Naval warfare, a combat on the seas, oceans and all major waters, the theater on which mankind has fought battles for more than 3000 years.
Brave sailors fought the battles against other navies, the sea and the nature forces, many times not being able to say which enemy is the worst one. Over the centuries maritime warfare has made significant progress, but its main feature is still the same. It's a sailor, an ordinary, skilled man who is waiting to hostilities to end and that the sea allows him to return safely home. Many of them have never been welcomed back and to them, those that covered the sea bottom with their bodies, I dedicate this work.
Brave sailors fought the battles against other navies, the sea and the nature forces, many times not being able to say which enemy is the worst one. Over the centuries maritime warfare has made significant progress, but its main feature is still the same. It's a sailor, an ordinary, skilled man who is waiting to hostilities to end and that the sea allows him to return safely home. Many of them have never been welcomed back and to them, those that covered the sea bottom with their bodies, I dedicate this work.
FROM THE ANCIENT TIMES...
With indented coastline as not many in the World, with more than thousand islands, islets and rocks, east part of the Adriatic sea was inhabited since the early Neolithic period, from it's north to south. Although no one knows for sure when people settled in the eastern Adriatic coast, we can with no doubt say it was about 4000 years B.C., as since then the inhabitants of the coast come into contact with other parts of the Mediterranean Sea.
Most were peaceful contacts based on the needs of both sides, but not always everything was quiet not only during landings on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, but also on the sea. That is visible from the drawing of a sea battle on a gravestone found in Novilara, in Italy, on the west coast of the Adriatic. The monument dates back to the 6th or 5th century BC. The picture shows battleship of that time in the Adriatic, and it also shows the battle. The ship was, according to the drawing and the number of oars, about twenty meters long, while other presented ships are about twice smaller.
It is not entirely clear who are the people shown in the picture, but it is possible to guess and say that it's probably about Picenians who lived in the area of today's Pesaro, whose origin has not been determined. It is possible to say that's the fight between Picenian and Liburnian ships, fight between inhabitants of western and those of the eastern side of the Adriatic.
With indented coastline as not many in the World, with more than thousand islands, islets and rocks, east part of the Adriatic sea was inhabited since the early Neolithic period, from it's north to south. Although no one knows for sure when people settled in the eastern Adriatic coast, we can with no doubt say it was about 4000 years B.C., as since then the inhabitants of the coast come into contact with other parts of the Mediterranean Sea.
Most were peaceful contacts based on the needs of both sides, but not always everything was quiet not only during landings on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, but also on the sea. That is visible from the drawing of a sea battle on a gravestone found in Novilara, in Italy, on the west coast of the Adriatic. The monument dates back to the 6th or 5th century BC. The picture shows battleship of that time in the Adriatic, and it also shows the battle. The ship was, according to the drawing and the number of oars, about twenty meters long, while other presented ships are about twice smaller.
It is not entirely clear who are the people shown in the picture, but it is possible to guess and say that it's probably about Picenians who lived in the area of today's Pesaro, whose origin has not been determined. It is possible to say that's the fight between Picenian and Liburnian ships, fight between inhabitants of western and those of the eastern side of the Adriatic.
Gravestone from Novilara, Italy
...UNTIL MODERN DAYS
In November 1991. a naval blockade of Yugoslav Navy ordered a total prohibition of navigation for all ships on the entire Yugoslav part of Eastern Adriatic. The central player of that task was tactical group consisted of one large patrol boat, two missile launchers, one missile boat, one torpedo boat and a patrol boat, and it was the absolute master of the situation. The degree of implementation of the blockade was very large. The boats which were transporting patients to hospital were returned to ports, sailing and fishing boats were also forbidden to navigate, as well as all other vessels which are capable of transport of the people. The only navigation was with a special permission from Yugoslav Navy authorities, and it is meant to be something transported to their needs...
On 14th of November 1991, in front of Split, Croatian Navy commandos hit and severely damaged the Yugoslav Navy patrol boat PC-176 with remote-controlled torpedo, and the Yugoslav Navy abandoned it . The ship was later towed to dry dock in Šibenik , where she has been repaired and introduced into operational use. Today it's still serving within the first Coast Guard Battalion under the name Šolta.
In retaliation, on 15th of November at 6:42 pm large patrol boat opened fire in the city of Split - the city in which it was named. Thereafter, the entire tactical group opened fire on Split as well as Brac and Šolta islands. This was followed by the response of the newborn Croatian Navy , which, with their artillery batteries opened fire on the Navy 's ships . With the action of Croatian coastal artillery batteries, Yugoslav Navy ships were forced to retreat. Yugoslav Navy also got support of six airplanes of Galeb type. However , the air defense of the island of Brac shot down two aircrafts and so prevented their actions. This naval battle is known as The battle of the Split Channel.
After the battle in Split Channel, Yugoslav Navy tactical group retreated to a port of Vis on Vis island, and in the afternoon of the 15th of November Yugoslav Navy TG, while heading to Neretva Channel, met three Yugoslay Navy minesweepers.
