Albanian Military: Part 2
I forgot where the first thread I opened on this was...so I'll open a new one.
Recently some 1,000 soldiers and officers were released from duty as part of the force reduction under the modernization plan 2002-2010. According to this plan, by 2010 the current force of 22,000 soldiers will be reduced to 16,500. But they will be professional contract soldiers...and thus the force will be much more capable and modern. Also by 2010 the military spending should equal 2% of the GDP, which would mean about 300-400 million dollars as compared to the current 110 million dollars. Of course new modern equipment continues to enter the inventory of the Armed Forces. In 2003 22 million dollars worth of new equipment entered service with Albania...most of it donated for free or payed for by the US.
Also the Turkish military attache in Albania was decorated for the work Turkey has done in modernizng the Armed Forces and its facilities.
Here are some pictures of the Albanian Air Force. At it height, the AAF bosted more than 150 jet combat aircraft and numerous other types. In the future it will be a much smaller force, but with more modern aircraft, such as new modernized MiG-21 fighters from Ukraine and T-38 jet trainers from the US.
New pilot in training on an FT-5 (MiG-17 copy)
FT-5 (MiG-17 copy) training aircraft. These are to be replaced in 2005 with US T-38s.
F-5 (MiG-17 copy)
More F-5s
AB.206s at Farka
Z-5 (Mi-4 copy). These helicopters were formaly withdrawn from service in 2003. They will likely be replaced by Mi-8s or Mi-17s from Ukraine
CJ-6 (Yak-18 copy). These are the primary training aircraft. They were originally based at the Lapraka airfield...and anyone who's been there has seen these planes flying around the area. Now that the airfield is completely blocked by new buildings, the planes were moved to Vlora
F-5 at Kucova
F-6 (MiG-19 copy) at the enterance of one of the tunnels in Gjader which go deep inside the mountain
The pride of the Albanian Air Force...the F-7 (copy of MiG-21) at its hardened aircraft shelter in Rinas
F-6 with communist-era markings
CJ-6 trainer
Z-5
The single H-5 bomber (Il-28 copy). The thing has been grounded at Rinas for 12 years now, but its still around and in good condition inside a hangar. It will be deleted soon
F-6 at Gjader in 1999 taking off on a mission to protect Albanian skies from any Serb aircraft. Durig the war they were put on alert and flew patrol missions
The famous Y-5s (Antonov-2 copy) which were based at Lapraka (where this picture was taken). Now they are at Rinas
Enver Hoxha's plane...an Il-14. I have been inside this one in 1995. Three of these have been grounded at Rinas for 12 years...one more was burned in 1997 and its carcass was still visible in the distance at Rinas by 1999. They will be deleted soon and a new medium transport will be acquired.
Aluette III...4 of which were given to Albania by the Swiss government in 1999. I saw two of these at Rinas in 1999.
Bell 222...the first western-made aircraft in Albanian service. This picture was taken at Lapraka
MiG-15UTI prepares for a training mission. The H-5 bomber can be seen in the background
Z-5 bringing supplies in the North
1997 at Kucova...
F-7 at Gjader
F-7 at Rinas
Gjader again
Rinas in 1999...note US Army trucks and tents in the background
Mi-8 helicopter bought from Ukraine...at Farka during Eagle SAR 04 excercises
...some oldies...
Yak-9s in the 1950s
Mi-1 helicopter in the 1950s...Albania's first helicopter
CJ-6 way back
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"Look not to church or mosque for pietism, The faith of Albanians is Albanianism!"
Have you got some information for Albanian ground forces?
By the way if we have any conflict with Serbia or Greece is there any strategy of reaction in order to survive the disbalance of equipments?
We have a lot of allies and diplomatically we would win but it is neccessary surviving for a certain period.
Of course this kind of conflict is impropable to happen in the near future but who knows what in the future.
Pls help me with any feed in because I'm very curious in this aspect.
Re: re: Albanian Military: Part 2
PFffffffffffff hahaha ushtria jone me te vertet ka nevoj per modernizim..
Eshte qesharake dhe shume turp dhe t´i dergosh keta foto
akoma sikur me pas qene ne mesjete..
