The Serbian Army (Serbian: Копнена војска Србије, romanized: Kopnena vojska Srbije, lit. 'Serbian Land Army') is the land-based and the largest component of the Serbian Armed Forces.
| Serbian Army | |
|---|---|
| Копнена војска Србије | |
 Emblem of the Serbian Army | |
| Founded | 1830 (current form since 2006) |
| Country |  Serbia |
| Type | Army |
| Size | 13,200 (2021 est.)[1] |
| Part of |  Serbian Armed Forces |
| Command HQ | Niš, Serbia |
| Motto(s) | For freedom and honour of the Fatherland (Za slobodu i čast Otadžbine) |
| Anniversaries | 16 November |
| Engagements | Serbian Revolution Serbian-Turkish Wars (1876–1878) Russo-Turkish War Serbo-Bulgarian War Balkan Wars World War I Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt. General Milosav Simović |
| Army Sergeant Major | Warrant officer 1st class Mladen Pupovac |
| Notable commanders | Vojvoda Radomir Putnik Vojvoda Stepa Stepanović Vojvoda Živojin Mišić Vojvoda Petar Bojović |
| Insignia | |
| Flag |  |
History
editOriginally established in 1830 as the Army of Principality of Serbia and after Serbia's independence it subsequently grew in size and was renamed the Royal Serbian Army. After the World War I it was incorporated into the newly established Royal Yugoslav Army which was in turn transformed into Yugoslav Ground Forces of the Yugoslav People's Army after the World War II. The Serbian Army in its current form has been active since 2006 when Serbia restored its independence.
Missions
editThe Serbian Army is responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia from foreign hostiles; participating in peacekeeping operations; and providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
The Army i.e. infantry battalions of its 2nd, 3rd and 4th brigades are tasked with securing the 384 kilometers long and 5 km wide Ground Safety Zone along the administrative line between Serbia and Kosovo with over 20 camps and security checkpoints.[2]
Structure
editThe Serbian Army consists of six brigades, six independent battalions directly attached to the Army Command, as well as the River Flotilla, the Technical Overhauling Institute and Multinational Operations Training Centre.[3] The four primary army brigades are composed of as many as ten battalions, including: one command battalion, one armored battalion, two mechanized battalions, two infantry battalions, one self-propelled artillery battalion, one self-propelled multiple rocket launcher artillery battalion, one air-defence battalion, one engineer battalion and one logistics battalion.
10th Comm
18th Eng
19th Log
18th Eng
19th Log
11th Inf
14th A-d Art
14th A-d Art
12th S-p Art
17th Mech
17th Mech
111st Inf
13th MRL Art
15th Tank
17th Mech
15th Tank
17th Mech
20th Comm
23rd S-p Art
25th A-d Art
26th Tank
27th Mech
29th Log
210th Eng
23rd S-p Art
25th A-d Art
26th Tank
27th Mech
29th Log
210th Eng
21st Inf
28th Mech
24th S-p Art
22nd Inf
30th Comm
33rd How Art
34th MRL Art
35th A-d Art
36th Tank
39th Log
33rd How Art
34th MRL Art
35th A-d Art
36th Tank
39th Log
31st Inf
32nd Inf
32nd Inf
37th Mech
38th Mech
38th Mech
310th Log
40th Comm
43rd How Art
45th A-d Art
46th Tank
47th Mech
49th Log
410th Eng
43rd How Art
45th A-d Art
46th Tank
47th Mech
49th Log
410th Eng
41st Inf
42nd Inf
48th Mech
42nd Inf
48th Mech
44th MRL Art
Comm
1st H-C Art
2nd H-C Art
3rd Can Art
4th Can Art
S-p C&H Art
Mix Miss Art
69th Log
1st H-C Art
2nd H-C Art
3rd Can Art
4th Can Art
S-p C&H Art
Mix Miss Art
69th Log
1st Pont
Comm
1st River
2nd River
2nd Pont
Log
1st River
2nd River
2nd Pont
Log
5th MP
2nd River
3rd MP
21st Sig
T72 Tank
Arm-Rec
21st Sig
T72 Tank
Arm-Rec
246th NBC
211st Mnt
Army Command attached unit
1st Brigade 
2nd Brigade 
3rd Brigade 
4th Brigade 
Mixed Artillery Brigade 
River Flotilla
Army Command
1st Brigade
- 10th Command Battalion (Novi Sad)
- 11th Infantry Battalion (Pančevo)