In the morning hours of 16th of November, coastal batteries from Pelješac peninsula and Korčula island opened fire on Yugoslav Navy ships, and the exchange of fire resulted in damage of several Yugoslav Navy ships. Due to damage, minesweeper ML-144 was forced aground in Torac bay on Hvar island, and ML-143 was sunk near Šćedro island. This battle is known as the Battle in the Korčula channel. Other Yugoslav navy ships were retreated back to the island of Vis, into their naval base.
Battles in Split and Korčula channels are extremely important for Croatia's recent history . Specifically , it is the first independent struggle and ultimate victory of the Croatian Navy over a considerably superior naval forces of the Yugoslav Navy in the war. With these vicrtories, Croatian Navy unblocks all Croatian ports except Dubrovnik.
With successful mine actions , actions of coastal artillery and a commando actions of the Croatian Navy during battles in Split and Korcula channels , Yugoslav Navy was forced to retreat from the internal waters of the Republic of Croatian in its last strongholds on the islands of Vis and Lastovo, from where its ships could no longer sail off to combat actions . All other activities that the Yugoslav Navy were reduced to ensure their own safety.
Although there was still a declared naval blockade , passenger and merchant ships sailed free on internal waters of Croatia . The exception was a naval communications to Dubrovnik , which were still controlled by the Yugoslav Navy ships which controlled all loads on ferries arriving in Dubrovnik . Therefore, the focus of military actions of the Croatian Navy in 1992. was relocated to the central part of the Adriatic sea and water fronts in its southern part .
In November 1991. a naval blockade of Yugoslav Navy ordered a total prohibition of navigation for all ships on the entire Yugoslav part of Eastern Adriatic. The central player of that task was tactical group consisted of one large patrol boat, two missile launchers, one missile boat, one torpedo boat and a patrol boat, and it was the absolute master of the situation. The degree of implementation of the blockade was very large. The boats which were transporting patients to hospital were returned to ports, sailing and fishing boats were also forbidden to navigate, as well as all other vessels which are capable of transport of the people. The only navigation was with a special permission from Yugoslav Navy authorities, and it is meant to be something transported to their needs...
On 14th of November 1991, in front of Split, Croatian Navy commandos hit and severely damaged the Yugoslav Navy patrol boat PC-176 with remote-controlled torpedo, and the Yugoslav Navy abandoned it . The ship was later towed to dry dock in Šibenik , where she has been repaired and introduced into operational use. Today it's still serving within the first Coast Guard Battalion under the name Šolta.
In retaliation, on 15th of November at 6:42 pm large patrol boat opened fire in the city of Split - the city in which it was named. Thereafter, the entire tactical group opened fire on Split as well as Brac and Šolta islands. This was followed by the response of the newborn Croatian Navy , which, with their artillery batteries opened fire on the Navy 's ships . With the action of Croatian coastal artillery batteries, Yugoslav Navy ships were forced to retreat. Yugoslav Navy also got support of six airplanes of Galeb type. However , the air defense of the island of Brac shot down two aircrafts and so prevented their actions. This naval battle is known as The battle of the Split Channel.
After the battle in Split Channel, Yugoslav Navy tactical group retreated to a port of Vis on Vis island, and in the afternoon of the 15th of November Yugoslav Navy TG, while heading to Neretva Channel, met three Yugoslay Navy minesweepers.
In the morning hours of 16th of November, coastal batteries from Pelješac peninsula and Korčula island opened fire on Yugoslav Navy ships, and the exchange of fire resulted in damage of several Yugoslav Navy ships. Due to damage, minesweeper ML-144 was forced aground in Torac bay on Hvar island, and ML-143 was sunk near Šćedro island. This battle is known as the Battle in the Korčula channel. Other Yugoslav navy ships were retreated back to the island of Vis, into their naval base.
Battles in Split and Korčula channels are extremely important for Croatia's recent history . Specifically , it is the first independent struggle and ultimate victory of the Croatian Navy over a considerably superior naval forces of the Yugoslav Navy in the war. With these vicrtories, Croatian Navy unblocks all Croatian ports except Dubrovnik.
With successful mine actions , actions of coastal artillery and a commando actions of the Croatian Navy during battles in Split and Korcula channels , Yugoslav Navy was forced to retreat from the internal waters of the Republic of Croatian in its last strongholds on the islands of Vis and Lastovo, from where its ships could no longer sail off to combat actions . All other activities that the Yugoslav Navy were reduced to ensure their own safety.
Although there was still a declared naval blockade , passenger and merchant ships sailed free on internal waters of Croatia . The exception was a naval communications to Dubrovnik , which were still controlled by the Yugoslav Navy ships which controlled all loads on ferries arriving in Dubrovnik . Therefore, the focus of military actions of the Croatian Navy in 1992. was relocated to the central part of the Adriatic sea and water fronts in its southern part .
Defenders of Dubrovnik