annual 2010/2011 of the croatian academy of engineering - HATZ

Annual 2010/2011 of the Croatian Academy of Engineering 51
2 Croatian Army requirements and organized production of armoured
vehicles
Considering the war situation, the Croatian Army required increasingly better military
equipment, with better technical protection characteristics, with greater mobility and better
possibility of combat activity as well as their supporting logistics, spare parts and intervention
team. In this way the Croatian Army wanted to increase tactical and strategic mobility
of the Croatian Army at the whole operation zone of the Republic of Croatia.
Requirements for better equipment were based upon three important factors: armour protection,
mobility and repower. Commanders demand the mobility of repower and this
is possible only by means of armoured combat vehicles for it can lead to faster change in
conducting combat operations. It was not enough anymore that the soldier could only be
transported at the battleeld protected by armour, moreover repower from various arms
was required as well as supporting technical logistics. Such vehicles from which infantry
can lead the battle should be produced and leave the vehicle only in emergency case and
reconnaissance. The basis of it can be multi-purpose light combat vehicles on wheels intended
for various combat activities in the system of mechanized reconnaissance units,
forces for fast activities and general support forces. Thus, armoured vehicles on wheels
complement with armoured vehicles on tracks during tactical activity.
Means of transport for troop transport, military trucks, ambulance vehicles, towing vehicles
for MB-120 mm heavy mortars were required from the Croatian army as a priority,
and then requiring better armoured vehicles with the possibility to apply weapons. For the
purpose of vehicle standardization for the army multi-purpose vehicles are recommended
in order to be used for various tasks.
The Sector for Development, Production and Scientic Research intensies development
and production for defence, which speeds up the implementation of projects for armoured
vehicles and supporting logistics development.
During the 1991 - 1993 period the following production of armoured vehicles, trucks and
overhaul support was established and realized:
- 120 mm Self-propelled mortar, year 1991
- Military truck TK 130 T-7 4x 4 Torpedo, year 1992
- Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) 4x 4, year 1993
- Army Maintenance Depot, Zagreb, year 1991
2.1 Development and production of 120 mm self-propelled mortars
It is estimated that the Croatian Army has at its disposal a sufcient number of terrain vehicles
(TAM 150 T11 6x6) which can meet tactical-technical requirements of multi-purpose
armoured vehicle production. The project was given to a scientic-research institution –
Brodarski Institute Zagreb, which already has experts and experience in the development
of complex military objects. It was the rst complex development project of the Ministry
of Defence which was initiated with the scientic-research institution. The complete
preparation of the project was led by professional adviser in The Sector for Development,
Production and Scientic Research, Dinko Mikuli, MSc, and the head of the Special Projects
Department in Brodarski Institute, Vladimir Koroman, MSc. The implementing body
– Brodarski Institute obliged to design, construct and deliver the prototype and establish
the production of the multi-purpose armoured vehicle with a built-in MB-120 mm mortar
and PAM 12.7 mm heavy machine-gun. There are three project phases:
1. The construction of a functional model to full functionality