The staff of the Rocket Battery of the Air Defence Regiment conducted a six-week course for the attenders of man-portable rocket systems in order to train the member of the Croatian Navy to operate the systems and enhance their air target acquisition capabilities. The course was held in the Barracks “Pukovnik Mirko Vukušić“ and commenced on 26 October 2020.

”The trainees practice operating the simulator for the Igla system and trainer for man-portable rocket system. The trainees take two phases –  a four-week first phase with practicing safe operating the system and first practice shoots on trainers and simulators, and spend one week of field training on the imitation air-targets in the training ranges ”Crvena zemlja” or “Zečevo”.

The final week entails practice shooting against actual targets at Zemunik, with the support from the Croatian Air Force; the actual targets include MiGs-21, Pilatus and Zlin aircrafts or Bell and Kiowa Warrior helicopters”, says 1^st Lieutenant Josip Čulina, the Commander of the 1^st  Rocket Platoon of the Rocket Battery. “The practice in realistic conditions is  important to acquire the expected response in actual aerial attacks“, says 1^st Lt. Čulina.  

Practice shooting

The Strela system is used for outbound targets and the Igla system for inbound targets, and the two are used complementarily throughout the depth of the battlefield.

The trainees need to successfuly complete 200 firing trials in the first phase to be admitted to the more demanding second phase. 

”The second phase entails practice shooting with imitation air target 97 which is fired from the light anti-armour weapon, which requires a calm hand and sharp eye.

The trainees need to complete 100 trial rocket acquisition and firing rounds, after which they  have to perform 100 successful acquisition and firing rounds against actual targets (aircraft and helicopters) in the Barracks ”Pukovnik Mirko Vukušić“.

“These are the pre-requirements for the manpad system operators to conclude  initial phase and ready to take live firing with the rocket“, says 1^st Lt. Čulina.

The live firing is preceded by a trial practice shooting, mostly administered by the Training and Doctrine Command, and a written test checking the familiarity with the systems and safety measures in the training range.

”The five trainees from the Croatian Navy are naval gunners and are acquainted with air defence skills. The Croatian Navy has been intensively upgraded the air target shooting capability to provide aerial defence (to protect the ships at anchorage and in navigation). The firing of man-portable system from the ships is a new capability for the Navy’s,  in addition to the artillery systems“,says 1^st Lieutenant Čulina. More than 30 members of the Croatian Navy have taken the training to date, and they displayed the acquired skills during the live firing in the international military exercise “Štit“ in the Kamenjak promontory.

Experienced instructors

After an extended period of time last year the members of the Croatian Navy practiced firing the Strela-2M portable missile system from the ship last year. We strongly welcome the reactivation of the capability in the Croatian Navy“, said 1^st Lieutenant Čulina.

Alongside the members of the Croatian Navy, the Course was attended by three members of the Air Defence Regiment (two officers and one NCO), who came for refreshment training  to prepare for the Exercise “Shield“, and also by  seven members of the Special Forces Command.

The Course is administered by two experienced instructors who acquired the mastery of portable missile systems during the Homeland War and several younger instructors, which makes a good combination of youth and experience. “We have had an excellent co-operation with the Croatian Navy. The trainees display interest and motivation as it is a new capability which they have to  implement in their work. They are aware of the impending task and highly motivated to acquire new skills”, says the Rocket Battery CSEL and instructor 1^st Sergeant Marin Vidas.

Seaman Marko Martinović (the gunner of the landing craft –minelayer DBM-82) shared his impressions about the Course for our magazine:

”The Course is very well organised, and the instructors are commendable.  It was somewhat demanding until we familiarised better with the systems, but now in the fourth week it is much easier. I am looking forward to the in-field part of the Course to apply what we have learned in the field“ , said Seaman Martinović.

Croatian version:

Mirna ruka i precizno oko