Operation Shield 94

Operation Shield 94
Part of the Bosnian War and the Inter-Bosnian Muslim War
Date 4 November - 20 November 1992 Location Western Bosnia Result Decisive victory for Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia and Republika Srpska
Belligerents
Republika Srpska Serbian Krajina Western Bosnia	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commanders and leaders
Manojlo Milovanović	Atif Dudaković
Units involved
Army of Republika Srpska 1st Krajina Corps NOZB Garda Panteri	Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 5th Corps
Strength
6,500 - 15,000	c. 12,000
Casualties and losses
c. 100 - 195	600 - 700

Operation Shield 94 (Serbian Cyrillic: Operajica Štit 94, Операција Штит 94 ) refers to the offensive in Western Bosnia from the 4th of November to the 20th of November of 1994, the key goal was to fully destroy the 5th Corps, and to recapture lands lost during Operation Grmeć 94. it resulted in Decisive Serbian victory.

Background

In retaliation to the Bosniak offensive named “Operation Grmec 94”, the Army of Republika Srpska would launch an attack on Western Bosnia, this culminated into NATO Bombing a Serbian Air base. The offensive was launched to recapture lands lost in Operation Grmeć 94, successfully capturing a few villages. The operation then devolved into fighting for Bihać itself.

Order of Battle

Phase 1

Serbian general Manojlo Milovanović is given orders to liberate land lost to Bosnian forces during “Operation Grmeć 94”. He is accompanied by multiple tactical groups to spearhead the operation. In the first stages of the Operation rapid progress is made and the Bihać-Petrovac area is recaptured. The 5th Corps then realize Serbian forces were building up on the border. Elements of the 502nd and 501st Bihać brigades burst into action, however they were overrun by the Serbs. The Serbs then captured the village of Cukovi. The Serbs then attempted to capture the village of Ripać, which was lost in Operation Grmeć 94. Ripać was a key position, as it had positions that led to Bihać. The first Serbian Brigade advanced to Bihać, a commander of the brigade, Balać was Killed in Action during the offensive. Despite this, ARBiH resistance was weak, and the 1st Serbian brigade pushed back elements of soldiers from units; 503rd Cazin Brigade, 511th Krupa Brigade, and the 1st Bosnian Liberation Brigade. The Serbs then recaptured Veliki, and occupied 5 kilometers of land, after that, they took the important Drenovo-Tijesno road, also pushing back the Elite 505th Bužim Brigade and the 511th Brigade. Southwest of Bihać, an attack is launched by the 103rd SVK brigade, the goal of it was to take joint HVO-ARBiH lines, the attacked garnered little gains, however an airstrike was launched on ARBiH ammo deposits, successfully trapping down the ARBiH in Bihać. Manojlo Milovanović would stop the offensive for a few days, to call for the surrender of the ARBiH in Bihać, however the ARBiH continued fighting, Manojlo Milovanović then continued the offensive to complete the first stage of the operation, the 3 Serbian tactical groups advanced their way through, despite fierce ARBiH resistance, they pushed the ARBiH 6 kilometers back. 4 days later, all the land lost from Operation Grmeć 94 is recaptured.

Operation Spider

Further information: Operation Spider

The Army of Serbian Krajina and the People's Defense of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia would then join the Second Phase of Operation Shield the goal of the Second Phase was to completely destroyed the 5th Corps. The APZB had been temporarily destroyed during Operation Tiger. However, a new operation named “Operation Spider” would be under-taken to destroy the ARBiH in Bihać.

Aftermath

After the operation, Bihać was fully surrounded, and the APZB was re-established in Operation Spider, which was the Second Phase of Operation Shield 94. Operation Storm would be launched in 1995, with the APZB and Serbian Krajina collapsing.