storm - Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog ...

and prevent deeper penetration on the main thrusts. In the second part of the operation,
by off ensive action at Vojnić - Banjsko Selo the Corps would reach the river Mrežnica
and switch to active defence. Support would be provided by the 75 th Composite Artillery
Brigade, and the air force and air defence. Th e mission of the 70 th Infantry Brigade was
to prevent by persistent defence the penetration of HV forces along the Ogulin - Plaški -
Plitvice Lakes Line. 279 Th e 75 th Composite Artillery Brigade - a 130 mm gun battalion, a
SVLR Oganj battery and an Orkan battery - and the SVK Special Unit Corps (KSJ) without
the 2 nd Guards Brigade were also present in Kordun. 280 Th e task of the last Corps, formed
later, is not known. It can be assumed that it was not supposed to hold the line but, rather,
for manoeuvring purposes in the theatre. Th e KSJ Corps commander was Major-General
Milorad Stupar. 281
108
Execution of the Operation
Th e attack of the HV 99 th Brigade and the attached Saborsko Company (of the 143 rd Home
Guard Regiment) started at 0500 from the village of Vera towards the village of Varići,
towards the Plaški - Plavča Draga road and from the village of Prodanić towards Plaški.
Aft er a slight advance, the attack of the Brigade ground to a halt. Following the evaluation
of the ZPK Command of 1800 hours on the same day, the Brigade retreated to its kickoff
position in complete disarray. In order to avoid possible encirclement the Saborsko
Company stopped aft er seizing Trntor hill. 282
In spite of running into mine fi elds and stiff Serbian resistance from Josipdol towards
Plaški, the HV 143 rd Home Guard Regiment controlled by the end of the day the Veliki
Humac - Sekulića Poljane - Sekulića Vršak - Drenovica - Kameniti Vrh line. 283
Th e task of the 14 th Home Guard Regiment was to liberate Slunj, the small native town of
most of its members. Th e Regiment advanced towards the village of Barlovići - Kosijersko
Selo while its left fl ank, aft er the successful forced crossing of the river of Mrežnica, pushed
on to Primišlje. On its right fl ank, aft er seizing Glavičurak - Simića Brdo - Ravidjenica -
Gornji Tržič the Regiment linked up with units of the 143 rd Home Guard Regiment. 284
279 Directive for the commitment of the Serbian Army of the Krajina, Op. No. 1, Gvozd, February 1995.
280 M. Sekulić, “Knin je pao u Beogradu” (Knin Fell in Belgrade), 224, 227, 239.
281 «New SVK Generals and Colonels», Vojska Krajine, 11, july 1995, 6.
282 APO 2121 (99th Br.), cl. 81-95-01/01, reg. no. 2121-02/2-95-28 of 5 September 1995; Analysis of off ensive operation
Storm. SVA MORH, GSHV, ZZPK: ZPP Karlovac, cl. 81/95-01/81, reg. no. 1078-IZM-1/95-25 of 4 August
1995. SVA MORH, GSHV, ZZPK: ZPP Karlovac, cl. 81/95-01/01, reg. no. 1078-IZM-1/95-25 of 4 August 1995.
283 SVA MORH, ZZPK: ZPP Karlovac, cl. 81/95-01/01, reg. no. 1078-IZM-1/95-25 of 4 August 1995. APO 110 Ogulin
of 3 September 1995; Analysis of combat action of the 143rd Home Guard Regiment in Operation Storm.
284 SVA MORH, ZZPK: ZPP Karlovac, cl. 81/95-01/01, reg. no. 1078-IZM-1/95-25 of 4 August 1995. General M.
Crnjac noted that the liberation of Slunj, the task of the 14th Home Guard Regiment, was planned in the second
phase of the operation, provided the necessary conditions were met; he also added that the Regiment had fulfi lled
its task entirely and on foot because of the demanding terrain and forced crossing of the river. HMDCDR: Comments
of General Miljenko Crnjac on the text about the Karlovac Corps District in the military-police operation
Storm.