371
1 INTRODUCTION
Modern age and changing geopolitical scene brings
complex security situation including asymmetric
threats and new types of conflicts. Awareness of
collective reaction against upcoming threats is very
important,soitisbettertobestoppedinitssource.
New challenges posed new request for military
riverine units which have adap
ted their capabilities
in regard to worldwide and local safety aspects. In
spiteofpoor autonomyabilities ofmilitaryriverine
units to reach some world destinations, national
capabilities ought to be partly directed towards the
UN’s requirements because a global security
providesanationalsecurityatthesametime.
The United Nations milit
ary riverine units are
essentialpartofpeacekeepingoperationsincaseland
forces are limited with territory features. They are
engagedincaseofuncompletedornon‐existentland
line of communications in area of operations. Their
engagement has to provide required support for
civilianandtheotherUNpart
icipantsinaccordance
withestablishedmandateofmission.
The military riverine units should reach
multipurpose role within national frameworks as a
starting point for interoperability with others in
possiblepeacekeepingoperations.However,national
militaryriverine tacticsandproceduresdonothave
tobechanged.Theaimisconstructingownriverine
elements such a flexible units with long range of
mobilit
y,quickreactionoftroops,highlevelofforce
protection, sustainability and support to the other
unitsconcerninguniversalchallenges.
Analysis of Serbian Military Riverine Units Capability
for Participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping
Operations
S.Radojević&S.Šoškić
M
ilitaryAcademy,Belgrade,Serbia
G.Radić
RiverFlotilla,NoviSad,Serbia
ABSTRACT:Thispaperanalysesrequiredpersonnel,trainingcapacitiesandequipmentforparticipationinthe
UnitedNationspeacekeepingoperationswiththeriverineelements.Inordertomeetnecessarycapabilitiesfor
engagementinUnitedNationspeacekeepingoperations,Serbianmilitaryriverine unitshavetobecompatible
withtheissuedUNrequirements.SerbianArmedForceshavethepotentia
ltoreachsuchrequirementswiththe
RiverFlotillaasapivotfortheparticipationinUNmissions.SerbianMilitaryAcademyadoptedanddeveloped
educational and training program in accordance with the provisions and recommendations of the IMO
conventionsandIMOmodelcourses.SerbianMilit
aryAcademyhasopportunitiesforeducationandtraining
militaryriverineunitsforparticipationintheUnitedNationspeacekeepingoperations. Moreover,Serbiahas
MultinationalOperationsTrainingCenterandPeacekeepingOperationsCentercertifiedtoprovideselection,
training,equippingandpreparationsofindividualsandunitstotheUnitedNations multinationaloperations.
http://www.transnav.eu
the International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 11
Number 2
June 2017
DOI:10.12716/1001.11.02.22
372
2 CONCEPTOFDEVELOPMENTNATIONAL
MILITARYRIVERINEUNITS
Therearefewmajorinlandbasinsoneachcontinent
which are intersected by rivers, canals, irrigation
ditchesandlakes(e.g.theDanubeandtheVolgarivers
create great waterway system with navigable canals in
Europe, the Amur river as long natural border
between
Russia and China in East Asia, the Mississippi and the
Missouri rivers with own tributaries in North America,
the Amazon river in South America, the Nile, Congo
riversandTanganyikalakeinAfrica).Alldisseminated
countries in these areas have long tradition of
powerfull military riverine units that have
been
developed in accordance with existing waterways
network density. Nonetheless, their missions and
tasksdependoncontemporaryrisksandthreats,but
prosperity of inland security components and
required capabilities depend on political and
economic potential. Countries with political
instability and low level of economy cannot often
ensure an appropriate answer
for growing violence
andcrimeonitsownterritory.Inthatcase,theworld
community is supposed to provide a collective
securityledbytheUnitedNationswiththemilitary
riverine units asanimportant part of peacekeeping
missions.
