UNPROFOR, Roto 0, N Coy 3rd Bn RCR, R22eR Battlegroup. Scott Casey
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In early 1992, November Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, received a warning order to prepare to deploy to Croatia as part of the Royal 22e Régiment Battlegroup, ROTO - 0 UNPROFOR.
As our units were both stationed at Lahr, and Baden, Germany, with high levels of training in FIBUA, and the close proximity to Croatia, it was considered a sound decision to put us up for the quick deployment.
November Company, 3RCR Advance Party, 3rd and 4th week of March.
Patrolling and map marking. We noted that in most cases the homes were imploded vs exploded, as it kept the mess to a minimum, and left nothing for the owners to come back to. All part of the ethnic cleansing. We were left somewhat speechless by the sheer volume of destroyed homes.
We encountered a couple T-54/55 MBT's one with a KMT-5M mine roller which was located at the concrete plant a few kilometers east of Sirač. There was a T-34 that has seen better days and was inoperable.
There was also a BOV-3 Armoured Air Defense vehicle with its triple 20mm cannons and another BOV-3 with Saggar anti-tank missiles.
At the onset of the fighting, Croatians up-armoured transport trucks and busses with plate steel. They employed sloped and spaced armour to these "MadMax" trucks.
The Armour threat was definitely becoming something we had no choice but to acknowledge and be concerned about.
Hope the photos and my brief explanations are to everyone's likings.
UNPROFOR Roto 0 Photos.
BOV-3 self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon system, developed in the former Yugoslavia. It is a 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle. The main armament is a turret-mounted M55 A4 B1 towed, triple 20mm anti-aircraft gun mount. The hull is constructed from all-welded steel. It is powered by a Deutz type F 6L 413 F six-cylinder diesel engine.
BOV-1/POLO M-83 Combat Armored Vehicle. It is an all-wheel drive armoured vehicle manufactured in the former Yugoslavia. These vehicles are armed with 6x 9M14MP1 “Malyutka” ATGMs, which are SACLOS guided. These missiles had been bought for the JNA since 1973.
BRDM-2.
BRDM-2.
Canadians posing with a 9K31 Strela-1 (NATO reporting name SA-9 Gaskin), a Soviet-developed amphibious surface-to-air missile system. The system is mounted on a modified BRDM-2 amphibious armored scout car. It is designed for short-range, low-altitude air defense. The BRDM-2 is a 4x4 vehicle with two retractable wheels on each side to enhance off-road capabilities.
BTR-50 and T-55.
Burned out Yugoslavian OT M-60PB armoured personnel carrier (APC).
Two 1V13 Vehicles, NATO Code ACRV M1974/1, and a 2S1 122-mm SP Gun.
Modified civilian truck converted to an armoured vehicle.
M-84 Yugoslav version of the T-72 Main Battle Tank.
T-55 MBT.
T-55 MBT.
T-55 MBT with mine-rollers.
T-55 MBT with mine-rollers.
T-55 MBT with mine-rollers.
T-55 MBT.
T-55 MBT.
T-55 MBT.
MT-55A armoured vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB). It is based on a T-55A medium tank chassis.
T-34/85 MBT.
T-34/85 MBT.
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