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| Yugoslav People's Army | |
|---|---|
| Jugoslovenska narodna armija Југословенска народна армија Jugoslavenska narodna armija | |
 JNA Emblem till 1991 | |
| Founded | 22 December 1941 |
| Disbanded | 20 May 1992 |
| Service branches | Yugoslav Ground Forces (KoV) Yugoslav Navy (JRM) Yugoslav Air Force (JRV) Territorial Defense (TO) |
| Headquarters | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Josip Broz Tito (1945–1980) President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia (1980–1992) |
| Federal Secretary of People's Defence | See list |
| Chief of the General Staff | See list |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 15–65 |
| Conscription | 18 |
| Available for military service | c. 12,000,000 (1978), age 15–65 |
| Active personnel | Less than 275,341 in 1990. Less than 160,000 in 1991. |
| Reserve personnel | Most of reserve 960,000 in 1990 within territorial defense during war; 783,037 in reserve for YPA in 1990. |
| Related articles | |
| History | History of the JNA |
| Ranks | Yugoslav People's Army ranks |
The Yugoslav People's Army (Serbian: Југословенска народна армија, ЈНА / Jugoslovenska narodna armija, JNA; Serbian: Југословенска народна армија, ЈНА / Jugoslovenska narodna armija, JNA; Croatian: Jugoslavenska narodna armija, JNA; Slovene: Jugoslovanska ljudska armada, JLA; Macedonian: Југословенска народна армија, ЈНА, romanized: Jugoslovenska narodna armija, JNA), also called the Yugoslav National Army,[1][2] was the military of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1992 and primary part of Yugoslavia armed forces.
Origins
The origins of the JNA can be found in the Yugoslav Partisans of World War II. As part of the anti-fascist People's Liberation War of Yugoslavia, the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (NOVJ), a predecessor of the JNA, was formed in the Bosnian town of Rudo on 22 December 1941. After the Yugoslav Partisans liberated the country from the Axis Powers, that date was officially celebrated as the "Day of the Army" in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFR Yugoslavia).
In March 1945, the NOVJ was renamed the "Yugoslav Army" ("Jugoslovenska Armija") and, on its 10th anniversary, on 22 December 1951, received the adjective "People's" ("Narodna").[3]
Task and command structure
Under the constitution and laws of SFR Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav People's Army was part of armed forces together with Territorial Defense (Yugoslavia) as joint armed forces of all working people and citizens of Yugoslavia.
The main task of the Yugoslav People's Army was to protect independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and social organization of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.[4]
Though the Presidency of Yugoslavia was the supreme commander of the armed forces and in command of Yugoslav People's Army, some task from presidency could be given through secretary of defense. Secretary of defense was officer with highest military rank that could command armed forces of Yugoslavia including Yugoslav People's Army and Territorial Defense. While President of Yugoslavia was in function he was, under the constitution, the supreme commander of armed forces that includes YPA and TO and he could also pass some of his duties as supreme commander to secretary of defense. They had the power to give highest military ranks, such as general or admiral, and to promote or relieve of duty the highest military officers. Secretary of defense was in charge of Yugoslav People's Army. Ch
The origins of the JNA can be found in the Yugoslav Partisans of World War II. As part of the anti-fascist People's Liberation War of Yugoslavia, the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (NOVJ), a predecessor of the JNA, was formed in the Bosnian town of Rudo on 22 December 1941. After the Yugoslav Partisans liberated the country from the Axis Powers, that date was officially celebrated as the "Day of the Army" in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFR Yugoslavia).
In March 1945, the NOVJ was renamed the "Yugoslav Army" ("Jugoslovenska Armija") and, on its 10th anniversary, on 22 December 1951, received the adjective "People's" ("Narodna").[3]
Task and command structure
Under the constitution and laws of SFR Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav People's Army was part of armed forces together with Territorial Defense (Yugoslavia) as joint armed forces of all working people and citizens of Yugoslavia.