- 12th Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (Bačka Topola)
- 13th Self-propelled Multiple Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion (Sremska Mitrovica)
- 14th Air-defence Artillery Battalion (Pančevo)
- 15th Tank Battalion (Sremska Mitrovica)
- 16th Mechanized Battalion (Sremska Mitrovica)
- 17th Mechanized Battalion (Bačka Topola)
- 18th Engineer Battalion (Novi Sad)
- 19th Logistics Battalion (Novi Sad)
- 111th Infantry Battalion (Loznica)
2nd Brigade
- 20th Command Battalion (Kraljevo)
- 21st Infantry Battalion (Raška)
- 22nd Infantry Battalion (Požega)
- 23rd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (Kraljevo)
- 24th Self-propelled Multiple Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion (Valjevo)
- 25th Air-defence Artillery Battalion (Kraljevo)
- 26th Tank Battalion (Kraljevo)
- 27th Mechanized Battalion (Kraljevo)
- 28th Mechanized Battalion (Novi Pazar)
- 29th Logistics Battalion (Kraljevo)
- 210th Engineer Battalion (Kraljevo)
- 211th Mountain Battalion (Priboj, in process of formation)[4]
3rd Brigade
- 30th Command Battalion (Niš)
- 31st Infantry Battalion (Zaječar)
- 32nd Infantry Battalion (Zaječar)
- 33rd Self-propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- 34th Multiple Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- 35th Air-defence Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- 36th Tank Battalion (Niš)
- 37th Mechanized Battalion (Kuršumlija)
- 38th Mechanized Battalion (Kuršumlija)
- 39th Logistics Battalion (Niš)
- 310th Engineer Battalion (Prokuplje)
4th Brigade
- 40th Command Battalion (Vranje)
- 41st Infantry Battalion (Bujanovac, Army Base "Jug")
- 42nd Infantry Battalion (Bujanovac, Army Base "Jug")
- 43rd Self-propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion (Vranje)
- 44th Self-propelled Multiple Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion (Leskovac)
- 45th Air-defence Artillery Battalion (Vranje)
- 46th Tank Battalion (Vranje)
- 47th Mechanized Battalion (Vranje)
- 48th Mechanized Battalion (Bujanovac, Army Base "Jug")
- 49th Logistics Battalion (Vranje)
- 410th Engineer Battalion (Vranje)
Mixed Artillery Brigade
- Command Battalion (Niš)
- 1st Howitzer-Cannon Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- 2nd Howitzer-Cannon Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- 3rd Cannon Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- 4th Cannon Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- Self-propelled Howitzer-Cannon Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- Mixed Missile Artillery Battalion (Niš)
- 69th Logistics Battalion (Niš)
River Flotilla
- Command Company (Novi Sad)
- 1st River Detachment (Novi Sad)
- 2nd River Detachment (Belgrade)
- 1st Pontoon Battalion (Šabac)
- 2nd Pontoon Battalion (Novi Sad)
- Logistics Company (Novi Sad)
Multinational Operations Training Centre
Technical Overhaul Institute "Čačak"
Equipment
edit
The following equipment is in operational use as of 2023:
Armored vehicles
edit- M-84 main battle tank – 232 (including 12 M-84AS1)[5]
- T-72B1MS main battle tank – 30[6]
- BVP M-80 infantry fighting vehicle – 320
- Lazar armoured personnel carrier – 40 Lazar 3[7]
- BRDM-2 armoured reconnaissance vehicle – 66 (30 BRDM-2MS; 36 BRDM-2)[8][9]
- BOV KIV armoured reconnaissance vehicle – 20
- Miloš light armoured vehicle – 43[10]
- Humvee light armoured vehicle – 104[11]
- BOV M-86 light armoured vehicle – 51 (used by military police)[9]
Artillery
edit- Nora B-52 155 mm self-propelled howitzer – 18[12]
- 2S1 Gvozdika 122 mm self-propelled howitzer – 72[9]
- Nora M-84 152 mm howitzer – 36[9]
- M-87 Orkan 262 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher – 4[9]
- M-77 Oganj 128 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher – 60[9]
- M-94 Plamen-S 128 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher – 18[9]
