• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Croatia - Naval Infantry

As of 2005 the Naval Infantry consisted of two Infantry brigades, one each in the North and South Naval Sectors. Janes reported that as of late 2011 a Croatian Marine Infantry Battalion of 200 troops was said to be grouped into three Independent infantry companies garrisoned at Pula, Sibenik and Ploce, each of which can call upon a number of MBTs (reportedly 300, assuming an "unlikely" level of operational capability) and as well as 15 helicopters (including Mi-8s) for support. The Battalion was headquartered at Split, though at that time a move to Dubrovnik had been under consideration. The 4th Guards Brigade (based at Split) was transferred to the Croatian Navy as a naval infantry unit in January 2002. Much of the littoral and the many islands are unsuitable for tank warfare and more suited for small-scale, amphibious operations.

On 28 April 1991 a Naval infantry platoon took part on the parade during the Croatian National Guard founding ceremony. During Storm the forces in the Southern Theatre were deployed in a state of preventive combat readiness on the first line, facing the VRS Herzegovinian Corps and units of the Yugoslav Army. In line with the plan for Operation Maestral, the units committed to the mission were the 114th, 115th Brigades, the 116th and 156th Home Guard Regiments, the 1st Dubrovnik Home Guard Battalion, and composite naval infantry detachments from Korcula, Brac and Hvar, along with various other formations. During the war the 53 Bojne Mornaricko Desantnog Pješaštva (53 Bojne MDP) [53 Naval Infantry Landing Battalion] participated in combat operations.

The Cetina is a closed ferry type with a possibility of loading or off-loasding vehicles through fore and aft ramps. The basic purpose of the ship is to transport equipment and armament for the naval infantry [mornarieko pjesastvo] and its embarkation and debarkation on roughly prepared sites, and a possibility of laying of defensive mine fields. The ship can be also used for transport of troops and a variety of ordnance items. The ship revolving crane provides for loading and off-loading of lighter cargo.

The propulsion system consist of two four-stroke diesel engines with maximum continuous power of 1,240 kW and two controlable pitch propellers (CPP). The basic ship voltage is 3 x 380 V, 50 Hz. Emergency voltage is 24 DC. Two generators of 140 kVA each are fitted. The navigation equipment includes sophisticated units which ensure navigation in any meteorological conditions by day and night (gyro-compass, magnetic compass, echo sounder, log, radar, etc.). Fore and aft ramps are fitted for loading and off-loading. The ramps are controlled hydraulically. One ship revolving crane of up to 15 kN carrying capacity is provided at maximum reach of 8.5 m. At the speed of 12 knots, the cruising range is 360 nm. Autonomy is 4 days (tanks capacity enables even longer autonomy and cruising range - to 1,200 nm and 10-12 days). The ship provides full accomodation for 41 person plus 8 auxiliary berths. The hull and the superstructure are made of higher strength shipbuilding steel in welded construction.