Serbian Army

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Serbian Army

Emblem of the Serbian Army
Active 2006–present
Country Serbia
Type Army
Size 57,000 (2014)
Command HQ Niš
Anniversaries November 16
Commanders
Current commander Lieutenant general Aleksandar Živković

The Serbian Army (Serbian: Копнена Војска / Kopnena Vojska) is the land-based component of the Serbian Armed Forces, responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia from foreign hostiles; participating in peacekeeping operations; and providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Originally established in 1838, the Serbian army was incorporated into the newly established state of Yugoslavia in 1918. The current Serbian army has been active since 2006 when Serbia restored its independence.

Current status

The Serbian Army is the largest component of the Serbian Armed Forces. There are approximately 53,000 active members and 170,000 reservists. The army is composed entirely of professionals and volunteers following the suspension of mandatory military service on January 1, 2011.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th army brigades are tasked with securing the 5 km (2.5 mi) wide Ground Safety Zone (GSZ) along the administrative line between Central Serbia and the disputed territory of Kosovo[a]. The GSZ extends 384 kilometres long and covers a total area of about 1,920 square kilometres. There are over 20 camps and security checkpoints in the zone.[1]

There are plans to increase the Serbian army's involvement in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations abroad.[2][3]

Formations and structure

Structure of the Serbian Army (click to enlarge)

Following the 2006 reorganization, the Serbian Army consists of six primary brigades. The four army brigades are larger than a conventional modern brigade, their size is more akin to a division.[citation needed] Each army brigade consists of ten battalions: one command battalion, one armored battalion, two mechanized battalions, two infantry battalions, one self-propelled artillery battalion, one air defense battalion, one engineering battalion and one logistics battalion. The only exception is the 1st army brigade, being one infantry battalion short.

Serbian Army - major combat units
green pin - army brigades, red pin - special brigade
  • Army Command (Niš)
    • 3rd Military Police Battalion (Niš)
    • 5th Military Police Battalion (Belgrade)
    • 246th NBC Battalion (Kruševac)
    • 21st Signal Battalion (Niš)
Serbian Army uniform M10
  • 1st Brigade (Novi Sad)
    • 10th Command Battalion
    • 11th Infantry Battalion
    • 12th Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
    • 13th Self-Propelled Missile Launcher Artillery Battalion
    • 14th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
    • 15th Tank battalion
    • 16th Mechanized Battalion
    • 17th Mechanized Battalion
    • 18th Engineer Battalion
    • 19th Logistic Battalion
  • 2nd Brigade (Kraljevo)
    • 20th Command Battalion
    • 21st Infantry Battalion
    • 22nd Infantry Battalion
    • 23rd Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
    • 24th Self-Propelled Missile Launcher Artillery Battalion
    • 25th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
    • 26th Tank Battalion
    • 27th Mechanized Battalion
    • 28th Mechanized Battalion
    • 29th Logistic Battalion
    • 210th Engineer Battalion
  • 3rd Brigade (Niš)
    • 30th Command Battalion
    • 31st Infantry Battalion
    • 32nd Infantry Battalion
    • 33rd Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion
    • 34th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion
    • 35th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
    • 36th Tank Battalion
    • 37th Mechanized Battalion
    • 38th Mechanized Battalion
    • 39th Logistic Battalion
    • 310th Engineer Battalion
  • 4th Brigade (Vranje)
    • 40th Command Battalion
    • 41st Infantry Battalion
    • 42nd Infantry Battalion
    • 43rd Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion
    • 44th Self-Propelled Rocket Launcher Battalion
    • 45th Air Defense Artillery Rocket Battalion
    • 46th Tank Battalion
    • 47th Mechanized Battalion
    • 48th Mechanized Battalion
    • 49th Logistic Battalion
    • 410th Engineer Battalion
  • Mixed Artillery Brigade (Niš)
    • Command Battalion
    • Mixed Missile Artillery Battalion
    • 1st Howitzer-Cannon Artillery Battalion
    • 2nd Howitzer-Cannon Artillery Battalion
    • 3rd Cannon Artillery Battalion
    • 4th Cannon Artillery Battalion
    • 69th Logistics Battalion
  • River Flotilla (Novi Sad)
    • Command Company
    • 1st River Detachment
    • 2nd River Detachment
    • 1st Pontoon Battalion
    • 2nd Pontoon Battalion
    • Logistic Company

Equipment

Main article: Equipment of the Serbian Army
M-84 main battle tank

Armoured fighting vehicles

Artillery

Nora 152mm howitzer

Anti-armour

Zastava M21 assault rifle

Air-defence

Small arms

Zastava M93 anti-material rifle

Notes

a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo. The latter declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. Kosovo's independence has been recognised by 108 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References

  1. ↑ "NATO for suspension of security zone in Kosovo". Blic Online. 20 January 2009. 
  2. ↑ "Plan of the Serbian Army participation in peace operations approved". International Radio Serbia. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Army improves Serbia's global reputation". B92. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 "Armaments - armaments names in this reference are links with detailed explanation read them to clarify technical and other details". Serbian Armed Forces. 
  5. ↑ "Course for operating off-road vehicles Hummer". Serbian Armed Forces. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.vs.rs/index.php?content=263298ec-032c-102c-8859-e480d5acdc4a

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military of Serbia.
Armies (land forces) in Europe
Sovereign states
  • Abkhazia
  • Kosovo
  • Nagorno-Karabakh
  • Northern Cyprus
  • South Ossetia
  • Transnistria
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