The opposing force has seized the island of Žirje and is preparing to commit more manpower so as to strengthen the island’s defence. Naval infantrymen are given the order to carry out an amphibious operation. The offensive action is continued with artillery preparation, air raids and infiltration of forces until the island is liberated at last…

Croatia is not engaged in naval warfare, luckily; outlined in the paragraph above is one of the scenarios of military exercise Harpun 19, which was conducted in the local waters of the central Adriatic from 21^st to 25^th October. CROMIL’s team spent a day on the DBM-81 Cetina landing ship / minelayer and witnessed the Croatian soldiers’ training for the exercise first-hand.

“This is the Croatian Navy’s most important training event this year,” emphasized Capt. Vlade Zoko, commander of landing and transport forces at the exercise Harpun 19.

“The exercise is the crown of year-long training and a testament to the Croatian Navy forces’ high level of training and competence,” explained Captain Zoko, adding that although the Croatian Navy Command was the main authority in the exercise, Harpun 19 was an interservice exercise utilizing all capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces.

So as to enhance the Croatian Armed Forces’ capability of joint engagement, this year’s edition of the exercise implemented lessons learnt and elements recommended at last year’s exercise Velebit 18 – Joint Force.

The exercise began on 21^st October at Zečevo Barracks near the coastal city of Šibenik, where the main command post and directing staff were installed.

On the day of CROMIL’s visit, the exercise’s participants were practising for the aforementioned amphibious operation, which was explained to us by Lt. Kristoforo Bedrina, shipmaster of the DBM-81 Cetina: “Today, you observed a crew who are trained to carry out all tasks at sea. One of those tasks involves transporting and transferring naval platoons and naval infantry from a large landing ship to a small landing boat.” Lieutenant Bedrina added that in the days prior, the crew had gone through training in the domains of amphibious assault, air support, artillery support, special operations, electronic warfare, etc.

A novelty at this year’s edition of the exercise was firing at an air target with the Strela 2M man-portable surface-to-air missile launcher, which was conducted off the DBM-82 Krka landing ship / minelayer with support from the Croatian Army’s Air Defence Regiment. PO3 Ivan Đuka, transporter of man-portable missile launchers at the exercise, said that renewed capability of the Croatian Navy supported the development and strengthening of air defence activities. “Due to the limited amount of space on the vessel and the possibility of rolling, we have to take caution,” explained Petty Officer Third Class Đuka.

The exercise featured the Croatian Navy’s newly-procured, fully operational OOB-31 Omiš coastal patrol vessel and for the first time, surface targets at sea were fired at from the Croatian Air Force’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.

Unlike previous editions of this exercise, Harpun 19 was marked by the introduction of new materiel and equipment. Nevertheless, it is the dedication of individuals and their commanders across all levels that contributes the most to the successful execution of the exercise year after year. Deputy Commander of the Naval Infantry Company Capt. Ante Šarić emphasized: “By combining experience from Croatia’s Homeland War of Independence [1991 – 95] and the youth of our personnel, we have reached the climax of our training. I can say I am quite pleased with my company’s motivation and with the execution of all tasks.”

On the final day of the exercise, the exercise was observed from the Učka motor yacht by Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff General Mirko Šundov, Director of the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff VA Robert Hranj, Commander of the Croatian Navy RADM Ivo Raffanelli, who also acted as exercise commander, representatives of branches of the Croatian Armed Forces and divisions within the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff as well as the defence attaché of the Republic of Poland.

“The aim of the exercise – to demonstrate our training and competence in the preparation and execution of combat activities through co-ordination of the Croatian Armed Forces’ branches and arms – has been fully achieved,” said Rear Admiral Raffanelli, calling the eleventh edition of the exercise Harpun a success.

For the first time, members of the armed forces of France, Italy, Poland and the USA took part in the exercise as observers. General Šundov took notice of their presence, saying that linking up with partner and neighbour states was an added value of the exercise Harpun 19. He also expressed his firm belief that the exercise would acquire international character in the near future, with the Croatia being represented by a national component. Exercise Director Cdre Damir Dojkić was also pleased with what he had witnessed: “Alongside our already verified capabilities to conduct amphibious operations as well as engage in mine warfare and warfare above water, I am pleased to conclude that this exercise has also testified to a significant improvement in our air defence capabilities as well as our capability to provide fire support to naval forces from air.”

CROMIL’s team was convinced that the Croatian Armed Forces were a guarantee of safety in the Adriatic Sea. We will end this story with words from General Šundov: “The Adriatic Sea is the Republic of Croatia’s most valuable resource and the Croatian Armed Forces have the responsibility to preserve it for eternity.”

Nine vessels from the Croatian Navy’s fleet, a military battery as well as members of the Naval Infantry Company and Counter-Mine Diver Platoon participated in the exercise. Also engaged were five vessels belonging to the Croatian Coast Guard, observation posts belonging to the Croatian Navy’s Coastal Surveillance Battalion, two aircraft and four helicopters belonging to the Croatian Air Force as well as forces from the Croatian Army’s Guards Motorized Brigade, the Special Forces Command, the Support Command, the Military Intelligence Regiment, the Cyber Command and the Military Police Regiment. The exercise was backed by the Ministry of the Interior (Marine Police), the Ministry of the Sea, Traffic and Infrastructure (vessels belonging to the local harbourmaster’s office) as well as a volunteer fire department from Rogoznica, a tourist village on the coast.

Text by DORIS RAVLIĆ

Photo by MLADEN ČOBANOVIĆ

Translation by IVA GUGO