A me keta mjete do ta marim Greqine
Fieraku Moderator
Posts: 2029
(8/17/04 9:46 pm) Reply
Re: re: Albanian Military: Part 2
Quote:PFffffffffffff hahaha ushtria jone me te vertet ka nevoj per modernizim..
Eshte qesharake dhe shume turp dhe t´i dergosh keta foto
akoma sikur me pas qene ne mesjete..
A me keta mjete do ta marim Greqine
Mos harro morem maqedonine sic thot dhe rex, me dy gomere dhe nje celular.
Nga viti 2010 programi per modernizimin e forcave ajrore dhe armeve do kete mbaruar. Biles tani ne 2005 do vijne shume avion ushtarak te rinj. Keto jane foto te vjetra.
Edited by: Fieraku at: 8/17/04 9:49 pm
Re: re: Albanian Military: Part 2
TE LUTEM MA THUAJ SEPSE ME DUHET ........... NIRE MA THUAJ SE KAM NJE PROJEKT PER TE BERE POR ME DUHEN 3 LINKS
TE LUTEM DO TE ME BEJE NJE NDER TE MADH PO MA THE LIMKUN KU E KE GJRTUR ....... ......
Re: re: Albanian Military: Part 2
Tirana kliko me te djathte mbi fotot dhe zgjidh "properties"...ajo do te tregoj URL-en e fotos...dhe mund te gjesh se nga c'faqe eshte mare. Po si gjete dot as kshu...me dergo nje PM.
Quote:Eshte qesharake dhe shume turp dhe t´i dergosh keta foto
Me sa duket s'ke pare ndonjehere foto te "ushtrise" Serbe
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Albania's military, even though most of its equipment is "outdated" by western standards, is actually very equal to anything else our friendly neighbours have (except Greece...but they spend an insane ammount of mone on defense anyway). Numerically speaking we are also very equal.
Our Ground Forces currently have some 640 tanks in service, mostly of them Type-59 type (the one we all know), but also some 35 former East German T-62M tanks. We also have some 650 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) and Armoured Personel Carriers (APC). In terms of artillery, we have over 1,300 towed artillery pieces and some 9,000 mortar pieces. Numerically...that compares very well with Serbia's army which is only slightly bigger in this term. In terms of artillery...we have more than anyone else in the Balkans.
According to the 2002-2010 modernization plan some 350 old tanks and APCs will be scrapped. This has already started in Gjirokastra. Most of the equipment that will be scrapped will be some 70 T-34 WW2 tanks, all the T-54 tanks, about 50 Type-59 tanks (damaged during 1997) and some of the older APCs in service. Some 500 artillery and mortar pieces will be scrapped as well.
By 2010 the tank forces will have the 35 T-62M tanks...some 150 modernized Type-59 tanks (modernized probably through China)...400 Type-59 tanks not modernized and placed in reserve...but more importantly a new type of tank from Germany to be delivered in 2006...most likely this will be Leopard 2A4 (Germany is giving these away for free to new NATO members)
Currently a lot of western equipment has entered service. Between 1998 and today some 122 M-113 APCs have entered service from Italian, Turkish, US...and even a few Greek ones (6 Greek). Also some 103 Type-531 APCs (the one we often saw with the police in 1997) are in service. In the future some 400 IFVs and APCS will be in service...most of them western or modern eastern types.
Furthermore some 250 TOW 1 and 2 anti-tank guided missile launchers and several thousand missiles for them have entered service. These are the best anti-tank missiles in the US Army. In the latest parade in Tirana (for the 90th aniversary of the army), some of these TOW missile launchers were paraded in public for the first time, mounted on top of HMMWVs. Italy also has supplied some 100 Milan anti-tank missile launchers. These systems are the most powerful and modern anywhere in the Balkan...even Greece. Furthermore, the US has already supplied Albania with some 130 Stinger SAM launchers for air defense. Albania has also expressed interest in purchasing a new type of anti-aircraft artillery to replace some of the existing types...though no decision has been made on this yet. The Sa-2 SAMs will be withdrawn from service soon...and our air defense will consist of some 350 HN-5 (Sa-7 copies) and 130 Stinger shoulder-fired SAM launchers...and a large number of anti-aircraft artillery.
