The Serbo-Croatian War: A Failure of the Principles of War

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA370638 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The Serbo-Croatian war was the first in a series of wars that the Serbs would fight following the break-up of Yugoslavia. Analyzing the conflict using the Principles of War provides military planners valuable insight to the structure and capability of an opponent that NATO could face today. This paper will argue that the inability of the Yugoslav Peoples Army JNA to develop and execute operational objectives from national strategy resulted in their failure in the 1991 Serbo-Croatian War, even though faced with an inferior Croatian force. It will further argue that the JNAs operational plan violated nearly every Principle of War, but in the process, set the stage for future operations because of a failure to realize the political objective. Finally, it will compare the Serbo-Croatian War to the NATO conflict in Kosovo today and conclude with some operational lessons learned.

Author(s):
Hoffmann, Raymond F.
Author Organization(s):
NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI
Descriptive Note:
Final rept.,
Pagination:
0024

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
NWC/RI
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_3.1_Maneuver; JCA_5.3.3_Develop Strategy; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_5.3.4_Develop Courses of Action; JCA_5.3.5_Analyze Courses of Action; JCA_3.1.2_Maneuver to Insert; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_3.1.1_Maneuver to Engage; JCA_5.3.1_Analyze Problem; JCA_1.2.3_Educating; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_1.2.4_Doctrine; JCA_1.2.1_Training; JCA_5.1_Organize
Modernization Areas:
Fully Networked C3
Communities of Interest:
Weapons Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*MILITARY OPERATIONS, *INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, FOREIGN POLICY, NATO, WARFARE, MILITARY STRATEGY, LESSONS LEARNED, INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, MISSIONS, CONFLICT, MILITARY PLANNING, YUGOSLAVIA, SERBIA, CROATIA
Field(s)/Group(s):
Government and Political Science, Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
Keyword(s):
SERBO CROATIAN WAR, OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES, JNA(YUGOSLAV PEOPLES ARMY)
Report Date:
1999 May 17
Creation Date:
1999 Dec 01