In the past, the countries did not consider
mobilityandrapidreactions
ofthiskindof military
branch.Theyhadbeenmainlyfocusedonusingthem
for fire support to land forces as well as for rivers
crossingandmine/countermineoperations.Thatwas
understandable due to bipolar world during the
period of the Cold War when global political
situationenforcedcountries
todevelopriverineunits
forspecifictreatsformtheoppositeside.Themilitary
riverineunitshadbeenusuallyequippedwithquite
big vessels called monitors and armored artillery
ships with heavy guns (caliber from 30 mm to 110
mm) as an integral part of them. These types of
vesselsarestill
inserviceinsomecountriesalthough
these crafts are mostly outward. Moreover, river
minesweepersandriverpatrolboatshadbeenbuilt
as fairly smaller ships in that period (fitted with
machinegunscaliberfrom7,62mmto12,7 mmand
gunsfrom20mmto30mm).[1]
Nowadays, the
inland waterways remain
economic and military potential in all countries. It
hasbeenconfirmedinallstrugglessincetheSecond
World War. They have not lost significance as
important communication for supply and support
land units on battlefield on tactical and operational
level. Since the end of the Cold War, strategic
decisionwastodevelopairforcesandmissilerocket
units,whileriver shipswerenot priorityfora long
time.Manycountrieswithpooreconomysuppressed
own military riverine units while the others with
respectablemilitarycapacitiesweredecreasingtheir
strength. However, upcoming asymmetric threats
andnewwaysofwaging
warshavestartedincluding
inland waterways and the purpose of the military
riverineunitshasbeenreinforced.[2]
3 STRUCTURALORGANIZATIONAND
PERSONNEL
The military riverine unit has to provide full
capability for the UN operations with long range
mobilityinhighlevelofthreatssurroundings.Also,
crucialdemandsareself
‐sustainabilityandabilityto
supporttheotherUNunitsandagencies intheater.
The main focus of engagement are cessation of
hostilities,protectionofcivilians and human rights,
providingassistanceformonitoringandverification
activities,controllingillegalactivitiesaswell.
A company size unit approximately 140‐200
strength correspond to
the UN’s requirement,
including special qualifications of staff personnel,
marines, crew boats and the other elements for
support. UN riverine company is directly
operationally controlled by the Force Commander,
who can carry authorization over to Sector
Commander in some specific situation. The central
pointofcompanyarethreepatrolplatoonsmade
up
ofidenticalordifferenttypeofboatswithtransport
capacity up to 105 organic troops in total, but
widespreadon three different location. A
headquarterofUNcompanycanbesituatedonland
inresidentialcontainersorembarkedinappropriate
craft related to existing conditions and available
national assets.
A headquarter provides operational
command, control and administration of unit
personnel.Thenerveof the company is operational
and planning cell which completely provides
awarenessofallsituations,sharinginformationwith
ForceHeadquarterandreceivingreportsfrompatrol
unitsonthesite.Aninevitablepartofheadquarteris
acoordinationcell
asco‐locatedwiththeotherforce
elements throughout integrated operations or when
somepartsofriverinecompanyarelaunchedinarea
ofresponsibilityofothersectors.Amaintenancecell
has to be reachable in broad territory for
guaranteeing repairs during day and night
operations with enough spare parts, appropriate
tools, required equipment, special instruments and
following documents. Furthermore, logistically
sustain for up to 30 days without resupply is
responsibility of logistic cell. Medical care must be
establishedasalevel1hospitalandcoordinatedbya
medicalcellwithquitestrongcapabilityforworking
outsurfaceandairevacuationof
casualties.
Figure1.OrganizationchartoftheUNriverinecompany[3]
373
General characteristic of riverine unit is wide‐
rangingindividualskills of personnelforproviding
highlevelofreadinesstorealizeallassignedtasksin
complex area of responsibility. Regarding
combinationoflandandaquaticvastness,boatcrews
andmarinesare obligedtopossess unique abilities.
Therefore,theyneedto be
completelyfamiliar with
radio communication procedures, first aid kit,
handling and using personal weapons as well as
owningpartialknowledgeaboutExplosiveOrdnance
DisposalandCounterImprovisedExplosiveDevices
procedures.Asadditionalrequirementsfortheboat
crewsarefullskillsofnavigationindailyandnight
conditions, boat safety measures,
communications,
rapid maneuvering and handling with installed
weapons on boat. On the other hand, personnel of
lightinfantryshouldpossessbasicknowledgeabout
navigation and boat equipments. Moreover,
collective capabilities are significant for riverine
company concerninggeographicchallenges, specific
waysofengagementandtacticalboatoperationsand
infantryoperations.