Other equipment purchased includes several dozen IFVs from Germany from former East German stocks...BMP-1s, BMP-2s and BRDM-2s. These along with 35 T-62M tanks were delivered in late the 1990s as part of an agreement with Germany. Germany in 2006 will start giving us some more modern equipment, including a new tank type as well as a new IFV type. So in 2006 we will actually have some of the most modern tanks anywhere in the Balkans.
Germany also trains our soldiers...over 900 Albanian officers have now been trained at the German military academy...and Albanians account for the largest group of foreing military students in Germany.
Other equipment purchased by the Ground Forces include a large number of engineering, transport and communication equipment. The US has supplied large numbers of modern NATO-compatible communication equipment, including modern digital equipment and fiber optic cables. Greece has supplied us with a number of engineering trucks and vehicles, about 100 such heavy trucks were given in the late 90s. Modern engineering equipment was also purchased in China...the first new Chinese equipment to come to Albania since 1976. I don't know what we bought exactly...but it was engineering vehicles...and deals were signed with China for further cooperation and for upgrades of the existing Chinese equipmet in Albania. transport trucks of course were bought mostly through civilian channels...new Fiat and Mann trucks for the army to replace some of the old stuff (though the IFAs are still the main trucks...and are still pretty good)
By 2010 the Ground Forces will have some 16,500 soldiers...and it will be a professional contract army. Currently the uniforms have been completely changed...no more of those old 1960s era uniforms...The new uniforms look almost identical to US uniforms and have the same gear (helmets and backpacks of the US Army). The new army will be more like a compact commando-style army. In fact the Commando forces will be one of the largest branshes of the army (commandos are the ones with the blue berets now deployed in Iraq). Also a large number of Special Forces will exist (they are the ones with the red berets) and a number of counter-terrorist forces. Currently these are armed with a mix of Albania-made weapons (Type-56...ie Ak-47s) as well as a number of western sub-machine guns and sniper rifles. In the future it is planned that more western small arms will replace the current Ak-47s we have...though I doubt that will be completely done since we have so many Ak-47s and since they are still pretty good (the Alb-made Ak-47s actually are some of the best...because of their light weight).
Currently several types of western small weapons are in service with Albania. Carl Gustav anti-tank grenade launchers (similar to RPG-7s we have plenty of) have been delivered as well as some newer RPG-18 from ex-East German stocks. More of this stuff will enter service in the future.
The entire training organization of the army will change. Currently US instructors and US technological help is being implemented at the Skenderbeu Military Academy for officers in Tirana. The US has set up new training facilities there...as well as a new modern helicopter simulation facility to train new army pilots on the new helicopter types that are currently and will enter service in the future.
The helicopter force has been 100% modernized and completely turned around. The 20 Z-5s (those old helicopters we'v all seen) were withdrawn from service in 2003 and currently 100% of the force is western made (except for a sinlge Mi-8 from Ukraine). In the future more helicopters are planned to be acquired...as well as some newer large helicopters to replace the Z-5s...most likely Mi-8s or Mi-17s from Ukraine. Currently there are 32 helicopters in service with the government (not counting private ones of course). In the future 10 more US MD 500 light helicopters will be delivered to be used by special forces, commando and conter-terrorist forces.
The Air Force will also be extensivly modernized...as well as reduced. Currently there are some 3,500 personel in the Air Force. That will be reduced to 1,600 by 2010. All the Mig-19s, 15s and 17s will be withdrawn from service. In their place some new jet trainers will be acquired (currently those MiGs are used only for training)...primarely new T-38 and T-37 trainers from the US. Italy set up a mission in Albania in 2000 to train new pilots...that mission ended this year and now we have taken over the training. Turkey also send technicians and specialists to modernize and repair the Air Force Academy in Vlora as well as the air field at Kucova...which is to become the new main military airfield in Albania (since Gjader was closed in 2004). Soon...April 2005...10 MiG-21bis aircraft will be delivered from the Ukraine. These will join the existing 11 J-7s (Mig-21 copy) that we have and become the new main fighters. The US has also advanced the money for an upgrade of these aircraft...either in Romania (to the Romanian Lancer upgrade) or in Israel (to the Israeli MiG-21-2000 upgrade). Turkey has also made an offer for new more modern aircraft...but that has yet to be accepted.
