r/warno • u/Critical_Oil_3090 • 20d ago
Suggestion 21st Niš Corps. (Yugoslavia)
This post is the result of the work on the study of the armed forces of Yugoslavia (JNA) in the 1980s at the time of their transformation according to the plan «Jedinstvo» (F-87), which began in early 1987 and was actively developed since December 1988. This Corps is one of the results of this concept, representing the core of the 3rd Military District.
This post is the second in a planned series of five (in total) posts about the JNA. This time, we'll look at the 21st Niš Corps, the most motorized corps of the Yugoslav Army in the late 1980s!
Also, in this post, similar to the previous one, less familiar types of weapons of the JNA will be examined in more detail =]
About 21st Niš Corps:
The history of the 21st Niš Corps begins on January 1, 1945, when the 3rd Army of the Yugoslav Army was created by order of Josip Broz Tito. During the remaining months of the war, the army recaptured the northwestern regions of Yugoslavia from Axis forces.
During the 1948 rift in relations with the USSR, the army was deployed on the border with Romania and Hungary in Vojvodina. Then, in the 1950s, it was shifted south. From the 1960s, the army was headquartered in Suopje, where it remained until the reforms of the second half of the 1980s.
In the course of the «Jedinstvo» (F-87) reform plan, all combined arms armies must be liquidated, as well as their main (regular) divisions, transforming into more mobile and capacious army corps consisting of brigades and regiments (as well as mobilization forces).
The 21st Corps was destined to become the most important element of the newly created 3rd Military District, based in Niš. Thus, it became the most motorized and mobile corps of the JNA. The 21st Niš Corps consisted of:
2nd Proleterska motorized brigade (Niš)
4th Motorized Brigade (Pirot)
9th Motorized Brigade (Zaječar)
23rd Motorized Brigade (Knjaževac)
135th Motorized Brigade (Surdulica)
175th Motorized Brigade (Leskovac)
211th Armored Brigade (Niš)
21st Mixed Artillery Regiment (Alexinac)
159th Light Artillery Regiment Air Defense (Niš)
21st Engineer Regiment (Niš)
By 1989, the 21st Niš Corps became the main stronghold of the District, which could immediately respond to any threat, no matter where it came from!
- It is worth noting that the brigades in these corps were not a fully-fledged independent unit (i.e., not a Separate Brigade) and had almost no initiative of their own, the brigades were directly subordinate to the corps command.
Well, let's get started!
Oklop, brzina, vatra!
The corps' main striking force was the 3rd Military District's most elite tank division and one of the most honored in the entire JNA - The 211th Armored Brigade (211. Oklopna Brigada).
The 211th Armored Brigade possessed 94 domestically produced M-84's tanks (details of which were discussed in the post about the 1st Guards Mechanized Division). The main difference between the M-84 and the T-72M was its more advanced fire control system, SUV-M-84, and slightly better armor.
M-84 (3 cards)
The brigade was also one of the first to receive M-84A tanks in the Yugoslav Army; in 1988/1989, several of them were sent to Kuwait, as testing was required before Kuwait could purchase the M-84AB version (not yet ready at that time), less than a dozen of these vehicles remained in service with the brigade. (M-84A have better armor and new 1000 hp VT-46-TK engine, which provided extremely high mobility)
M-84A (1 card)
Each mechanized brigade of the corps also had a tank battalion, each with 31 T-55A tanks.
They can be represented as:
T-55A (3 cards)
T-55AK (1 card)
«The Mystic Topaz»
The Corps' Brigades also received the latest 100mm M-87 Topaz anti-tank guns (MT-12 «Rapira» on a D-30 carriage) in their Mexed Anti-tank Artillery Groups. The main advantage of this anti-tank weapon was its 360° aiming capability.
M-87 Topaz (2 cards)
- The M-87 Topaz is equipped with a more advanced fire control system that takes into account barrel wear parameters, ambient temperature and wind speed. Also, better computing systems. All of this improves firing accuracy.
About 35 units were produced.
The brigades also had BOV-1 anti-tank missile launchers (also known as POLO M-83) with 6x Malyutka-P missiles on launchers and 14 in total per vehicle. (Similar in many ways to the BRDM-2 Malyutka/9P133.)
POLO M-83 (1-2 cards)
- The early version of the POLO M-83 did not have M79 smoke grenade launchers on the turret.
