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Bosnia Rapid Reaction Force

Bosnia Rapid Reaction Force

The Commandos did not deploy to the Balkans during the war in Bosnia.

Elements of 3 Commando Brigade have deployed to the Former Yugoslavia since its break up in 1991 providing the UN with many ad hoc roles in the former Yugoslavia.

The Corps’ most significant contribution to the campaign was in 1995.

Major General Pennefather RM deployed to Bosnia with half his staff of Headquarters Royal Marines to aid the commander of the British contingent of the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR), Lieutenant General Smith, with staffing his operational headquarters.

Working under Lieutenant General Smith, Pennefather and his men formed one third of the Anglo-French staff. They set to work forming a war-fighting headquarters with communications.

They also formed part of the planning team that would coordinate the UN air/ground campaign designed to force a peace settlement between the warring factions in the former Yugoslavia.

As part of the Rapid Reaction Force the planners became involved in selecting targets for the proposed air strikes against the Bosnian Serb Army.

Part of this planning had to factor in the steps needed to prevent the Army from seizing more towns.

In particular, the Force needed to prevent them seizing UN observers and others as hostages, which they had done on a previous occasion.

 


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