The Navy will look pretty much as it does today. Only a few of the existing ships will be scrapped...most will remain in service through 2010. Some new ship types have entered service...including 5 new US patrol boats, with 3 more to be delivered...as well as several new types of smaller ships from Italy. The submarines...of course...are no longer in service.
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So in the future the army will be a much more modern and much more capable force...up to the NATO standards and with modern NATO equipment.
Our army in 2010 will be not only bigger than that of Serbia...but also far more modern and well equipped. Serbia is planning to cut its current tank force from around 1,000 to 300 by 2010...and its army to no more than 15,000 soldiers. The Serbian air force will virtually cease to exist, as currently all the MiG-29s have been withdrawn and only a few MiG-21s and G-4s still are capable of flying. Macedonia of course can't compare...and is in the process of really destroying itself (now that the war is over and we "won")...it will scrap all its existig T-55 tanks and will have only some 60 tanks in 2010...and it will have no jet aircraft at all (the existing 4 Su-25s will be returned to Ukraine soon).
Greece of course will remain considerably bigger and more powerful than us...but Greece spends an insane ammount of money on it and really is in a different league.
The strategy for defending against a Serbian or Greek attack is the same it has always been. In 1999 our forces were deployed on the border with Kosova and even engaged in small skirmishes with Serbian troops. Tanks were positoned along mountain passes and a large number of artillery was used. Tanks and artillery carried out firing excercises along the border as a warning to any Serb incursion. Serbia can be dealt with by the Albanian Army alone...and Macedonia poses no threat.
The defense against Greece will rely entirely on foreign assistance. Our Army can slow them down...but it will be foreing pressure that will help us. Turkey of course will intervene and either open a second front against Greece or deploy troops to Albania. That is the reason why Turkey is modernizing and repairing the airfields in Southern Albania and why it has and will provide a large number of new equipment.
The US will also most likely step in on Albania's side. This is the reason why the US is so interested in modernizing and creating a new and powerful Albanian Army...the oil interests of the AMBO pipelines...as well as the fact that we are reliable no matter what.
Hope this helped. I have tons of pictures of the ground forces...most of them are on my computer and not online...but eventually I'll get them online. Unfortunately the Alb MoD releases almost no pictures and the info it releases is very vague...they are still operating in the old mindset when it comes to opening up...
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I'll post more pictures later on.
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"Look not to church or mosque for pietism, The faith of Albanians is Albanianism!"
Ketu mund te gjeni fotografi nga parakalimi ne Tirane ne 2002 per rastin a 90 vjetorin e krijimit te ushtrise Shqipetare. Fatkeqsisht, kto fotot tregojne vetem nje pjese te vogel te parades.
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"Look not to church or mosque for pietism, The faith of Albanians is Albanianism!"
I hope that all the above is true.
I fear mostly serbs in case of any conflict and if we have a balanced hardware than this is a good sign.
Anyway serbs have better tanks and artillery.
Their long range artillery is known in whole world (they took that of course from Yug.) Their tanks have modern equipments. My only hope is that this disbalance can be balanced from broken terrain which doesn't need very accurate weapons.
By the way can our fighter-plain withstand the better serbian planes. This worries me more because if we don't have a chance in this we are lost. You know that if they have a air supremacy they can damage our lines of comunications which is important in the eficency of an army.
I think Pandeli Majko should make a colosal job in raising the moral of our army. Basically in the near future we have to show that if serbs try to invade Kosova we will help militarely Kosovans.
Kapedani
ja fute kot per AK-47 e policanit.
E kam fjalen per kallashat me dru ngjyre roze.
Po te qellosh nje kreher tyta nxehet dhe deformohet.
Shqiperia eksportoi ca nga keto kallshnikove tek autoritetet palestineze.
Sigurisht Kallashat kineze jane te nje cilesie me te mire dhe une mund te isha i sigurte me kete arme.
Jam i mendimit qe shqiperia te mos investoje shume per armet e vogla sepse cilesia e AK-47 kineze do te jete e mire per te pakten 20-30 vjet.
Ne duhet te investojme me teper ne forcat ajrore dhe anti-ajrore. Po te balancojme serbet ne ajer atehere ne do te jemi nje force e konsiderueshme ne ballkan.
Greeks might bombard us by air but remember that albanians know the mountains of greece better than greece.
There are albs that can travel with closed eyes in mountain roads to Veria, Tricalla etc.
