Briefing
STORM OVER KRAJINA Historic operation and four hypothetical sub-variants (Operation Storm, Croatia, 1995) Versiion 1.03 For PBEM games, suggest using Theatre Option 1 or 3, the historic variant is historically biased to Croatian side. 1. SIDES AND UNIT COLOURS 1.1. FORCE 1: CROATIA Croat Guard Brigades (HV) - Lt Red on Blue Croat Police and Regular Brigades (HV) - Blue on Blue Bosnian Moslem Army (BiH) - White on Green Bosnian Croat Army* (HVO) - White or on Blue NATO air units* - White on Green 1.2. FORCE 2: SERB REBELS In Croatia: Rep Serbian Krajina (VSK) - Red on Red (Regulars) or Dark Red (Irregulars) In Bosnia: Pro-Serb Moslems of Fikret Abdic (FA) - Black on Green In Bosnia: Serbian Rep* (VRS) - Black on Red (Regulars) or Dark Red (Irregulars) In Serbia: Rep of Yugoslavia* (VRJ) - Yellow on Red (Regulars) or Dark Red (Irregulars) Regulars refer to professional front line service troops (in some cases, also paramilitary units); while Irregulars include self-organized formations, conscript units, volunteers. hese appear only under certain variant options (see below) 2. SHORT SUMMARY The Croatian Operation 'Storm' was the largest offensive in Europe since WW2 and a very decisive victory against the Serb rebels. It was launched over an area spanning 1/3rd of Croatia and totally changed the balance of power in the wars of ex-Yugoslavia, directly leading to the Dayton Peace Agreement which ended the wars in Croatia and Bosnia. This scenario covers the historic operation, which mainly turned into a Serb rout; as well as several hypothetical sub-variants that can be activated to provide more of a challenge instead of being a walkover as was historically the case. 3. VICTORY CONDITIONS On turn 1 only, Croatian side has several theater options that activate unhistorical variants. Victory conditions apply for all variants, but activating any (all are designed to make Serb resistance stronger) awards Croatia with VPs, thereby possibly shortening your route to victory. 3.1. GENERIC VICTORY CONDITIONS Croatia wins if they capture Knin by turn 4 (historic outcome) Croatia must capture Knin by turn 8 or lose Croatia wins when they have 95 Victory Points Serbia wins if Croatia doesn't win by turn 12 (five days) or turn 16 for Option 1; if Options 3 is activated, point scoring ending will go at turn 16, instead of Serb victory. 3.2. OPTION 1: Serb shock neutralized Serb side's shock is normalized for stiffer resistance Croatia gets 10 extra VPs Scenario lasts 7 days (turn 16) before Serb victory 3.3. OPTION 2: No Moslem 5th Corps intervention Bosnian 5th Corps in Bihac doesn't enter the fight Croatia gets 5 extra VPs 3.4. OPTION 3: Bosnian Serb intervention The exclusion zone over Bosnia is removed and Bosnian Serb forces enter the fight Bosnian Moslem and Croat units also appear to protect their frontlines. Bihac pocket Moslem forces will appear sooner - when Serb units do NATO aircraft appear to enforce 'no-fly' zone over Bosnia Serb side's shock is increased Croatia gets 15 extra VPs Scenario lasts 7 days (turn 16) until point scoring ending. NOTE: This option automatically activates option 1 and cancels option 2! Activating either or both of previous options will have no effect. 3.5. OPTION 4: Yugoslav Republic air intervention Serb aircraft in Serbia and Montenegro enter the fight Croatia gets 5 extra VPs 4. HISTORY War in Croatia started in 1991 when the ex-Yugoslav National Army attacked Croat units, supporting a local Serb rebellion. These forces quickly occupied roughly 1/3rd of Croatia. At end of 1991, a permanent ceasefire was made between the sides and only local fighting would occur throughout the next 3 years. Serb military focus was on Bosnia (where war erupted in 1992) throughout this time and the Serb forces in Croatia were slowly weakened. Even more, the poor economic position of this self-proclaimed Republic of Serb Krajina impeded any progress. In early 1995, the resurgent Croat army (spending the last three years rearming) recaptured a significant portion of occupied territory in West Slavonia in operation 'Flash'. But this was just a test for greater things. Croat forces were preparing to liberate the Krajina region, which was the centre of Serb rebellion. Operation 'Storm' was conceived with this in mind. For the first time