The main task of the Yugoslav People's Army was to protect independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and social organization of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.[4]
Though the Presidency of Yugoslavia was the supreme commander of the armed forces and in command of Yugoslav People's Army, some task from presidency could be given through secretary of defense. Secretary of defense was officer with highest military rank that could command armed forces of Yugoslavia including Yugoslav People's Army and Territorial Defense. While President of Yugoslavia was in function he was, under the constitution, the supreme commander of armed forces that includes YPA and TO and he could also pass some of his duties as supreme commander to secretary of defense. They had the power to give highest military ranks, such as general or admiral, and to promote or relieve of duty the highest military officers. Secretary of defense was in charge of Yugoslav People's Army. Chief of Staff of Yugoslav People's Army in case that Secretary of defense was prevented or absent to fulfill his function was formally his deputy who could take command of armed forces. In 1987, under decree of Presidency of Yugoslavia, General Staff of YPA was renamed into General Staff of Armed forces of Yugoslavia thus giving effectively command of YPA and TO to one military body in order to effectively command with armed forces in case of war according to law of "All-peoples defense" from 1982.[5][6]
Organization
The Yugoslav Air Force had about 32,000 personnel including 4,000 conscripts, and operated over 400 aircraft and 200 helicopters. It was responsible for transport, reconnaissance, and rotary-wing aircraft as well as the national air defence system. The primary air force missions were to contest enemy efforts to establish armour, artillery, and air defence, as well as signal, engineering and chemical defence corps.
The Yugoslav Air Force had about 32,000 personnel including 4,000 conscripts, and operated over 400 aircraft and 200 helicopters. It was responsible for transport, reconnaissance, and rotary-wing aircraft as well as the national air defence system. The primary air force missions were to contest enemy efforts to establish air supremacy over Yugoslavia and to support the defensive operations of the ground forces and navy. Most aircraft were produced in Yugoslavia. Missiles were produced domestically and supplied by the Soviet Union.
The Yugoslav Air Force had twelve squadrons of domestically produced ground attack fighters. The ground attack squadrons provided close air support to ground force operations. They were equipped with 165 new Soko J-22 Orao, Super Galeb and J-21 Jastreb, and older Soko J-22 Orao, Super Galeb and J-21 Jastreb, and older Soko J-20 Kraguj fighters. Many ground attack fighters were armed with AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles purchased from the United States. Others were armed with Soviet Kh-23 and Kh-28 missiles. The air force also had about ninety armed Mi-8 helicopter gunships to provide added mobility and fire support for small ground units. A large number of reconnaissance aircraft were available to support ground forces operations. Four squadrons of seventy Galeb, Jastreb, and Orao-1 fighters were configured for reconnaissance missions.
The Yugoslav Air Force had nine squadrons of 130 Soviet-made MiG-21 interceptors for air defence. First produced in the late 1950s, the MiG-21 design was largely obsolete in 1990 and represented a potential weakness in Yugoslavia's air defence. However, the bulk of the MiG-21 fleet consisted mainly of the bis variant, the latest production MiG-21 model, and was armed with Soviet Vympel K-13 (NATO reporting name: AA-2 "Atoll"), air-to-air missiles and some more modern Molniya R-60 (NATO reporting name: AA-8 "Aphid") missiles as well as twin 23 mm cannons. By 1989, Yugoslavia started developing a new domestic multirole fighter called Novi Avion, which was supposed to replace the MiG-21 and J-21 Jastreb fleets entirely. The design of the new aircraft was influenced by both Mirage 2000 and Dassault Rafale fighter types and it was to enter service by the early 2000s. As an interim solution, a modernization package was planned for the MiG-21 and it is speculated that India's MiG-21 Bison upgrade was actually intended for Yugoslav aircraft. In 1987, Yugoslavia acquired 16 MiG-29s.