We just make soldier these people and soon you would have commando team going in and out of greece at will.
All I said above is true and is confirmed. But its all that I know...other stuff may be planned or purchased that I don't know about.
Quote:Anyway serbs have better tanks and artillery.
In a way...but still thats not enough. First of all Serbs have less than 200 M-84 (T-72 copy) tanks which are the only tanks in Serbia which are superior to our own. They also have about 400 T-55 tanks which are the same as ours...and several hundred old WW2 relics like T-34s and US M-4s and M-10s. By 2010 Serbia is going to reduce its tank force to no more than 300. Already this year they are scrapping some 150 T-55s. The Serbian technological superiroty of their M-84s will be overcome in several ways. First we have numerical superirority. Second we will also get a more modern tank in 2006 which will most likely be technologically better than the M-84. Third we have the modern anti-tank missiles delivered from the US and Italy. Fourth unless the Serbs make it to the plains of central Albania...the terrain in the north is such that even our Type-59 tanks will be capable of destroying them at close range...so there is no real advantage to an M-84 in that terrain.
As far as artillery is concerned, Albania has a numerical advantage in terms of tube artilery and mortars. The tube artillery of Serbia is virtually identical in type to those of Albania...The Serb artillery that is well known and superior to ours are their locally-produced rocket launchers. However it was shown in border clashes with the Serbs in 1999 that none of their artillery count penetrate our bunkers. And a few dozen (which is about as many as the Serbs still have) of these rocket launchers are hardley enough to make a big difference.
Our MoD has expressed plans to modernize the artillery force considerably as well. They plan to acquire new reconnissance means for the artillery...thermal sights for artillery observers, new communications for artillery observers as well as battlefiled radars to detect incoming enemy shells and determine the positions of enemy guns. Also the MoD has expressed the intentions of purchasing new western-made artillery pieces as well as NATO ammunition to make the army more NATO-compatible. So far no new artillery pieces have entered service...but in the future they may if the MoD's intentions are carried out.
Quote:By the way can our fighter-plain withstand the better serbian planes. This worries me more because if we don't have a chance in this we are lost. You know that if they have a air supremacy they can damage our lines of comunications which is important in the eficency of an army.
Currently our Air Force suffers from a lack of qualified pilots. As you know most of the pilots have left the military for the private sector years ago, so new pilots have to be trained. That process started in 2000 and will continue. By 2010 our Air Force will have 21 MiG-21 fighters. These will be the main (and only) jet combat wing. These MiG-21s (including the 11 J-7s we currently have) will be upgraded with new radars, avionics and weapons somewhere (either Romania or Israel). In my opinion...that is more than enough to deal with any Serbian provocation.
The Serb AF was strong a few years ago. Currently they are in a worst shape than us. In 1999 NATO really decimated their air force and air defense. Of 16 MiG-29s they had, only 5 survived the war. Dozens of other planes were destroyed. Their MiG-29s were withdrawn from service this year...so they are no longer a threat. Their J-22 Orao fighter-bombers are all currently unfliable and will be withdrawn from service by next year. They still have about 25 G-4 fighter-bombers, but of these only 18 are flyable and in future that number will only decrease. Their MiG-21 force is really in a desperate condition. By 2010 no more than 1 or 2 dozen of them will be flyable. Serbia has no intention of buying any new aircraft...except for transport helicopters and transport planes...so their combat aviation will be slightly bigger than ours, but defenately not enough to resist both our fighter force as well as our SAM and anti-aircraft forces.
It is very unlikely the Serbs would achieve any sort of air superiority over Albania. They lack any real modern bombs and missiles and would be very vulnerable to shoulder-fired SAMs (our HN-5s and Stingers) as well as anti-aircraft guns. Our modernized MiG-21s would be superior to any of their MiG-21s or G-4s.
Quote:I think Pandeli Majko should make a colosal job in raising the moral of our army. Basically in the near future we have to show that if serbs try to invade Kosova we will help militarely Kosovans.
He has done a colosal job...really everything acomplished thus far is because of his work as Defense Minister both in 2000 and today. He has managed to raise the morale of the army considerably...its not the same army it was a few years ago. The training has changed, the image has changed, a lot more training with foreign forces...as well as that today most of those who go into the Army do so because they want to. The draft is still there...but it is easy to get out of. But with a professional army people will want to go there.