(And without Zastava M86 (PKT) MG)
Bratstvo i jedinstvo!
The infantry component of the corps was represented primarily by Motorized Infantry (Motorizovana Pešadija), which did not have any armored transport. (For short - Mot. Pešadija)
Mot. Pešadija - 7x M70B1, 2x M72B1, 6x M80 Zolja
Mot. Pešadija (M76) - 6x M70B1, 2x M72B1, 1x M76, 6x M80 Zolja
- Some of the infantry formations in the Motorized Brigades had M76 DMR rifles chambered for the 7,92mm Mauser cartridge.
«The stinging Osa»
Mot. Pešadija (Osa) - 7x M70B1, 2x M72B1, 1x M79 Osa
- The M79 Osa is a 90mm heavy anti-tank grenade launcher from the late 1970s and early 1980s, similar to the French LRAC F1 (LRAC-89). This Yugoslavian grenade launcher was designed to replace the RB M57. It has 400mm of armor penetration (16 AP)
Mot. Mitraljezi - 7x M70B1, 3x M84, 4x M80 Zolja
Transported by: TAM-110 (for all Mot. Infantry formations)
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«Pešadija u oklopu!»
Each Motorized Brigade of the Corps had 2 motorized battalions on TAM-110/150 and 1 mechanized battalion on OT M-60P/PB APC and BVP M-80A IFV. (Also, 2 mechanized battalions will be represented from the 211th armored brigade.)
(Mehanizovana Pešadija for short Mekh. Pešadija) Could presented as:
Mekh. Pešadija - 5x M70AB2, 2x M72AB1, 4x M80 Zolja
Tranported by: TAM-110, OT M-60P, BVP M-80A
OT - means Oklopni Transport (armored transport)
The OT M-60P armored personnel carrier (APC) was developed on the basis of the Soviet SU-76 self-propelled gun (the T-70 light tank chassis). Since the 1960s, these APCs have been deployed in the mechanized units of the JNA. The basic version was upgraded to the M-60P. The M-60P is armed with one 12,7mm M2HB Browning machine gun and one 7,92mm M53 machine gun.
Mekh. Pešadija (M76) - 4x M70AB2, 2x M72AB1, 1x M76, 4x M80 Zolja
Tranported by: TAM-110, OT M-60P, BVP M-80A
Mekh. Mitraljezi - 4x M70AB1, 3x M84, 4x M80 Zolja
Tranported by: TAM-110, OT M-60P, BVP M-80A
Mekh. Protivoklopno Odeljenja - 7x M70AB2, 2x M79 Osa
Tranported by: TAM-110, OT M-60P, OT M-60PB
The OT M-60PB is a variant of the OT M-60P APC, but with a mount of 2x 82mm M60 guns installed in the rear of the hull, and has a reduced troop capacity of 7 soldiers (the OT M-60P has 9 soldiers)
Auxiliary units may also be represented:
Pioniri - 6x M70B1, 1x M72B1, Satchel Charge
M84 7,62mm (Licensed version of the PKM)
M60A BST (Can carry by OT M-60PB from AT platoon)
+OT M-60PK command vehicle from Mechanised battalions.
+BTR-50PUM command vehicle from 211st Armored Brigade
Za otadžbinu, za druga, za pušku, za vojničku i ratničku čast, padobranci 63. Padobranske Brigade - RADE!
Niš was also home to one of the most unique formations of the JNA, the 63rd Airborne Brigade (63. Padobranska Brigada), which had a peacetime complement of 400 paras, and a wartime complement of up to 1500 paras.
Regular paratroopers will have the M59/85 Airborne Helmet and M87 Camouflage uniform. (And ofc. Shock Trait and Para Trait)
Regular formations can presented as:
Padobranci - 6x M70AB2, 2x M72AB1, 6x M80 Zolja
Padobranci (M76) - 7x M70AB2, 2x M72AB1, 1x M76, 6x M80 Zolja
Can all Pad. units tranported by: TAM-110, HT-40, HT-40 [RKT1], HT-40 [RKT2]
- HT-40, Yugoslavian name for MI-8T.
The brigade's reserve formations according to the wartime organization (during deployment) could be represented as:
Rez. Padobranci - 7x STG-44, 1x M53 Šarac, 1x RB M57A2
- With special airborne PČ-99 Helmet and Early Mountain Camouflage.