Although not officially known at the time, Yugoslavia was rumoured to have been interested in the purchase of certain numbers of Su-25 attack-aircraft and Mi-24 gunships.[citation needed] Instead of developing its own fighter plane, the Novi Avion, the country made a request to licence-build the F-20, but due to unstab
Although not officially known at the time, Yugoslavia was rumoured to have been interested in the purchase of certain numbers of Su-25 attack-aircraft and Mi-24 gunships.[citation needed] Instead of developing its own fighter plane, the Novi Avion, the country made a request to licence-build the F-20, but due to unstable relations with the US, the request was rejected. By the late 1980s, the licensed production of Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopters was also envisaged, but due to the dissolution of the country, it was never realized.
One of the most impressive structures operated by the JNA Air Force was the underground Željava Air Base near the town of Bihać in NW Bosnia-Herzegovina. The structure was made to withstand a nuclear explosion and was destroyed by the JNA in 1992 to prevent its capture. Željava was home to the 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which was composed of the 124th and 125th Fighter Squadrons, equipped with MiG-21Bis fighters, and the 352nd Reconnaissance Squadron, equipped with MiG-21R aircraft.
The Air and Air Defence Forces were headquartered at Zemun and had fighter and bomber aircraft, helicopters, and air defence artillery units at air bases throughout the former Yugoslavia: Batajnica Air Base (Belgrade), Niš Constantine the Great Airport, Slatina Air Base (Priština), Golubovci Airbase (Titograd), Skopski Petrovec, Sarajevo, Mostar, Željava Air Base (Bihać), Pleso (Zagreb), Split Airport, Pula, Zemunik (Zadar), Cerklje ob Krki and many other smaller air bases.
Minor surface combatants operated by the Yugoslav Navy included nearly eighty frigates, corvettes, submarines, minesweepers, and missile, torpedo, and patrol boats in the Adriatic Fleet. The entire coast of Yugoslavia was part of the naval region headquartered at Split, Croatia.
The Partisans had operated many small boats in raids harassing Italian convoys in the Adriatic Sea during World War II. After the war, the navy operated numerous German and Italian submarines, destroyers, minesweepers, and tank-landing craft captured during the war or received as war reparations. The United States provided eight torpedo boats in the late 1940s, but most of those units were soon obsolete. The navy was upgraded in the 1960s when i
The Partisans had operated many small boats in raids harassing Italian convoys in the Adriatic Sea during World War II. After the war, the navy operated numerous German and Italian submarines, destroyers, minesweepers, and tank-landing craft captured during the war or received as war reparations. The United States provided eight torpedo boats in the late 1940s, but most of those units were soon obsolete. The navy was upgraded in the 1960s when it acquired ten Osa-I class missile boats and four Shershen class torpedo boats from the Soviet Union. The Soviets granted a license to build eleven additional Shershen units in Yugoslav shipyards developed for this purpose.
In 1980 and 1982, the Yugoslav navy took delivery of two Soviet Koni class frigates. In 1988 it completed two additional units under license. The Koni frigates were armed with four Soviet P-15 Termit surface-to-surface missile launchers, twin 9K33 Osa (NATO reporting name: SA-8 "Gecko") surface-to-air missiles, and anti-submarine rocket launchers.
The Yugoslav navy developed its own submarine-building capability during the 1960s. In 1990, the main combat units of the submarine service were three Heroj class submarines armed with 533 mm torpedoes. Two smaller Sava class submarines entered service in the late 1970s. Two Sutjeska-class submarines had been relegated mainly to training missions by 1990. At that time the navy had apparently shifted to construction of versatile midget submarines. Four Una-class midgets and four Mala-class swimmer delivery vehicles were in service in the late 1980s. They were built for use by underwater demolition teams and special forces. The Una-class boats carried five crewmen, eight combat swimmers, four Mala vehicles, and limpet mines. The Mala vehicles carried two swimmers and 250 kilograms of mines.
