Strategic Situation and Opposing Forces
The major strategic problem of Croatia is that the country is very narrow at several places, making it vulnerable to being fragmented. Several such locations lay in Dalmatia, making them an attractive target for the attackers.
The situation was only worsened because the areas under Serb control were situated along the majority of Croatia's eastern borders, making all those locations within reach.
Serb militia (the local territorial defence, "TO") serving as (generously equipped) infantry was actively supported by the 9th Corps. The JNA 9th Corps in Knin was the only JNA Corps subordinate to the JNA Navy command of the Naval District, rather than the land forces of the 5th Army District. Under its command were:
- One armored battalion of some 60 tanks and APCs,
- One motorized infantry brigade (with another 40 tanks and APCs),
- A mixed artillery regiment (rocket launchers and heavy guns),
- One mixed antitank artillery regiment,
- An engineering regiment,
- A Territorial Defence Brigade,
- And support units.
In total, there were 108 armored vehicles attached to these forces. The JNA also had strong garrisons in Šibenik, Zadar and Split over which fighting took place during the Battle of the barracks.
The Croatians had significant infantry, but these were mostly ill-equipped and without any heavy weapons. Until later in the year, some units were even lacking basic equipment like rifles and ammunition. Veterans tell stories of using Coca-Cola cans stuffed with explosives as hand grenades.
On paper, the Croatian army had several infantry brigades under the 6th Operational Zone Command, including those recruited from the population in Zadar (112th) and Šibenik (113th) which took the brunt of the fighting. However, most conscript brigades were actually severely under-strength, being the size of only two reinforced battalions instead of the regular four in brigade organizational system.
Split's 4th "Spiders" Motorized Guard Brigade was the best equipped and trained Croat military unit in Dalmatia. It was used as a mobile reserve, being redeployed to areas needing the greatest firepower.
Like in most of Croatia at the time of 1991, lack of military units forced local Police to be committed to the fighting, as well as peoples volunteer units to be formed.
Read more about this topic: Operation Coast-91
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