As for Kosova...we showed our willingness as well as our capabilities already in 1999. Read the article I will post after this about the experiences of the Kukesi Division.
Quote:Po te qellosh nje kreher tyta nxehet dhe deformohet.
Thats mostly a rumor. Those who have compared both our Type-56s (which is what its called) and the Chinese ones...have said they are virtually the same. They should be the same...the factory at Polican is a Chinese factory. Albanian Aks have flooded the Balkans...Kosova and Macedonia...and are still the main weapons of the Alb Army. They are better than the Russian Ak-47s because they are lighter...they are of a more modern manufacturing (the Chinese after all were building them later than the Russians) and since they don't have the wooden butt stock but that retractible frame...they are lighter.
Quote:Jam i mendimit qe shqiperia te mos investoje shume per armet e vogla sepse cilesia e AK-47 kineze do te jete e mire per te pakten 20-30 vjet.
I agree...and most likely it will not happen completely...not for 20 years. But the MoD wants to make even the small weapons compatible with NATO. They want to purchase western types instead. Western types are already used by the Special Forces...as well as Russian Dragovon SVD sniper rifles have been bought in quantity and western sub-machine guns. In the future probably the Special Forces and the Commandos will be equipped with western weapons...while the normal army will still retain mostly the existing weapons.
Quote:Ne duhet te investojme me teper ne forcat ajrore dhe anti-ajrore. Po te balancojme serbet ne ajer atehere ne do te jemi nje force e konsiderueshme ne ballkan.
They have done that and are continuing to do that. 130 Stinger launchers and 350 HN-5 launchers are quite enough to deal with the Serbian AF...which in the future won't be much bigger than ours anyway. Also we currently have about 4-500 anti-aircraft guns bigger than 14.5mm...the main guns are the 37mm and 57mm guns. The first western anti-aircraft artillery to have entered service are 5 M-163 Vulcan guns. These are self-propelled radar-directed guttling guns on M-113 chases. they were delivered from Turkey along with their M-113s. The MoD has expressed interest in buying a new type of western anti-aircraft gun...but so far thats all they have said. And 21 MiG-21s modernized with better avionics and weapons are quite good to defend against Serbia.
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"Look not to church or mosque for pietism, The faith of Albanians is Albanianism!"
Re: Albanian Military: Part 2
Nga revista Mbrojtja...Shtator 2000
Quote:The Conflict in Kosova, role and place of Kukesi Division in accomplishing the Historic Mission
Brigade General Kudusi Lama, former Division Commander
As we have previously stressed, Yugoslav UDB had undermined and its contribution in 1997 events in Albania. The UDB activity aimed to betray the Kosova question to free itself from Serbian rule. The Albania's destabilization and instability for Albanian people and State created appropriate premises for Serbian regime to repress and exercise their expulsion policy toward Kosovar Albanians.
In March 1998, time when in Prekaz the war was going on, where all world opinion was made aware of the war, and the fear that that war could have been spilled over Albania. Serbian intention was readably. Their intention was to spread over Balkan peninsula the crisis in Kosova and draw in any way the attention of international opinion from Kosova question, exercise its deportation policy in Kosova.
In front of that situation, serious measures were to be taken, starting with situation assessment and then decisions, which were taken to challenge that situation.
Preparatory measures to Challenge the Serbian Aggression
After debates and discussions in the Kukesi Division HQs, subordinate unit commands and staffs, would define priorities and appropriate task to be focused on, in order to accomplish the Commander's intention.
1. Appropriate measures to ensure logistic supply in support of mission accomplishment.
2. Moral boosting actions to keep the local population and the fighters all chance to successfully confront the war with Serbia
3. Local government commitment to ensure the defense of local population.
4. Information management measures, and keeping up with the situation in and around conflict region, and subsequently taking all necessary measures to confront any contingent situation.
5. Working with military forces in Kukesi Division to prepare them confront any given situation, accomplishing the terrain reconnaissance, etc.
6. Making the best use of media and, mobilizing the people's attention what was going on and observing the situation. International opinion with that regard.
