Operation Amanda
{{Short description|UNPROFOR mission during the Bosnian War}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Operation Amanda
| partof = the Bosnian War
| image = IFOR Leopard 1A5 crushing.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = A Danish IFOR Leopard 1 tank crushing a decommissioned Serbian recoilless gun in 1996
| date = October 25, 1994
| place = near Gradačac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| result = UN victory
| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Republika Srpska (1992–95)}} Army of Republika Srpska
| combatant2 = {{flagdeco|UN}} UNPROFOR
- {{flagdeco|Denmark}} Danish Defence
| commander1 = Unknown
| commander2 = {{flagdeco|UN}} UNPROFOR
- {{flagdeco|Denmark}} 1.Lt J. Christensen
| strength1 = {{flagdeco|Republika Srpska (1992–95)}} 1 T-55 tank
{{flagdeco|Republika Srpska (1992–95)}} Recoilless anti-tank guns
| strength2 = {{flagdeco|UN}} UNPROFOR
- {{flagdeco|Denmark}} 3 Leopard 1A5 tanks
| casualties1 = {{flagdeco|Republika Srpska (1992–95)}} 1 T-55 tank disabled
{{flagdeco|Republika Srpska (1992–95)}} 1 recoilless gun destroyed
| casualties2 = {{flagdeco|UN}} UNPROFOR
- {{flagdeco|Denmark}} 1 Leopard tank lightly damaged
}}
{{Campaignbox Bosnian War}}
Operation Amanda was a United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) mission conducted by Danish peacekeeping troops, with the aim of recovering an observation post, S01, belonging to 9th mech inf coy Nordbat 2 near Gradačac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on October 25, 1994.{{cite web|url=http://www.milhist.dk/post45/boellebank/boellebank_uk.htm |title=Operation Hooligan-bashing – Danish Tanks at War |first=Ole Kjeld |last=Hansen |year=1997 |access-date=29 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523143221/http://www.milhist.dk/post45/boellebank/boellebank_uk.htm |archive-date=May 23, 2013 }}
The engagement
The outpost had been used as a temporary observation post (OPT) but Nordbat wanted to turn it into a permanent observation post. Following a series of sniper attacks by Bosnian Serb forces, the staff of Nordbat 2 decided it was time to "show the flag". A task force was put together with one mechanised infantry platoon from the Swedish 9th Mechanised Infantry Company and one tank platoon from the Danish tank company. One Swedish mechanised infantry platoon put on high alert status in order to provide recovery and rescue services. There were also units from the Jordanian Army with artillery localisation radar and medics with armoured ambulances standing by.
While en route to reoccupying the position, the Danish force, composed of three Leopard 1 tanks, was fired on by a T-55 Bosnian Serb tank.{{cite web|date=17 March 2000|title=Yugoslav events chronology - October 25 entry|url=http://www.uta.edu/cpsees/yec-394.txt#prof|url-status=dead|access-date=29 January 2015|publisher=University of Texas at Arlington|archive-date=11 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511124005/https://www.uta.edu/cpsees/yec-394.txt#prof}} After sustaining slight damage to one of the Leopards, the advancing peacekeeping tanks returned fire, destroying one recoilless rifle and putting the T-55 out of action. The Leopards fired a total of twenty-one 105mm rounds.
The outpost was eventually retaken by UNPROFOR. A statement was issued by the UN about the aftermath of the incident, confirming the fate of the Serb T-55: {{quote |text = The best tank-killing weapon is another tank. In the end, air [support] was not needed.{{cite web|url= http://www.friends-partners.org/friends/news/omri/1994/10/941027.html(opt,mozilla,unix,english,,new) |publisher= Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |title= RFE/RL Daily Report |author= Patrick Moore|date= 27 October 1994 |access-date= 17 February 2021 |quote= The UN stressed that "the best tank-killing weapon is another tank. In the end, air [support] was not needed."}}}}
See also
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite web |url= http://www.uta.edu/cpsees/yec-394.txt#prof |publisher= University of Texas at Arlington |title= Yugoslav events chronology |date= 17 March 2000 |access-date= 29 January 2015 |archive-date= 11 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210511124005/https://www.uta.edu/cpsees/yec-394.txt#prof |url-status= dead }}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.friends-partners.org/friends/news/omri/1994/10/941027.html(opt,mozilla,unix,english,,new)|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |title=RFE/RL Daily Report |date=27 October 1994 |access-date=29 January 2015 |quote=The UN stressed that "the best tank-killing weapon is another tank. In the end, air [support] was not needed." |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231182141/http://www.b-info.com/places/Bulgaria/news/94-10/oct27.rfe |archive-date=December 31, 2014 }}
{{Wars and battles involving Serbs}}
{{Yugoslav wars}}
{{coord|44.879|18.426|type:event_globe:earth_region:BA|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amanda, Operation}}
Category:Battles involving Denmark
Category:History of Republika Srpska
Category:United Nations operations in the former Yugoslavia
Category:1994 in Bosnia and Herzegovina