The Hungarian Warship Crews Shoot in Serbia

The Serbian-Hungarian joint warship training named “Iron Cat 2011" executed in Serbia between 5th and 15th of September is the result of long years of preparatory work. The crew of the Novi Sad HQ 1st Platoon of the Serbian Army River Flotilla and the warship crew of the HDF 1st “Honvéd" EOD and Warship Regiment carried out sharp-shooting with the PAV-4 and PAV-1 type, 20 mm calibre machine guns of the AM minesweepers, also in use with the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF), at the outskirts of the town Titel, on the shooting range built above the River Tisza. The technical personnel of the Hungarian unit could shoot at first this time with live ammunition from the water, namely in Hungary the warship crew can execute fire training only under field conditions.

Lt. Gen. Ljubisan Dikovic, the Commander of the Serbian Army Land Forces and the Vice Mayor of the Town of Titel Mr. Milan Nastasic received in front of the Town Hall the Hungarian superiors, Brig. Gen. János Huszár, the Chief of Land Force of the HDF JFC and Col. Eng. Gábor Hajdu, the Commander of the EOD and Warship Regiment, who arrived for the September 14 VIP-Day.

During the target practice lasting approximately two hours, the Serbian and the Hungarian warship crews could demonstrate their shooting skills on several occasions: the shooting personnel could hit the target placed above the water at a distance of 1200 meters with excellent result almost without exception. The event was closed with the Serbian soldiers’ formation firing demonstration with three-ships.

Following the shooting Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic gave tokens of appreciations to the best Hungarian and Serbian shooters, namely to Lance Sergeant Richárd Zagyva and Lance Corporal Radulovic Filip. The second best Hungarian and Serbian warship crew members, Staff Sergeant Zoltán Szabó and Corporal Stefanovic Branislav received certificates of excellence from Brig. Gen. János Huszár.

In reply to our question Colonel Hajdu said that the Hungarian warship crew regarded it as a challenge to perform well during the fire exercise executed from the water. He told us that the cooperation between the Serbian and Hungarian warship crews is planned to go on in the coming years as well. Next year the Serbs will visit to Hungary, in order to participate in a LFX on the zero point range executed in field conditions. In 2013 again the Hungarians will travel to the Titel range, but then they would arrive by their own warships. In 2014 the Serbs will come yet again, and with their own ships to Hungary, to practice minesweeping on the river together with their Hungarian partners.

Photo: Tünde Rácz

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