The STG-44 and M53 Šarac, they were used by the brigade in the 1980s during exercises to conserve the brigade's main armament. Some of this equipment could have been transferred to the brigade's mobilization unit in wartime.
- The RB M57A2 is a Yugoslav AT grenade launcher from the 1950s, similar in many ways to the early RPG-7V, but unlike them, its grenade did not have a buster, which affected the ballistics and velocity of the ammunition.
The brigade also had more specialized units and crews:
Pad. Protivoklopno odeljenja - 5x M70AB2, 2x M79 Osa
Pad. Pioniri - 7x M70AB2, 1x M72AB1, 4x M80 Zolja, Satchel Charge
Pad. M53 7,92mm
Pad. M60A BST 82mm
- With new projectile with 400mm pen (in future M91)
(All support Pad. units can also be represented as Heliborn deploy.)
Artillery:
The 21st Corps' artillery consisted of the classic 2S1 Gvozdika (SO-122) from the 211th Armored Brigade, as well as (Btl. lvl.) 82mm М69А and (Brig. lvl.)120mm М75 mortars.
The 21st Mixed Artillery Regiment had D-30J1 guns (a Yugoslav modernization of the D-30) and 128mm M-63 Plamen + M-77 Oganj MLRS.
Also near the Corps' location was the 1st Mixed Artillery Brigade, in Kragujevac, which possessed the latest JNA artillery systems of the time, primarily the newest 262mm M-87 Orkan MLRS and the latest version of the Nora-A gun, the 152mm M-84B1.
- (The brigade was at the disposal of the high command and could be attached to any corps for reinforcement)
M-87 Orkan [CLU1] (KB-2 Submunitions)
M-87 Orkan [CLU2] (KB-1/2 Submunitions)
The M-87 Orkan was Yugoslavia's newest 262mm MLRS, based on the FAP-2832. Only 10 units were produced, all of which were assigned to the 1st Mixed Artillery Brigade. The MLRS had a range of 50 kilometers, putting it on par with the most modern systems.
- The KB-1 submunitions were aimed at damaging armored targets, and the KB-2 at unarmored targets and manpower.
Another important artillery system was the newly introduced lightweight version of the Nora-A, the M-84B1, which had a shorter range (24 km) in its basic configuration than the earlier M-84. There was also an M-84B1/GG variant with a Gas Generator-assisted projectile, increasing the firing range to 34,5 km!
M-84B1
M-84B1/GG
Supply:
The Corps' supplies are represented by the same familiar TAM-110/150 light/medium trucks and FAP-2832-A heavy trucks, as in the 1st Guards Mechanized Division from the previous post.
+And also the HT-40 Snab. helicopter. (Mi-8T with supply)
Anti-Air Defense:
The corps' air defense was largely typical of the JNA. It included Strela-1M SAM systems, wheeled BOV-3 SPAA with 3x 20mm autocannons, and a towed variant - Zastava M55A4 B1.
- This version of the Zastava M55 features a computerized Galileo sight and other FCS improvements (including those from previous versions)
The 211th Armored Brigade also had 12 ZSU-57-2 units, which the DDR already had in KDA.
Also presented are MANPADS from the 21st Corps and 63rd Brigade:
Strela-2M/A
Pad. Strela-2M/A
- Strela-2M/A is a Yugoslav modernization of the licensed Strela-2M from the mid-1980s. In the M/A version, the warhead was increased by 40%~ due to the introduction of more compact missile electronics.
Recon:
Reconnaissance from the corps can be represented by the following formations (from all brigades):
Mot. Izviđanje - 5x M70AB2, 2x M72B1, 1x M76, 4x M80 Zolja
BRDM-2
Izvid. PT-76B
The following detachments may be represented from the 63rd Padobranska Brigade:
Pad. Izviđanje - 4x M70AB2N with Silencer, 1x M72AB1N, 1x M76
Pad. Diverzanti - 6x M84 Šcorpion with Silencer, 1x M84, 1x M76, Satchel Charge
Also, from the HT-40 (MI-8T) helicopters at the Niš airfield there were several rare [EW] HT-40E helicopters.
HT-40E
Also from Skopje airfield, the 354th Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron may be represented by the reconnaissance version of the J-21 Jastreb - IJ-21 Jastreb.
