The primary element of the exercise was the navy.
The military exercise of the Croatian Armed Forces “Harpoon 17” proved that the Croatian Navy is a guarantor of security at sea, said on Sunday Croatia’s Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, reports Jutarnji List on October 23, 2017.
It demonstrated this during the exercise which was conducted jointly with all branches of the armed forces, said Krstičević, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence. Precise fire control, fast and efficient force manoeuvres and joint action during the implementation of an attack operation is proof that we are developing the military in the right way, the Minister said.
“We have seen a high level of training and capabilities, as well as the integration of power through the combined action of various forces. Exceptional manoeuvres and precision shooting of land forces, air force and navy, as well as other activities demonstrated by members of all branches of the armed forces participating in the exercise, are guarantor of their readiness and capabilities, as well as an indicator that they are able to accomplish all the tasks which are ahead of us,” said Minister Krstičević.
Commander of the Croatian Navy, Admiral Predrag Stipanović, emphasised the exceptional co-operation with other branches of the armed forces.
The end of the “Harpoon 17” military exercise was held on Sunday at the Zečevo military barracks and in the Adriatic Sea, in the area of the island of Žirje. The exercise represented the main training event of the Croatian Navy this year and was held from 18 to 22 October, with 675 members of the armed forces taking part.
The headquarters were located at the Zečevo barracks, and the exercise was managed with data sent from different sensors which were integrated into a real-time digital image, according to the Ministry of Defence statement.
The final part of the exercise began in the barracks, where the army forces carried out a rocket-artillery attack on a target, after which rocket launchers from Croatian Navy vessels “Vukovar” and “Dubrovnik” also hit the targets from the sea. After an air strike, which was successfully carried out by the Air Force, a marine landing from vessels followed. The army forces were transferred from the Lora military harbour in Split, changing ships during the voyage. The exercise continued with the shooting of an aerial target by naval forces.
The exercise was supported by the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. They made their vessels available for the purpose of implementing planned activities, said the Ministry of Defence in the statement.
Translated from Večernji List.
