Operation Bøllebank

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Operation Bøllebank

Leopard I A5 tank of the Chilean army

Date	April 29, 1994
Location	near Tuzla, Bosnia
Result	UN forces repulse Serb ambush

Combatants

Army of Republika Srpska

Danish military (as part of UNPROFOR forces)

Commanders

Unknown

Lt. Colonel Lars R. Møller

Strength

Unknown

7 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, 1 APC

Casualties

(Serb sources) 9 soldiers killed
(Other sources)Around 150 soldiers killed

1 vehicle damaged

War in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sijekovac – Sarajevo – Višegrad – Banja Luka – Bøllebank – Mrkonjić Grad – Srebrenica – NATO bombing – Storm

During the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Operation Bøllebank (Danish for "Hooligan Bashing") 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 brigade located in Tuzla, was ambushed by the Bosnian Serb Sekovici brigade at the village of Saraci, but the ambush was dispersed when the UN forces retaliated with heavy fire.

[edit] The incident

The attack started by granade attacks, which were ignored. The column, however, soon came under attack by anti-tank Rocket propelled grenades. The UNPROFOR column requested air support, but where rejected. Due to restrictive rules of engagement imposed by the United Nations, Lt. Colonel Lars R. Møller was hesistant, but decided to returned fire. The attack on them ceased after this, but intensified again later, provoking an even stronger response.

The seven German-made Leopard 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 the Danes did not engage them, as they made no offensive moves.

[edit] Post-incident

This was the first, and only, 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.

The commander caracterized the incident with the words: "the mouse that ate the cat".