since the war begun in 1991, Croats were finally able to match Serbs in number of tanks and artillery and their army conducted a blitzkrieg-like campaign totally shattering Serb forces. The Serbs gave up the fight early and most of their forces fled to Bosnia. Serb leaders mobilized local Serbs to rebel for the past four years scaring them of the "fascist Croats", which prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee into Bosnia as well. Although there were acts of revenge and looting conducted by ill-disciplined conscript units, these cases were rare and just a fraction of the deaths made by Serb forces against Croats and Bosnians for the past four years. As a side story that proves the point, one Serb civilian refugee column near Dvor was overrun by Serb tanks that were in a hurry to get away from the fighting and simply ran over their own people. Croatia celebrated its freedom, but did not relax. Croat forces would go on to aid the Bosnians in their fight against the Serbs. Operation Storm, as well as the follow-up victories in Bosnia and NATO air bombardment - would finally convince Serbs to make peace and the Dayton Agreement was reached to settle the wars. Today, Operation "Storm" is taught at the US West Point Academy as a textbook example of an excellent modern military operation. 5. IMPORTANT TO KNOW Since the actual operation was more of a rout then a fight, time works against the Croats. End of scenario time or failure to capture Knin before turn 8 means defeat. To represent historical blitz victory (only 600 soldiers died on both sides, which is very light); Croat player has a chance to win immediate victory by capturing Knin before turn 5 - as was historically the case. First turns cease-fire allows Croat player activation of hypothetical theatre options. On turn 4, Bosnian forces from Bihac will appear - unless the option is cancelled on turn 1 (Unhistorical variant 2). Croat Guard Brigades and top units are marked Lt Red on Blue to discern them from others. This allows you to quickly find your best units for action. Historically, these were used as line breakers, while other units simply held the front. If you do the same, you can't go wrong. No unit reconstitutes! The scenario's timeframe is too short for that. Replacements are low and their growth is poor - make do with what you have! As Force 1 reaches three certain levels of Victory Points, Serb player will be penalized by slight pestilence (desertion of troops) and shock which will progressively get worse. All of these effects will be lighter if Options 1 or 3 are activated. Croat Loss Intolerance is set to 300%, which means destruction of Croat units brings three times as many VPs to Serbs. Because of Croat victory conditions, it is technically possible (but highly unlikely) for a Serb player to make Croat victory impossible by causing high losses (value of about 15 VPs) and then keeping his forces from collapse. Four NATO air units exist in game. However, their appearance will only happen if the Bosnian Serbs intervene. Their mission is to enforce the "no-fly zone" over Bosnia and will therefore be set on Air Superiority Mission and locked (ie. unusable by player). After fall of Knin, Serb player is penalized by more significant shock and supply penalties. PO player will start massive withdrawal following this. Bosnian Serb intervention limits shock effect and cancels PO withdrawal; forcing Croat Serb units to fight to the end. Three long lines exist in exclusion zones to east Bosnia. These routes are withdrawal lines for Serb units and exist to save their forces from being "up against the wall". Although the Serb player gains nothing by moving units there, he can at least prevent the Croats from gaining more points by destroying these units. Needless to say, if Bosnian Serbs attack, these lines will cease to exist. 6. LAST NOTES / DESIGNER COMMENTS This scenario is a direct derivate from my massive Yugoslav Trilogy Part III: 1991 scenario. This scenario takes that monster's small portion and presents Croat greatest victory that ended the war in Croatia and turned the tide of war. If you have nerves of steel or just too much time on your hands, I suggest trying out the complete 1991-1995 scenario, which is very rich and detailed. Igor Rzaunek, June-July 2006

