Croatian Army

The Croatian Army (Croatian: Hrvatska kopnena vojska or HKoV) is the land force branch of the Croatian Armed Forces. It is the largest of its three service branches. The Croatian Army serves as the primary force for defending Croatia against external threats. Its responsibilities include participating in international peace support and humanitarian operations, as well as responding to and mitigating the effects of domestic emergencies caused by natural disasters, technical accidents, or other crises.^[3]

The Army is organized into combat units, combat support units, and service support units. Combat units include mechanized and armored-mechanized infantry. Combat support units cover artillery, air defense, engineering, communications, nuclear-biological-chemical defense, military police, and military intelligence. Service support units provide supply, transport, maintenance, and medical/sanitation services.^[4]

The primary mission of the Croatian Army (HKoV) is to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia. It is responsible for conducting land operations independently or in coordination with other branches of the Croatian Armed Forces, leading combat on land, along the coast, and on the islands.

In the event of war or crisis, the HKoV serves as the backbone and main force for defending national territory and participating in operations abroad within the NATO collective defense system. During wartime, the Croatian Army is tasked with executing joint defensive and offensive operations to protect Croatia’s territorial integrity and to support allied defense commitments in accordance with Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty.^[4]

• Achieve and maintain an optimal level of readiness to deter aggression against the Republic of Croatia.
• Develop and maintain the capability to participate in joint operations and conduct defensive and offensive operations.
• Develop and maintain the ability to carry out non-traditional military tasks and respond to asymmetric threats, including terrorism, illicit trade, and smuggling of weapons of mass destruction, people, or drugs.
• Develop and maintain the capacity to participate in international military and humanitarian operations as part of multinational forces.
• Participate in international peace support operations.
• Support allied forces operating in Croatia.
• Engage in arms control activities and promote confidence- and security-building measures.
• Maintain the ability to support civil institutions during domestic crises, including disaster relief, protection, and rescue operations.
• Provide communication and information support to the Croatian Armed Forces.^[4][3]

The Croatian Army has contributed to the following NATO missions since 2015:^[5]

• 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

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^[6]
• UN Mission in Sierra Leone
• UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
• UN Mission in South Sudan^[7]
• UN Mission in Liberia
• UN Mission in Cyprus

The Croatian Army celebrates its day on 28 May, commemorating the day when members of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th brigades of the Croatian National Guard (ZNG) were lined up and sworn in at the NK Zagreb stadium on Kranjčevićeva Street in Zagreb.^[3] The formation of the first ZNG units followed the “Bloody Easter” of 1991, when it became clear that the Republic of Croatia would need organized military forces to defend itself.

The initial units of the National Guard Corps are considered the foundation of the Croatian Army’s ground forces. From their active cores, the guard brigades were formed:

• 1st Guards Brigade “Tigrovi”
• 2nd Guards Brigade “Gromovi”
• 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune”
• 4th Guards Brigade “Pauci”

These brigades were the backbone of all operations carried out by the Croatian Army during the Homeland War.^[8][9] Alongside the reserve infantry brigades, also founded in 1991, members of the guard brigades fought in key battles across Croatia, including Vukovar, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Karlovac, Gospić, Novska, and Okučane, as well as in Posavina, Banovina, Lika, eastern Slavonia, and the southern hinterlands of Zadar, Šibenik, and Dubrovnik.

Professional and reserve members of the Croatian Army played a central role in planning and executing operations such as “Spaljena Zemlja” (1992), “Maslenica” (1993), and the liberation operations of 1995 that restored the Republic of Croatia’s territorial integrity. They were the main force in major operations such as “Flash”, “Summer ’95”, and “Storm”.^[10] Following the success of “Storm,” operations “Mistral” and “Southern Move” further consolidated military gains. The 1995 campaigns established a regional military balance of power, compelling the opposing side to recognize Croatian military strength and ultimately facilitating the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region.^[11][12]

Numerous Croatian Army units trace their origins to the ZNG, 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

Following the end of the Homeland War, the Croatian Army began a process of transformation, downsizing, and transition to a peacetime structure based on a territorial defense principle.

At the end of 2002, the formation of the Croatian Ground Forces / Croatian Army as a distinct branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia began. Lieutenant General Marijan Mareković became its first commander and led the branch until 19 March 2007.

After its initial organization, the Croatian Army, in addition to defending national sovereignty, also assumed responsibilities for participating in NATO-led international operations and United Nations missions.

In 2007, the Croatian Army abandoned the corps structure and the territorial principle of defense through a reorganization, reducing four brigades to two, with their commands based in Vinkovci and Knin.

The Army’s two major combat formations are:

1. Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade
   • 1 Tank Battalion, equipped with M-84A4 Sniper main battle tanks
   • 2 Armoured Mechanized Battalions, equipped with BVP M-80A1 infantry fighting vehicles
2. Guards Mechanized Brigade
   • 3 Mechanized Battalions, equipped with Patria CRO armored personnel carriers
   • 1 Motorized Battalion, equipped with Oshkosh M-ATV vehicles

Both brigades also include supporting units:

• 1 Artillery and Rocket Battalion
• 1 Air Defence Battalion
• 1 Engineer Battalion
• 1 Reconnaissance Company
• 1 Signals Company
• 1 Logistics Company
• 1 Command Company

This organizational structure emphasizes a small, highly capable force designed for mobility, versatility, and rapid deployment. The brigades are structured to operate flexibly, both independently and as part of a larger multinational force. To maintain this capability, personnel undergo rigorous training and are equipped with modern weapons systems that prioritize precision, rapid maneuverability, and interoperability with NATO partners.

To enhance readiness and integration with allied forces, the Croatian Army participates in numerous annual exercises such as “SHIELD”, “Immediate Response”, and “SAVA STAR”, among others. It also contributes to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence missions in Europe.^[13][14]

Reserve units were a foundational element of the Croatian Army during the Homeland War. The Home Guard was restored as a separate reserve component within the Army, operating under a unique command system. After the war, the Home Guard was disbanded and demobilized, and with the 2003 reorganization of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Home Guard was officially abolished.

For several years after joining NATO, Croatia maintained only active-duty units, totaling approximately 16,000 personnel. In 2014, a decision was made to re-establish the reserve component.

By 2018, twelve reserve units had been formed:

• 6 Infantry Regiments
• 2 Artillery and Rocket Regiments
• 1 Air Defence Regiment
• 1 Logistics Regiment
• 1 Engineer Battalion
• 1 Signals Battalion

In 2020, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Robert Hranj announced plans to develop an operational reserve, consisting of smaller, highly trained units with a high state of readiness. These units are intended to perform a wide range of tasks, from supporting civilian institutions throughout Croatia to engaging in combat operations.^[15]

• List of Croatian soldiers
• Military history of Croatia