Army of Republika Srpska

Army of Republika Srpska Војска Републике Српске (ВРС) Vojska Republike Srpske (VRS)
Emblem of the Army of Republika Srpska
Size	80,000 soldiers (during the Bosnian War)
Garrison/HQ	Banja Luka, Republika Srpska
Anniversaries	1992 founded, 2001 re-organisation
Engagements	Bosnian War, Croatian War of Independence
Disbanded	2006
Commanders
Notable commanders	Ratko Mladić (1992–1996)

The Army of Republika Srpska (Serbian: Војска Републике Српске (ВРС); Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian Vojska Republike Srpske (VRS)), also referred to as the Bosnian Serb Army, was the military of the Republika Srpska, an area which was previously the "Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina", a self-proclaimed state within the internationally recognized territory of the sovereign Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2003 the army began to integrate into the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2005 a fully integrated unit of Serbs, Bosniaks, and Croats was deployed to augment the US-led coalition forces in Iraq. On 6 June 2006, it was fully integrated into the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina controlled by the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

Uniform of VRS

Badge of VRS 1992–1996

Badge of VRS 1996–2006

The Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) was founded on 12 May 1992 from the remnants of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from which Bosnia and Herzegovina had seceded the same year. When the Bosnian War erupted, the JNA formally discharged 80,000 Bosnian Serb troops. These troops, who were allowed to keep their heavy weapons, formed the backbone of the newly formed Army of the Republika Srpska. Aside from being made up almost entirely of Serb Orthodox officers and recruits from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the VRS also utilized the services of approximately 4,000 foreign Orthodox Christian volunteers to participate in combat operations during the Bosnian War. 1,000-1,500 of these came from Russia, and Bulgaria, with 700 volunteers originating from Russia specifically. 100 Greeks also volunteered to fight on the side of the Bosnian Serbs, forming the Greek Volunteer Guard which allegedly participated in the Srebrenica massacre.

The military leader of the VRS was General Ratko Mladić, who is now indicted at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for genocide, as are other high-ranking Serb officers. Mladić was arrested in Serbia on 26 May 2011.

Special Units

• Panthers Guard Special Brigade (Специјална бригада Гарда Пантери), East-Bosnian Corps
• Wolves from the Drina, or Drina Wolves (Вукови са Дрине), Drina Corps
• Special Unit "MANDO" (Специјална Јединица "МАНДО"), East-Bosnian Corps
• Special Unit "OSMACI" (Специјална Јединица "ОСМАЦИ"), Drina Corps
• Serb Guard Ilidža (Српска Гарда Илиџа), Sarajevo-Romanija Corps
• White Wolves (Бели Вукови)

Organization

M-77 Oganj MLRs of VRS

M-84 main battle tank of VRS

ZiS-3

ZSU-57-2

M-46

D-30

T-34

1993

• 1st Krajina Corps – Banja Luka
• 2nd Krajina Corps – Drvar
• 3rd Corps – Bijeljina
• East Bosnia Corps – Han Pijesak
• Herzegovina Corps – Bileća

1995

• 1st Krajina Corps – Banja Luka
• 2nd Krajina Corps – Drvar
• East Bosnia Corps – Bijeljina
• Sarajevo-Romanija Corps – Pale
• Drina Corps – Han Pijesak
• Herzegovina Corps – Bileća

2001

• 1st Corps – Banja Luka
• 3rd Corps – Bijeljina
• 5th Corps – Sokolac
• 7th Corps – Bileća

Equipment

Tanks and armoured vehicles

• M-84
• T-55
• T-34
• BVP M-80
• OT M-60
• BTR-50
• BOV

Towed artillery

• M-56
• D-30
• M-30
• M-46
• D-20
• M-84
• M-1
• ZiS-3

Self-Propelled Artillery

• 2S1 Gvozdika

MLRS

• M-63 Plamen
• M-77 Oganj
• M-87 Orkan

ATGW

• AT-3 and AT-5

Anti-Tank Guns

• T-12

Anti-Aircraft Guns

• ZSU-57-2
• M53/59 Praga
• BOV-3
• ZU-23-2

MANPADs and SAMs

• SA-7
• SA-18
• SA-6
• SA-9

Infantry Weapons

• Zastava M70
• Zastava M72
• Zastava M84
• Zastava M76
• Heckler & Koch MP5
• M79 Rocket Launcher
• M80 Zolja

Aircraft inventory of Republika Srpska Air Force

Main article: Republika Srpska Air Force

Formerly known as Ratno Vazduhoplovstva i Protiv Vazdušna Odbrana Vojska Republike Srpske or RV i PVO RS. Beginning on 1 June 2004, the Republika Srpska Air Force was officially called, Prvi Puk Vazduhoplovstva i Protiv Vazdušna Odbrana Vojske Republike Srpske, also known as 1st Aviation Regiment and Air Defence Force of the Republic of Srpska's Army.