Briefing

STORM OVER KRAJINA

Historic operation and four hypothetical sub-variants
(Operation Storm, Croatia, 1995)
Versiion 1.03

For PBEM games, suggest using Theatre Option 1 or 3, the historic variant is historically biased to Croatian side.

1. SIDES AND UNIT COLOURS

1.1. FORCE 1: CROATIA

Croat Guard Brigades (HV) - Lt Red on Blue
Croat Police and Regular Brigades (HV) - Blue on Blue
Bosnian Moslem Army (BiH) - White on Green
Bosnian Croat Army* (HVO) - White or on Blue
NATO air units* - White on Green

1.2. FORCE 2: SERB REBELS

In Croatia: Rep Serbian Krajina (VSK) - Red on Red (Regulars) or Dark Red (Irregulars)
In Bosnia: Pro-Serb Moslems of Fikret Abdic (FA) - Black on Green
In Bosnia: Serbian Rep* (VRS) - Black on Red (Regulars) or Dark Red (Irregulars)
In Serbia: Rep of Yugoslavia* (VRJ) - Yellow on Red (Regulars) or Dark Red (Irregulars)

Regulars refer to professional front line service troops (in some cases, also paramilitary units); while Irregulars include self-organized formations, conscript units, volunteers.

hese appear only under certain variant options (see below)

2. SHORT SUMMARY

The Croatian Operation 'Storm' was the largest offensive in Europe since WW2 and a very decisive victory against the Serb rebels. It was launched over an area spanning 1/3rd of Croatia and totally changed the balance of power in the wars of ex-Yugoslavia, directly leading to the Dayton Peace Agreement which ended the wars in Croatia and Bosnia.

This scenario covers the historic operation, which mainly turned into a Serb rout; as well as several hypothetical sub-variants that can be activated to provide more of a challenge instead of being a walkover as was historically the case.

3. VICTORY CONDITIONS

On turn 1 only, Croatian side has several theater options that activate unhistorical variants. Victory conditions apply for all variants, but activating any (all are designed to make Serb resistance stronger) awards Croatia with VPs, thereby possibly shortening your route to victory.

3.1. GENERIC VICTORY CONDITIONS

Croatia wins if they capture Knin by turn 4 (historic outcome)
Croatia must capture Knin by turn 8 or lose
Croatia wins when they have 95 Victory Points
Serbia wins if Croatia doesn't win by turn 12 (five days) or turn 16 for Option 1; if Options 3 is activated, point scoring ending will go at turn 16, instead of Serb victory.

3.2. OPTION 1: Serb shock neutralized

Serb side's shock is normalized for stiffer resistance
Croatia gets 10 extra VPs
Scenario lasts 7 days (turn 16) before Serb victory

3.3. OPTION 2: No Moslem 5th Corps intervention

Bosnian 5th Corps in Bihac doesn't enter the fight
Croatia gets 5 extra VPs

3.4. OPTION 3: Bosnian Serb intervention

The exclusion zone over Bosnia is removed and Bosnian Serb forces enter the fight
Bosnian Moslem and Croat units also appear to protect their frontlines.
Bihac pocket Moslem forces will appear sooner - when Serb units do
NATO aircraft appear to enforce 'no-fly' zone over Bosnia
Serb side's shock is increased
Croatia gets 15 extra VPs
Scenario lasts 7 days (turn 16) until point scoring ending.

NOTE: This option automatically activates option 1 and cancels option 2! Activating either or both of previous options will have no effect.

3.5. OPTION 4: Yugoslav Republic air intervention

Serb aircraft in Serbia and Montenegro enter the fight
Croatia gets 5 extra VPs

4. HISTORY

War in Croatia started in 1991 when the ex-Yugoslav National Army attacked Croat units, supporting a local Serb rebellion. These forces quickly occupied roughly 1/3rd of Croatia. At end of 1991, a permanent ceasefire was made between the sides and only local fighting would occur throughout the next 3 years. Serb military focus was on Bosnia (where war erupted in 1992) throughout this time and the Serb forces in Croatia were slowly weakened. Even more, the poor economic position of this self-proclaimed Republic of Serb Krajina impeded any progress.