The Yugoslav navy operated ten Osa class missile boats and six Končar class missile boats. The Osa I boats were armed with four P-15 Termit surface-to-surface missile launchers. In 1990, ten domestic Kobra missile boats were scheduled to begin replacing the Osa I class. The Kobra class was to be armed with eight Swedish RBS-15 anti-ship missiles, and fifteen of them were ordered in late 1989. Armed with two P-15 Termit launchers, the Končar class boats were modeled after the Spica class torpedo boats, and there were plans to upgrade them with Swedish-built missiles. Two Kobra missile boats were built by Croatia as the Kralj-class fast attack craft and both are still in service. The navy's fifteen Topčider-class torpedo boats included four former Soviet Shershen-class and eleven Yugoslav built units.
The Yugoslav navy's mine warfare and countermeasures capabilities were considered adequate in 1990. It operated four Vukov Klanac-class coastal minesweepers built on a French design, four British Ham class minesweepers, and six 117-class inshore minesweepers built in domestic shipyards. Larger numbers of older and less capable minesweepers were mainly used in riverine operations. Other older units were used as dedicated minelayers. The navy used amphibious landing craft in support of army operations in the area of the Danube, Sava, and Drava rivers. They included both tank and assault landing craft. In 1990, there were four 501-class, ten 211-class, and twenty-five 601-class landing craft in service. Most of them were also capable of laying mines in rivers and coastal areas.
The Yugoslav Navy had 10,000 sailors (including 4,400 conscripts and 900 marines). This was essentially a coastal defence force with the mission of preventing enemy amphibious landings along the country's rugged 4,000-kilometer shoreline and coastal islands, and contesting an enemy blockade or control of the strategic Strait of Otranto. The entire coast of Yugoslavia was part of the naval region headquartered at Split. The naval region was divided into three smaller naval districts and a riverine flotilla with major naval bases located at Split, Šibenik, Pula, Ploče and Kotor on the Adriatic Sea, and Novi Sad on the River Danube. The strategic islands of Vis and Lastovo were heavily fortified and unauthorised entry was prohibited. The fleet was organized into missile, torpedo, and patrol boat brigades, a submarine division, and minesweeper flotillas. The naval order of battle included four frigates, three corvettes, five patrol submarines, fifty-eight missile, torpedo, and patrol boats, and twenty-eight minesweepers. One antisubmarine warfare helicopter squadron was based at Split on the Adriatic coast. It employed Soviet Ka-25, Ka-28, and Mi-14 helicopters, and domestic Partisan helicopters. Some air force fighter and reconnaissance squadrons supported naval operations.
Yugoslav Constitution from 1974 contain the principle of trying to have most proportional representation of Yugoslavia’s republics and autonomous provinces in the high army ranks. It is defined in article 242 of constitution which says that "Regarding the composition of staff and the employment in the high command and leadership functions in the Yugoslav People’s Army the principle is applied of as proportional representation as possible of republics and autonomous provinces."[10] Serbs, Montenegrin's, and Yugoslavs where by some opinion over represented in the officer corps but that was still in accordance with cited constitution. JNA according by some opinions in 1980 was dominated by Serbs, including the chief of the armed forces, minister of defense and secretary of the LCY in the JNA.[11] Nobody was preventing anyone in Yugoslavia to become YPA officer in accordance to law "Zakon o vojnim školama i naučnoistraživačkim ustanovama Jugoslovenske narodne armije" that had no exclusions clause. Proportional presentations was to be between republics and autonomous provinces according to cited part of constitution and not between nations. Military schools in Yugoslavia in accordance with law about military schools where built in all Yugoslavia Republics. In Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Croatia military schools together possessed 38.391 annual capacity or 50.54% of total compared to Republic of Serbia which had 30.843 capacity for educating military personnel that constituted about 40.62% of total capacity and rest was among other republics.[12]
Representation of the main nations and nationalities of Yugoslavia in the general population and the armed forces:[13]
| In Yugoslavia 1981 | In Active Army Staff 1985 | Among Officers 1981 | Representation of the main nations and nationalities of Yugoslavia in the general population and the armed forces:[13]
Ethnic distribution among higher ranks of the JNA:[14]
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Croatian National Guard