- M74/M75 120 mm mortar[9]
Anti-armour
edit- BOV Polo M-83 tank destroyer (armed with 9M14T Malyutka missile)[9]
- 9M133 Kornet anti-tank missile system
- 9K111 Fagot anti-tank missile system[9]
- 9M14 Malyutka anti-tank missile system[13]
- M80 Zolja anti-tank missile launcher[9]
- M79 Osa anti-tank missile launcher[9]
Air-defence
edit- PASARS-16 short-range surface-to-air missile system (armed with Mistral missiles) – 5 batteries[14]
- 9K35 Strela-10 short-range surface-to-air missile system – 1 battery[9]
- 9K31 Strela-1 short-range surface-to-air missile system – 9 batteries[9]
- Bofors L/70 anti-aircraft gun – 72[9]
- 9K34 Strela-3 MANPADS[9]
- 9K32 Strela-2 MANPADS[9]
Vessels
edit- Neštin class minesweeper – 4
- Type 20 Biscaya class river patrol craft – 3
- Type 22 441 class landing crafts – 5
- RPČ 111 patrol vessel – 1
- River patrol boats – 4
- Tanker – 1
- Degaussing vessel – 1
- Command ship – 1
- RIB 720 rigid inflatable boat – 10
Firearms
edit- Zastava CZ99 pistol[9]
- Zastava M19 assault rifle
- Zastava M21 assault rifle[9]
- Zastava M70 assault rifle[9]
- Zastava M84 machine gun[9]
- Zastava M72 light machine gun[9]
- Zastava M93 anti-material rifle[9]
- Zastava M91 sniper rifle[9]
Ranks
editOfficers
editThe rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Serbian Army[15] |
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| Генерал General |
Генерал-потпуковник General-potpukovnik |
Генерал-мајор General-major |
Бригадни генерал Brigadni general |
Пуковник Pukovnik |
Потпуковник Potpukovnik |
Мајор Major |
Капетан прве класе Kapetan prve klase |
Капетан Kapetan |
Поручник Poručnik |
Потпоручник Potporučnik | ||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
Enlisted
editThe rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serbian Army[15] |
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| Заставник I класе Zastavnik I klase |
Заставник Zastavnik |
Старији Водник I класе Stariji Vodnik I klase |
Старији Водник Stariji Vodnik |
Водник Vodnik |
Млађи водник Mlađi vodnik |
Десетар Desetar |
Разводник Razvodnik |
Војник Vojnik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Brojnost vojski Srbije, Hrvatske, BiH, Crne Gore i Severne Makedonije u 2021". December 28, 2021.
- ^ "NATO for suspension of security zone in Kosovo". Blic Online. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009.
- ^ "The Army | Serbian Armed Forces". www.vs.rs. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "Formira se brdsko-planinski bataljon u Priboju: Posao za nekoliko stotina mladih vojnika". B92.net (in Serbian). March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "Oklopne jedinice Vojske Srbije".
- ^ Srna (December 2, 2017). "Srbija od Rusije dobija 30 tenkova". Nezavisne novine (in Serbian). Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Vojske Balkana imaju 9 vrsta oklopnih osmotočkaša". January 27, 2024.
- ^ "Vojsci Srbije isporučeno 30 tenkova i oklopnih automobila iz ruske donacije". Radio Slobodna Evropa. May 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Armaments – armaments names in this reference are links with detailed explanation read them to clarify technical and other details". Serbian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- ^ "Стефановић о набавци "корнета": Србија сада има убојито оружје".
- ^ "Vojsci Srbije isporučeno 66 Hamvija". July 23, 2023.
- ^ "Stefanović o nabavci "korneta": Srbija sada ima ubojito oružje".
- ^ "Војска Србије – Наоружање Копнене војске – Противоклопна средства – Противоклопна вођена ракета МАЉУТКА". Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
- ^ "[PARTNER 2021] Novi i unapređeni PVO sistemi". October 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "ЧИНОВИ У ВОЈСЦИ СРБИЈЕ". vs.rs (in Serbian). Serbian Armed Forces. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Serbia.