Operation Amanda

Operation Amanda
Part of the Bosnian War

A Danish IFOR Leopard I tank crushes a decommissioned Serbian antiaircraft gun in 1996
DateOctober 25, 1994
Locationnear Gradačac, Bosnia
Result UN forces recover observation post from Bosnian Serb army
Belligerents
Republika Srpska Army of Republika Srpska Denmark Danish Defence
(as part of UNPROFOR forces)
Commanders and leaders
Unknown First Lieutenant
J. Christensen
Strength
1 T-55 tank
Recoilless anti-tank guns
3 Leopard 1A5 tanks
Casualties and losses
1 T-55 tank disabled
1 recoilless gun destroyed
1 Leopard tank lightly damaged

Operation Amanders was an UNPROFOR mission conducted by Swedish and Danish peacekeeping troops, with the aim of recovering an observation post, S01, belonging to 9 mech inf coy Nordbat 2 near Gradačac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on October 25, 1994.[1]

The engagement

The outpost had been used as a temporary OP (OPT) but Nordbat wanted to turn it into a permanent observation post. Following a series of sniper attacks by Bosnian Serb forces, the staff of Nordbat 2 decided it was time to "show the flag". A task force was put together with one mechanized infantry platoon from the Swedish 9th Mechanized Infantry Company and one tank platoon from the Danish tank company. One Swedish mechanized infantry platoon put on high alert status in order to provide recovery and rescue services. There were also units from the Jordanian army with artillery localisation radar and medics with armoured ambulances standing by.

While en route to reoccupying the position, the Danish force, composed of three Leopard 1 tanks, was fired on by a T-55 Bosnian Serb tank.[2] After sustaining slight damage to one of the Leopards, the advancing peacekeeping tanks returned fire, destroying one recoilless rifle and putting the T-55 out of action. The Leopards fired a total of twenty-one 105mm rounds.[1]

The outpost was eventually retaken by UNPROFOR. A statement was issued by the UN about the aftermath of the incident, confirming the fate of the Serb T-55:

The best tank-killing weapon is another tank. In the end, air [support] was not needed.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Hansen, Ole Kjeld (1997). "Operation "Hooligan-bashing" – Danish Tanks at War". Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  2. "Yugoslav events chronology". University of Texas at Arlington. 17 March 2000. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  3. "RFE/RL Daily Report". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 27 October 1994. Retrieved 29 January 2015. The UN stressed that "the best tank-killing weapon is another tank. In the end, air [support] was not needed."

References