In early 1995, the resurgent Croat army (spending the last three years rearming) recaptured a significant portion of occupied territory in West Slavonia in operation 'Flash'. But this was just a test for greater things. Croat forces were preparing to liberate the Krajina region, which was the centre of Serb rebellion. Operation 'Storm' was conceived with this in mind.

For the first time since the war begun in 1991, Croats were finally able to match Serbs in number of tanks and artillery and their army conducted a blitzkrieg-like campaign totally shattering Serb forces. The Serbs gave up the fight early and most of their forces fled to Bosnia. Serb leaders mobilized local Serbs to rebel for the past four years scaring them of the "fascist Croats", which prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee into Bosnia as well. Although there were acts of revenge and looting conducted by ill-disciplined conscript units, these cases were rare and just a fraction of the deaths made by Serb forces against Croats and Bosnians for the past four years. As a side story that proves the point, one Serb civilian refugee column near Dvor was overrun by Serb tanks that were in a hurry to get away from the fighting and simply ran over their own people.

Croatia celebrated its freedom, but did not relax. Croat forces would go on to aid the Bosnians in their fight against the Serbs. Operation Storm, as well as the follow-up victories in Bosnia and NATO air bombardment - would finally convince Serbs to make peace and the Dayton Agreement was reached to settle the wars.

Today, Operation "Storm" is taught at the US West Point Academy as a textbook example of an excellent modern military operation.

5. IMPORTANT TO KNOW

Since the actual operation was more of a rout then a fight, time works against the Croats. End of scenario time or failure to capture Knin before turn 8 means defeat. To represent historical blitz victory (only 600 soldiers died on both sides, which is very light); Croat player has a chance to win immediate victory by capturing Knin before turn 5 - as was historically the case.
First turns cease-fire allows Croat player activation of hypothetical theatre options.
On turn 4, Bosnian forces from Bihac will appear - unless the option is cancelled on turn 1 (Unhistorical variant 2).
Croat Guard Brigades and top units are marked Lt Red on Blue to discern them from others. This allows you to quickly find your best units for action. Historically, these were used as line breakers, while other units simply held the front. If you do the same, you can't go wrong.
No unit reconstitutes! The scenario's timeframe is too short for that.
Replacements are low and their growth is poor - make do with what you have!
As Force 1 reaches three certain levels of Victory Points, Serb player will be penalized by slight pestilence (desertion of troops) and shock which will progressively get worse. All of these effects will be lighter if Options 1 or 3 are activated.
Croat Loss Intolerance is set to 300%, which means destruction of Croat units brings three times as many VPs to Serbs.
Because of Croat victory conditions, it is technically possible (but highly unlikely) for a Serb player to make Croat victory impossible by causing high losses (value of about 15 VPs) and then keeping his forces from collapse.
Four NATO air units exist in game. However, their appearance will only happen if the Bosnian Serbs intervene. Their mission is to enforce the "no-fly zone" over Bosnia and will therefore be set on Air Superiority Mission and locked (ie. unusable by player).
After fall of Knin, Serb player is penalized by more significant shock and supply penalties. PO player will start massive withdrawal following this. Bosnian Serb intervention limits shock effect and cancels PO withdrawal; forcing Croat Serb units to fight to the end.
Three long lines exist in exclusion zones to east Bosnia. These routes are withdrawal lines for Serb units and exist to save their forces from being "up against the wall". Although the Serb player gains nothing by moving units there, he can at least prevent the Croats from gaining more points by destroying these units. Needless to say, if Bosnian Serbs attack, these lines will cease to exist.

6. LAST NOTES / DESIGNER COMMENTS

This scenario is a direct derivate from my massive Yugoslav Trilogy Part III: 1991 scenario. This scenario takes that monster's small portion and presents Croat greatest victory that ended the war in Croatia and turned the tide of war. If you have nerves of steel or just too much time on your hands, I suggest trying out the complete 1991-1995 scenario, which is very rich and detailed.

Igor Rzaunek, June-July 2006