Operation Bøllebank
Encyclopedia
During the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Operation Bøllebank (Danish
for "Hooligan Bashing", name given after the incident) was the largest combat operation by Danish
forces since 1864. In late April 1994 a Danish contingent on peacekeeping duty in Bosnia
, as part of UNPROFORs Nordic battalion (Nordbat 2) located in Tuzla
, was ambushed, when trying to relieve a Swedish observation post, Tango 2, that was under heavy artillery fire by the Bosnian Serb Šekovići
brigade at the village of Kalesija
, but the ambush was dispersed when the UN forces retaliated with heavy fire.
, Lt. Colonel Lars R. Møller was hesitant, but decided to return fire. The attack on them ceased after this, but intensified again later, provoking an even stronger response.
The seven German-made Leopard 1A5 tanks fired 72 rounds and destroyed several Serb artillery pieces, an ammunition dump and several bunkers. Serb forces brought T-55
tanks to the scene, but apparently the Danes did not engage them, as they made no offensive moves. The Leopards, however, fired 19 armour-piercing rounds.
The Danes could see in their thermal tank sights that the guns on the T-55s were cold and therefore had not taken part in the engagement
according to a non-official report.
However, another source claims that, despite the UNPROFOR rules of engagement, the three T-55 were actually hit by the Leopards.
that Danish soldiers were involved in combat operations.
The commander characterized the incident with the words: "the mouse that ate the cat".
Another incident took place later that year between Danish peacekeepers and Serb forces near Gradacac
, in the course of the so called Operation Amanda
.
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
for "Hooligan Bashing", name given after the incident) was the largest combat operation by Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
forces since 1864. In late April 1994 a Danish contingent on peacekeeping duty in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, as part of UNPROFORs Nordic battalion (Nordbat 2) located in Tuzla
Tuzla
Tuzla is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time of the 1991 census, it had 83,770 inhabitants, while the municipality 131,318. Taking the influx of refugees into account, the city is currently estimated to have 174,558 inhabitants...
, was ambushed, when trying to relieve a Swedish observation post, Tango 2, that was under heavy artillery fire by the Bosnian Serb Šekovići
Šekovici
Šekovići is a municipality and town in northeastern Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Municipality Šekovići for the most part is equal with territory “Donjeg Birča” and has an area of , which represents 0.365% of BiH territory which is , or 0.806% of Republika Srpska which is . The main...
brigade at the village of Kalesija
Kalesija
Kalesija is a town and municipality in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town of Kalesija is located east of Tuzla. It is administratively part of the Tuzla Canton and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Kalesija:...
, but the ambush was dispersed when the UN forces retaliated with heavy fire.
The incident
The ambush started by grenade attacks near Saraci, 8 km southeast from Tuzla, which were ignored. The column, however, came under attack by anti-tank missiles when they reached the village of Kalesija, further east. The UNPROFOR column requested air support, which was rejected. Due to restrictive rules of engagement imposed by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Lt. Colonel Lars R. Møller was hesitant, but decided to return fire. The attack on them ceased after this, but intensified again later, provoking an even stronger response.
The seven German-made Leopard 1A5 tanks fired 72 rounds and destroyed several Serb artillery pieces, an ammunition dump and several bunkers. Serb forces brought T-55
T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
tanks to the scene, but apparently the Danes did not engage them, as they made no offensive moves. The Leopards, however, fired 19 armour-piercing rounds.
The Danes could see in their thermal tank sights that the guns on the T-55s were cold and therefore had not taken part in the engagement
according to a non-official report.
However, another source claims that, despite the UNPROFOR rules of engagement, the three T-55 were actually hit by the Leopards.
Post-incident
This was the first time a Leopard 1 fired its guns in anger and is one of the largest engagements that took place between UNPROFOR forces and military units involved in the war in Bosnia. It was also the first time since WWIIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
that Danish soldiers were involved in combat operations.
The commander characterized the incident with the words: "the mouse that ate the cat".
Another incident took place later that year between Danish peacekeepers and Serb forces near Gradacac
Gradacac
Gradačac is a town and municipality in the northeastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located roughly south of the Sava river. Administratively, Gradačac is part of the Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, in the course of the so called Operation Amanda
Operation Amanda
Operation Amanda was an UNPROFOR mission led by Danish peacekeeping troops, with the aim of recovering an observation post near Gradačac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on October 25, 1994.-The engagement:...
.