croatian volunteer unit ran naval blockade siege formed croatian war independence consisted vessels type lightly armed armoured unit crucial defence providing resupply route population troops defending besieged city boats assigned squadron transported approximately troops civilians wounded tonnes cargo total personnel served squadron siege suffering fatalities siege associated blockade running operations squadron took place september peak fighting croatian war independence commencement siege preceded declaration croatian independence october early area saw fierce fighting combat operations largely ceased croatia following agreement january vessel squadron sunk late refloated placed permanent exhibition squadron collectively decorated bravery croatian war independence surviving squadron members founded squadron association preserve heritage unit background revolt croatian serbs centred predominantly populated areas city parts regions eastern croatian settlements significant population areas subsequently declared serbs declared intention integrate politically serbia action viewed government croatia rebellion march conflict escalated war croatian war independence june croatia declared independence yugoslavia followed month decision decision came effect october increasingly supported unable cope situation formed renamed november development croatian armed forces hampered united_nations arms introduced september final months saw fighting war culminating battle barracks siege agreement led areas croatia siege fighting continued wartime history established september volunteer unit served siege key factor successful defence city unit commander lieutenant colonel formation squadron tasked naval blockade maintaining route instrumental delivery necessary successfully defend city including food fuel medical supplies arms ammunition squadron transported reinforcements arriving parts croatia evacuated wounded besieged troops civilian population operations began september english undertook voyage squadron consisted craft sizes volunteers craft armaments light millimetre steel plate armour protection light machine gun vessels squadron relatively fast fastest capable achieving knots kilometres hour miles hour squadron typically deployed craft pairs sailing close possible yugoslav navy vessels passing island reach relative safety inlet order utilize blind spots naval guns existence squadron nautical miles kilometres miles transported approximately troops civilians wounded tonnes cargo unit suffered combat fatalities dawn october squadron sailed meet convoy fleet civilian vessels largest shipping line deliver humanitarian aid city siege fleet sailed port calls growing vessels approached convoy accompanied president yugoslavia prime minister stopped searched island squadron linked convoy escorted event marked large delivery aid city beginning siege naval vessel fly flag combat ship squadron originally italian smuggling confiscated authorities fitted armour squadron resupply blockade running operations missions sailing trip croatian island chased yugoslav driven aground beach near miles kilometres north recovered continued service december sunk anti tank missile unit ceased operations forces besieging defeated second vessel preceded landing craft designated brought use days earlier squadron disbanded december postwar decorations heritage refloated restored exhibit squadron collectively decorated bravery members croatian war independence individual decorations awarded squadron members promoted result service 15th anniversary arrival convoy besieged celebration held squadron volunteers invited attend august surviving members squadron founded objective preserve heritage squadron document contribution croatian war independence render assistance members similar associations croatia preserve promote role croatian soldiers played achieving independence
Armed Boats Squadron Dubrovnik