Kukesi Division Mission
Kukesi Division in that case had the constitutional responsibility to ensure inviolability of Republic of Albanian's border and territory, to preserve peace and challenge any Serbian aggression which would have been present in that region. According to that definition Kukesi Division n had a very important role and responsibility in protecting and defending northern Albanian border.
In this respect, based on the Operational Directive issued by Albanian GS, Kukesi Division was responsible to destroy the enemy, or capture enemy forces and equipment, whose intention and actions were to intimidate and coerce the freedom and independence of the Albanian sovereignty.
According to tasks assigned Kukesi Division was in the main direction of anticipated conflict. It was sort of guarantee for national integrity in the part of our country. All defensive measures were taken during peace time, but anyway much had o be done to properly respond to any situation which might have came out. Preparatory measures were taken mainly to fight a regular front-line against enemy and meeting engagement.
In order to accomplish the mission Kukesi Division use to base their war fighting capability in its defensive recourses, anyway GS did provide according to its assessment additional support, by deploying other forces and equipment in that region. Despite its limited war fighting capability Kusesi Division had adequate recourses to defend and accomplish its constitutional mission, until all its Division would have been manned with reservists. As for technical aspect of Kukesi Div. had plenty of war fighting capability having in mind in close cooperation with Kosova Liberation Army.
Some of Kukesi Division War Fighting Actions
In order to come up with a real conclusion of Kukesi Division activity anyone should work hard, because they had been tens and hundreds of them. All soldiers, NCO-s and officers had more then one chances to be in the battlefield.
Pogaj engagement was very intensive. Our forces in that war intercooperated so much to make the success of that war happen. Many traditional values such as brevity, baldness, commitment our forces and local population were not seen before. Our forces did have a multifaceted cooperation between each others, such as artillery, military police, border protection forces, intelligence, other coordination of diplomatic and political efforts with military ones. Our forces proved to be invincible against enemy artillery, because our bunkers worked very well and were very efficient in defense fighting protection. Such war fighting situation took place in man area a and in particular in Morine, Pogaj, Cahan, Vlahen, Dobrune, Qafe Prushi, etc.
Real offensive and defensive fighting went on during 11, 12, and 13 May 1999 in Kamenice and 17 May in Qafe Prushi.
In 19 May, Serbian paramilitary forces of a battalion, well armed and equipped, supported by their artillery and tanks fire, with the aim to break through the front line in Koshare, from the beck and flanks of Inf. Division AOR. Very soon they showed up 2.1 km inside our borders. Our forces reacted relatively very late, which gave Serbs forces the chance for short time success. So that, Serbs forces would capture the peak of Geshtenjave. Anyway our forces would redeployed in that regain and regain the captured territory. On May 12th 1999, 05.00hs our forces set on attack against enemy forces by forcing the enemy forces to withdraw back. About 20 enemy forces were injured and dead, and they left their equipment and military assets in the region.
The preparation took some hours, and the enemy was attacked in many points, and by all military fighting capability of our forces. Our firing intensity was so high and the Serbian captured territory was set on fire. That was unforeseen for enemy forces, and as a result they were chaught in panic. This way our forces obtained the initiative forces the enemy forces in 13 May give up their intentions and pull out in their previous positions. During those fighting our forces could capture enemy’s war planning documents. During then afternoon fighting of 12 May in our forces efforts to capture Kamenica Post, Disdari infantry battalion performed such the heroic fighting actions which will be commented later by our history.
In May 17th, we were informed that toward Qafe Prushi and Perollaj an attack was planned, which was scheduled to start with minor provocation, and in case of success, the fighting might have gone on, with the aim to capture and hold the main supply route (MSR) Krume-Bajram Curri. This sound and timely information did make possible that our forces take all necessary measures to react and respond appropriately and in time. Therefore our forces were positioned along Qafe-Prushit- Qarr-Dobrone line where forces of Kruma battalion were planned to engage in those fighting, intelligence platoon, tank coy of Krruma, air-defense artillery and field artillery battalion in Golaj. Operative group was deployed in Suka peak. The main attacking force was the tank coy which did cooperate with 12,7 mm machine gun unit and forces the enemy to fight back very soon. Meanwhile the enemy forces asked for support from their superiors, support which never came.
We should say that during those fighting the Serbian Artillery launched intensive and accurate artillery firing. The grenades use to fly in the targets chosen and our tanks from two directions, Goden and Gjakova. However our tank unit had no any damage and our forces no injuries, while Serbs confirmed 70 forces dead.
