sabotage Detachment, the 280th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platoon, and the 275th Electronic Warfare Company to form the 350th Military Intelligence Battalion.[27] The elements of the corps which were tasked with security of the President of Croatia and ceremonial duties were reformed and the Honour Guard Battalion was established in their place.[12]

The BSD was composed of one command section and five companies, each specialized for a different variety of missions: 1st Special Operations Company specialized for airborne and pathfinder operations, 2nd Special Operations Company specialized for alpine and mountain operations, 3rd Special Operations Company specialized for naval and amphibious operations, 4th Special Operations Company specialized for urban and anti-terrorist operations and Fire Support Company specialized for sniper and mortar training and fire support with snipers to other four BSD companies.

Special Operations Battalion was elevated and transformed into Special Operations Command in December 2014.

The Special Forces Command is composed of Command Company, two Special Forces Groups, one for special operations on land and one at sea, Commando Company and Training Company.

• Command Company - responsible for command, control and communications, supplies, medical personnel and transport
• 1st Special Forces Group - specialized for special operations on land
• 2nd Special Forces Group - specialized for special operations at sea
• Commando Uskok Company - composed of special forces operators who finished their basic special forces training
• Training Company - responsible for the training of special forces

The Command Company (Croatian: Zapovjedna satnija) based in Delnice. The tasks of the Company Command, based on the provision of timely and complete support to the Command special forces through the segments of medical and transport support, procurement, supply, storage, issuance and maintenance of material and technical equipment, all means of communication and overall logistical support, as well as the implementation of the task of guarding and security of key facilities FSF.

1st Special Forces Group (Croatian: 1. Grupa specijalnih snaga, 1. GSS) based in Udbina. The mission of 1st SFG is planning, preparation, and implementation of special operations involving three basic tasks: direct action (IA), special reconnaissance and surveillance (SI), and military aid (HR), in the land environment, through the full spectrum of military operations in order to support and protection of strategic interests of the Republic of Croatia. The list of tasks important for the mission focused on the ultimate effects that aim to achieve maximum impact on the operational and strategic objectives, and directly support the Special Forces Command. It is clear that certain tasks within a given mission require external support such as, for example, support for air transport, means of communication, intelligence, and logistic support.

2nd Special Forces Group (Croatian: 2. Grupa specijalnih snaga, 2. GSS) based in Lora, Split. The mission of 2nd SFG derives from the Mission Command Special Forces and includes the planning, preparation, and implementation of special operations in three basic tasks: special reconnaissance and surveillance, direct action, and military assistance, with the additional capacity of action under and/or on water surfaces (sea, river, lakes, coastal areas, and all other aquatic environments).

Commando Uskok Company (Croatian: Komando uskočka satnija) based in Delnice. Commando Company consists of a command element, platoons for Special Operations (SOTU) in which the deployment of those who pass the initial phase of training on basic training for Special Operations (TOzSD), and before the next and advanced training by specialties. Commando Company alone or within other forces carries out special operations with disability implementation of direct action and special reconnaissance. Commando Company supports the Group's special forces, allows the professional development of soldiers, NCOs and officers in achieving the skills of Special Forces operatives, and perform other tasks of interest to the Special Forces Command.

Training company (Croatian: Satnija za obuku) based in Delnice. The company's mission of training is to support the basic and specialized training components of Command Special Forces as well as for planning, preparation, and implementation of the full spectrum of special operations, which includes three basic tasks - direct action (IA), special reconnaissance, and surveillance (SI) and military aid (VP), through the full spectrum of military operations. The list of tasks important for the mission focused on the ultimate effects that aim to achieve maximum impact on the operational and strategic objectives directly support the Special Forces Command. It is clear that certain tasks within a given mission require external support such as, for example, aid in air transport, means of communication, intelligence, and logistic support.

• United States Special Operations Command
• Joint Special Operations Command
• Special Operations Command Europe
• 10th Special Forces Group
• 19th Special Forces Group
• Naval Special Warfare Unit 2
• German Special Forces
• Polish Special Forces
• CEDC Special Forces

Books

Scientific journal articles

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special forces of Croatia.

• Croatian Armed Forces Official website
• Military forum Paluba
• Basic training for special forces on YouTube
• Basic training for commando forces in the 90s on YouTube