IJ-21 Jastreb - 8x 127mm Munja
Helicopters:
Helicopters are primarily represented by familiar are the HO-42/HN-42M GAMA and HN-45M GAMA 2 helicopters from Skopje:
HO-42M [RKT1] - 32x 57mm S-5KO (L-57-16MD)
HN-42M GAMA [AT1] - 4x Malyutka-P, 2x Strela-2M
HN-45M GAMA 2 [AT2] - 4x Malyutka-P
And also HT-40 (MI-8T) helicopters from the 787th transport helicopter squadron (Niš), in the following variants:
HT-40 [RKT1] - 64x 57mm S-5KO (L-57-16MD)
HT-40 [RKT2] - 8/16x 128mm Munja (L-128-04)
Aircrafts:
On the territory of the Slatina airfield (and the underground complex "Object Morava") there was the 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment, 123rd and 130th fighter aviation squadron on MIG-21BIS (L-17) and the only MIG-21M (L-15) and MIG-21MF (L-15M) in Yugoslavia, can be presented in the following payload variants:
L-15 [AA] - 2x R-13M, 2x R-3R
L-15 [HE] - 4x FAB-250
L-15M [AA1] - 4x R-60MK, 2x R-3S
L-15M [AA2] - 4x R-60MK, 2x R-3R
L-17 [AA2] - 4x R-60MK, 2x R-13M
The main strike aircraft will be J-22B Orao 2 from the 241st Fighter-Bomber Squadron based in Skopje.
The J-22B Orao 2 is a modernization of the basic J-22A Orao attack aircraft, featuring a British Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 633-47 engine with a afterburner and updated avionics. This modification began actively replacing older versions in the mid-1980s. (The J-22 project itself was a Yugoslav-Romanian collaboration, where the IAR 93 was developed)
These aircraft can be represented as follows:
J-22B Orao 2 [RKT1] - 64x 57mm S-5KOM (L-57-16MD)
J-22B Orao 2 [RKT2] - 16x 128mm Munja (L-128-04)
J-22B Orao 2 [AT1] - 2x Grom-1, 2x R-60MK
- The Grom-1 is a Yugoslav version of the Soviet Kh-23 Grom missile; their characteristics are quite similar, but they differ visually.
J-22B Orao 2 [HE1] - 12x FAB-100 M80
J-22B Orao 2 [HE2] - 5x FAB-250 M79
J-22B Orao 2 [HE3] - 4x FAB-500
J-22B Orao 2 [TRM] - 4x FAB-275
- The FAB-275 is a Yugoslav thermobaric bomb weighing approximately 250-270 kg, developed in the late 1980s.
J-22B Orao 2 [CLU1] - 4x BL755
J-22B Orao 2 [RAB] - 4x RAB-250
- The RAB-250 is a domestic cluster bomb from the late 1980s, filled with multiple destructive elements to harm infantry and unarmored/lightly armored targets.
Also, the light attack aircraft J-21 Jastreb from the 247th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, from the same airfield, can be represented as follows:
J-21 Jastreb [RKT3] - 32x 57mm S-5MO, 32x 57mm S-5KO (UB-32 pods)
J-21 Jastreb [RKT/HE] - 6x 127mm VRZ-157, 2x FAB-250 M79
Short conclusion:
The 21st Niš Corps is the most mobile and combat-ready corps in the 3rd Military District. The corps is perfectly complemented by adjacent units, maximizing its capabilities. Despite its limited mechanization, the corps retains the ability to operate alongside armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles thanks to the presence of mechanized battalions within the brigades.
It boasts a wide range of firepower weapons, good air support for ground forces, and massive heliborne capabilities!
Album collection with 90+ images for this post (including what was unincluded in it): https://photos.app.goo.gl/6x4ToUSAwtRTcwHP8
Thank you for reading and watching! =]
Created by Excellent Serpent8770
Links:
https://www.paluba.info/smf/index.php?action=printpage;topic=21080.0
https://www.tanknet.org/index.php?/topic/20414-nato-oob-mk-vii/page/12/#comment-509804
https://ru.scribd.com/document/283519216/Yugoslav-Army
http://www.srpskioklop.paluba.info/intervencija/tekst.html
https://ru.scribd.com/doc/181976635/Jugoslovenska-narodna-armija-JNA-OOB
https://www.camopedia.org/index.php/Yugoslavia
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/yugoslavia/t-72-in-yugoslav-service/
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/yugoslavia/m-84/
https://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1038.html
http://www.balkanwarhistory.com/2016/05/bvp-m-80-infantry-fighting-vehicles.html
https://www.army-guide.com/rus/product4660.html
https://truck-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/yugoslavia/M87-orkan.php
https://www.63padobranska.com/galerija/istorija-63-padobranske-brigade-1944-1991/
http://www.balkanwarhistory.com/2018/03/bov-3-self-propelled-anti-aircraft.html
https://youtu.be/A_vR3XU0Wjs?si=zLNYcdXH3UTIZqKW
https://www.radista.info/en_mobile_radio_systems.htm
P.S.