After those fighting the overall terrain was set on fire the Serbian loses were tremendous. According to secure sources Serbia lost some 12 000 fighters in Kosova conflict.
Translated: Ahmet Krasniqi
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"Look not to church or mosque for pietism, The faith of Albanians is Albanianism!"
Re: Albanian Military: Part 2
the mounains is old story
today we have good guards -profecionals
Albs who entry here they broke visas period
and stays longer until they drop in police hands
that says inerrior minister from statistics
you Albanian try to go in greece from the mountains
i belive next day you complain in press that greeks
and docks ect ect.. forget the past todays reality is different
albanians come here only with visa and passport
but they forget to go back in 3 munths space
Re: Albanian Military: Part 2
Photos of the Ground Forces:
New uniforms...2004
Type-59 tank in firing excercises
Type-531 of the police in 1997
Type-531 in 1997 again
Type-59 tank going to the Kosova border in 1999
Defesne minister meeting troops
Training in Afghanistan
Albanian soldier training with US soldier
Communist-era uniforms
Off to Iraq
New helmets
New uniforms
Commie-era uniform with new helmet and gear
The president meeting a female soldier during excercises...new uniform with old helmet
President meeting soldiers in Iraq
Albanian soldiers training in the US
In a bunker
Training with italian soldiers...big picture
http://www.afsouth.nato.int/images/ex10021.jpg
Big picture
http://www.afsouth.nato.int/images/ex10013.jpg
Tanks in 1997
1997
Albanian Commando (blue beret) with a US soldier…Albanian Special Forces (red berets) in the background
Special Forces
Comandos
Loading 130mm artillery
Type-531 and Type-59 in 1997
On its way to the Kosova border in 1999
Guarding Rinas
Training on plane hijacking
Presidnet gives a plaque to the commander of the Albanian contingent in Iraq
Soldiers in Bosnia
Bosnia
Bosnia
Bosnia
Bosnia
Bosnia
Bosnia
Martial Arts training
Communication troops with new modern communication equipment
With Commandos
Commando
Hunting for mines...in commie-era uniforms
Commie-era uniforms---1995
With US soldier
Big picture
http://img37.exs.cx/img37/4556/ex10016.jpg
Special Forces...putting their pants on??
Commando
Land Rover used by Special Forces
Special Forces
Counter-terrorist units
Students at the military academy
Students
New helicopter simulator at the academy
New students at the library of the academy
Ceremonial uniforms
MPs
New uniform...same as US one
Uniform for snow
Desert uniform
Uniform for rain
Maskat
Special Forces uniform
Special Forces uniform for adverse weather
Type-59 tank
British soldiers training with Albanian weapons (Type-56 and RPD)
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"Look not to church or mosque for pietism, The faith of Albanians is Albanianism!"
Re: Albanian Military: Part 2
Arvaniti.
If there is a war with greece albanians commandos would not need visas to enter greece.
Greece would return hundred of thousands of albanians as a revenge but albanians would be so angry they would join the army straight away.
They know all the mountain passages so don't be surprised that 10.000 albanian soldiers end up in middle of Athina when greeks are sleeping.
So you rather consider albanians as friends and respect us.
Kapedani
All that information is so inspiring.
Of course I know that our armed forces would not be ideal but by that force shown we would achieve our aims.
All it matters is a resistence to serbs for a month or two and after that we have won diplomatically and militarely.
In case we have a conflict with greece we would have a lot of damages because of their air force or sea force but still greeks would not be able to invade us because of the terrain they have to go through.
I think our long term plan is to provide a defence not only for Albania but for Kosova too.
We should update our tanks to theirs so we could withstand the open terrain of Kosova. Of course in case of conflict in Kosova albanians over there would join our army in considerable numbers so we should have a structure to withstand this flux.
We know that KLA lost the controll in 1998 because their structure was not prepared to employ so many fighters for at least 4-5 years.
That's why we had a non-centralised KLA and some new forces like FARK etc. We don't want this to happen in Kosova any more.
Fieraku Moderator
Posts: 2075
(8/21/04 4:10 am) Reply
Re: Albanian Military: Part 2
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Mine... still are in good shape
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