1st Armoured-Mechanized Battalion (Croatia)

1st Armoured-Mechanized Battalion "Sokolovi" 1. oklopno-mehanizirana bojna "Sokolovi"
Active	2007-Present
Country	Croatia
Branch	Croatian Army
Role	Mechanized infantry
Part of	Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade
Garrison/HQ	132nd Brigade Barracks Našice
Nickname(s)	Falcons Sokolovi
Anniversaries	October 5th

The 1st Armoured-Mechanized Battalion "Sokolovi" (Lit: Falcons) (Croatian: 1. oklopno-mehanizirana bojna "Sokolovi") is one of two mechanized infantry battalions within the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade (GOMBR) of the Croatian Army.

History

Established in its current form after the reorganisation of the Armed Forces of Croatia in 2007, the 1st Mechanized Battalion was created with the merging of the 3rd Guards Brigade "Kune" and 5th Guards Brigade "Sokolovi".

Organisation

Garrisoned at 132nd Brigade barracks in Našice, the battalion is composed of three mechanized infantry companies, a command company, a logistics company and a fire support company.[1]

Operations

In the past, members of the 1st Armoured-mechanized Battalion have been deployed in support of the NATO ISAF mission in Afghanistan as part of the Croatian Contingent (HRVCON), and to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mission in the Golan Heights.[2]

Equipment

The 1st Mechanized Battalion is equipped with armoured vehicles and various infantry weapons of Yugoslav origin.[3][4]

• BVP M-80A Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• BOV Armoured Personnel Carrier
• POLO M-83 anti-tank vehicle armed with 6 x AT-3 missiles
• Mercedes Benz G-Wagen
• 120mm M75 Light Mortar

References

1. "Od američkih partnera dobivamo pohvale za sudjelovanje u aktivnosti u Poljskoj". Hrvatski vojnik (in Croatian). 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
2. Parlov, Leida (2017). "Mehanizirana bojna Sokolovi" (PDF). Hrvatski Vojnik. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
3. "Dan otvorenih vrata u Vojarni 132. brigade Hrvatske vojske Našice". TV Nasice.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 2020-01-12.
4. ""Sokolovi" obilježavaju Dan Oružanih snaga i Dan Hrvatske kopnene vojske". Radio Našice 88,7 FM (in Croatian). 2019-05-25. Retrieved 2020-01-12.