4 EQUIPMENT
ANDARMAMENT
Firstofall, disposalinstandard ISO20 ft container
and air transportable of all equipment with
helicopter Mi‐26 or aircraft C‐130 are outset for
reachingcapabilitiesoftheUNriverineunit.
Generally, the United Nations demand fixed‐
mountedweaponsonallriverineboats,fewoptions
ofpropulsiontoachieveaspeedatleast35‐40knots:
water jet, propelled or powered outboard engines,
then own full potential to operate during day and
night (24/7), maintaining marine bands (HF, VHF),
aircraftbandandsatellitecommunicationsaswellas
reliable scheme and resources for casualty
evacuations.
Fastpatrol
boatas anorganiccomponent ofUN
patrolplatoonisatypeofvesselwithself‐sufficient
conditions for crew and approximately 29 troops
onboard up to 30 days, equipped with weapons at
leastcaliber23mmandcrewballisticprotectionfrom
small arms (at least 7,62 mm). A generator,
an
automatic fireextinguishersystem andliferafts are
neededgearsonfastpatrolboat,too.
Light patrol craft is a bit smaller boat with
impressive capability regarding armament, speed
andtransportcapacity.TheUN`stargetrequirement
aboutfixed‐mountedweaponsisneutralizationupto
600metersandsuppressupto
800meterswithcrew
protection against at least 7,62 mm non‐armor
piercing. Maximum transport capacity is 1.800 kg
including 10 marines plus 2 crews in 200 km
operating range or 250 km with 4 crew members
only. Therefore, this type of the UN boat is not
allowed to weight
more than 11.100 kg due to a
possibility of air transportation by military
helicoptersMi‐8/Mi‐17.[3]
Different types of vessels as riverine/costal
component have been presented for a long time in
theUNmissionsaccordingtothefollowing:inHaiti
(MINUSTAH); the Democratic Republic of Congo
(MONUC/MONUSCO); Darfur, Sudan
(UNAMID);
SouthSudan(UNMISS)andMali.AlsoUNOCIand
UNMIL investigated possibility for waterborne
patrols on Cavalla River (border Cote
d’Ivoire/Liberia).[4] In recent years, Uruguayan
riverine companies are deployed in UN mission
MONUC‐DRCongo,equippedwithtworiverpatrol
boatsclassAUPF(UnidaddePatrullaFluvial)class
Mk
44and numerous rigid‐hull inflatable boat
(RHIBs)markZodiacMkIV.Themaincharacteristics
ofriverpatrolboat:length11.30m,width3.25m,draft
0.6m,Complements2+6,armament1xBrowningM2
HB 12.7mm (forward‐mounted), 2‐3 x machine guns
FNMAG7,62mm(aft/side‐mounted).(Fig.2.)
Figure2.Uruguayanriverine patrolboatclassAUPF[5]
UruguayancompaniesundertheUNmandateare
inchargeofconductingoperationsonLakeKivuand
Lake Tanganyika with armed personnel onboard in
an effort to beat armed robbery, smuggling and
illegal taxation imposed by local armed groups on
commercial vessels. Major troop contributors to
MONUSCO had identified the need for
more
surveillanceassetsandgreaterriverinecapabilitiesto
enhance coverage on lakes and rivers in the Kivus.
[6]
Figure3.BangladeshiRHIBsineasternMali[7]
Serbian River flotilla equipped with RHIB 720
typeboats,length7.40m,width2.90manddraft0.85
m.TheseboatsareequippedwithpowerfulYamaha
outboard motor of 150 HP. On the water, they
developspeedofabout 54kilometersperhour and
areabletoaccommodate15personsor
3600pounds
ofcargo.
ABangladeshRiverineUnitoftheUNMissionin
South Sudan (UNMISS) launching riverine
operations on the River Nile. Marine boats are
intended to protect UN barges, including those