“HARPUN 17” EXERCISE

The Distinguished Visitors Day of the Exercise „“HARPUN 17“ of the Croatian Navy was held in the Barracks “Zečevo“ and in the central Adriatic aquatory, and in the naval training range in the island of Žirje on 22 October 2017.

The Exercise was observed by the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević,the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Drago Matanović, the Commander of the Croatian Navy, Rear admiral Predrag Stipanović, the Commanders of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence and of the Support Command, of the Special Forces Command, the representatives of the Croatian Army, defence attaches accredited to the Republic of Croatia and other distinguished visitors.

HARPUN 17 was a live-fire exercise and the main training event of the Croatian Navy in 2017, taking place from 18 -22 October 2017. It engaged also components of the Croatian Army, the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence, the MP Regiment, the Special Forces Command, the Intelligence Division and the CIS Division, who conducted a demonstration exercise of joint operation in seaborne attack. The support to the exercise was provided by the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure, who shared their vessels and the local firefighter associations.
The Distinguished Visitor Day kicked off in the Barracks “Zečevo”, where the Army forces conducted artillery and rocket firing, followed by the Croatian Navy’s missile boats “Vukovar“ and “Dubrovnik“ engaging targets from various distances. The simulated air strike by the forces of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence against high visibility targets , was followed by the airborne landing of the forces of the Special Forces Command, concurrently with the seaborne attack with the landing craft.
The Army forces were taken from the Lora Navy Port to the Exercise area aboard the landing craft minelayers, and were trans-shipped into the landing craft. The Navy forces then engaged air targets with naval guns.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević praised the conduct of the Exercise and the preparedness of the participating forces. The Minister emphasised that the controlled and precise fire control, fast and efficient manoeuvres and synchronised execution of the attack operation evinced that the Croatian Armed Forces are developed the right way. “The Croatian Navy guarantees safety at sea, as it has demonstrated today in the Exercise. The joint operation of the Croatian Navy, Army, Air Force and Air Defence, the Special Forces Command and CIS Division showcased a high level of trainedness, capability and integration of forces. The superbly executed manoeuvres, the precise targeting, the landing of the air force and seaborne attack and other actions dem , descent air force and navy, as well as other activities performed by the members of all participating services have demonstrated their readiness and trainedness, and indicate their ability to complete any tasks before them“, concluded Minister Krstičević.

The Navy Commander, Rear admiral Predrag Stipanović commended the excellent co-operation with other services of the Croatian Armed Forces. “HARPUN 17“ is an exercise of the Croatian Navy, of land and air force forces and others in a predominantly maritime mission which showcased the synergy and togetherness of all services of the Croatian Armed Forces“, stated RAdm Stipanović.
The objective of the Exercise was to demonstrate trainedness and preparedness of the participating forces to prepare and conduct a combat action through synchronised inter-branch and inter-service operation. The Exercise is expected to display integration and fire and manoeuvre direction, as well as the synchronised conduct of seaborne attack operation.

The Exercise engaged a total of 675 members of the Croatian Armed Forces. The Commander of the Croatian Navy, Rear admiral Predrag Stipanović was assigned as Officer Scheduling the Exercise and the Commander of the Croatian Navy Flotilla, Captain (N) Damir Dojkić was the Officer Directing the Exercise.

The Task Force conducting the Exercise comprised seven vessels, one rocket battery and a countermine divers of the Croatian Navy Flotilla, four vessels of the Coast Guard, two fixed-wing and and two rotary-wing aircraft of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence, the forces of the Guards Motorised Brigade of the Croatian Army, the component of the Special Forces Command, the Intelligence Division , the surveillance stations of the Coastal Surveillance Battalion and the components of the CIS Division and of the Support Command.

The Exercise Staff was stationed in the Barracks “Zečevo”; the command of the Exercise was enabled by generated integral digital maritime picture. The multi-sensor data were fused into a real-time digital imagery, facilitating the command of the Exercise.