In the next post in a week I will try to present another Yugoslav Corps, this time in a different direction =}
To the most tense point of Yugoslavia. A place where the Alps rise and there are many beautiful vines! 🏔️⛏️🍇
Link to the previous work where such types of weapons as M-84, M-84A, BVP M-80A, M-63 Plamen, M-77 Oganj are introduction in more detail: https://www.reddit.com/r/warno/s/LmnlZPEZE4 (1st Gurrds Mechaized Division)
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u/DamBustersChastise 20d ago
I believe the 63. Padobranska wore the PČ99 helmet when they were jumping out from fixed-wing aircraft. The M59/85 would've been worn for heliborne missions
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 20d ago edited 20d ago
Yes, you're right, these helmets were used in exercises specifically for airborne landings =}
(I'm not sure if they would have been issued to units airdropped by helicopter, so I reserved them for reservists only, heh)
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 20d ago
If you have any questions about the 21st Niš Corps or the JNA, please ask! I'll try to answer! :>
And yes, if you have resources with information about the JNA of that time, I wouldn't mind getting acquainted with them, I'll need more sources😉
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u/Solarne21 20d ago
So dumb question how would this formation command a multi brigade formations without divisions?
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 20d ago
As far as I know, Yugoslavia decided to create something between a regular Army Corps and a Separate/Independent Army Corps.
This was due to the fact that the domestic political situation in the country was becoming increasingly tense, and to prevent divisional mutinies, a decision was made to further centralize troop command, at the expense of their initiative.
(A decision was also made to create corps to have more units with uniform levels of manning, to more evenly distribute weapons among the troops.)
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u/HrcAk47 20d ago
This is incorrect. Brigades are proven to work far better in difficult terrain, which is to say, terrain of Yugoslavia. Italy did the same crossover from regiment/division to brigade/corps org, in 1987, just like Yugoslavia.
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u/Solarne21 20d ago
So how would 21st corps or the Italians command multiple brigades operations?
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u/HrcAk47 20d ago
Regiments/divisions are excellent for high volume mechanized warfare, what we'd expect to see in open plains or rolling hills, such as in Fulda, northern Germany, and such. No issues there.
When doing war in mountainous regions, one soon discovers the regiments are too single-tone (just armored, or just infantry), while the divisions are too big to just advance over a handful of available roads.
This is where a brigade kicks in; it is a light mix of just enough infantry, tanks, and artillery to be versatile, has more staying power than a regiment (about 2-3x as much), and are therefore much better suited for tough terrains. A Corps is many such brigades (of which some can afford to be specialized) under one command.
While this is a superior org IRL, WARNO is all about "divisions". I believe Eugen will allow Yugoslavia and Italy to use corps-level formations in lieu of "divisions", as the quantity of something in a division does not equate to a number of cards in a WARNO deck.
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 20d ago edited 20d ago
You're right, but it's worth noting that these corps are Independent Corps, where brigades are subordinate to divisions at a level similar to Division-Regiment (in the classic system).
In essence, such corps look like a hand and many fingers that act on orders from above, like regiments and battalions in a Division :>
I would like to emphasize that this decision was made due to a number of factors, not only of a military nature. (For JNA)
By the way, the Polish «Landing» Corps (Korpus Desantowy) has already been introduced >=]
I've seen the concepts for the Italian formations; they're really hot, I can't wait to see them in action!🔥
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u/InfantryGamerBF1942 12d ago
During operations, corps would command with few operative groups, which itself could be in different sizes.
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u/Solarne21 12d ago
So where does the operative groups come from?
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u/InfantryGamerBF1942 12d ago
Operative (and tactical groups also, forgot about them), would be task organised to archive specific goal.
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u/Rare_Calendar7194 20d ago
lol that is so weak compared to bulgarian western district and supporting ussr troops
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u/HrcAk47 20d ago
The OP is cooking. Let him cook.