Zeljava-RP Pljesevica

Airfield ZELJAVA

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RADAR SITE (RS) GOLA PLJESEVICA

New photogaphs (oct.2006.)

Video (oct.2006.)

Top of the Pljesevica-Gola Pljesevica is on the height above sea-level of 1648 meters and there you can find, or better say there was placed radar site Pljesevica (RS Pljesevica). Here, like the primary radar has been installed the British radar Marconi S-600 (about the radar here:1,2:) which one, with the range of 400km, has been able to monitor the airspace of larger part of Italy, Austria and Hungary. The secondary radar was CD-2 which has been coupled with S-600. Here are also, within S-600, installed radars S-645M and S-654D which has been able to work separately or collectively.

Radar domes (1990)

Radar domes location today (2006)

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Radars have been protected with polar radomes because of hoarse weather conditions which are often present on Pljesevica. These radomes - "ball" you could see clearly from city of Bihac and their purpose is to protect the radar from the icing and dash of winds. They have diameter of ~18m and ~6m, and build on the concrete base from triangular elements made from the duralumin (special alloys of aluminum) and covered with the multilayer payment impregnated with epoxy elastic resin. Such construction has been able to endure the squall up to 200km/h.

The lower picture-left represents the visit of delegation of presidency SFRJ, headed by the Dragutin Zelenovic, to RS Gola Pljesevica 1989.

...that part 2006.

..., the opposite view

...lateral view


Radar S-613 at display on day of armed forces of the Republic Croatia 28.5.2006.28.5.2006.		Panoramic view from peak Gola Pljesevica

As the part of radar system, has been installed cabin for automatics S-5014B with the computer LOCUS 16 which has made possible automatic and semiautomatic data
processing and sending processed data to the operating centers as well.
LOCUS 16 has been connected to a digitally-frequency encrypting machine (product of men from the institute Mihajlo Pupin, Belgrade) so that it has been possible
to execute 6 automatically-independent interceptions of fighting airplanes on different targets in the air.
Equipment for the interception was installed on airplanes which has been stationed on the airport Zeljava.
All this together is used to be the part of unique system VOJIN (Air Surveillance, Reporting And Intercepting) of the PVO JNA.
Housing of personnel who served this system was organized in 3-floor building reinforced with steel and concrete, and which can be seen from Korenica on the
Croatian side of border.
........
This building is just a part of total complex which is seen, and there exists and underground part which can't be seen from outside.
It comprises of stationary communication node (directly below the building) to which has led about 100 steps long corridor.
One part of this corridor have led to the radars and power hall.
Also has existed one external entrance from the road which shortens the arrival to the facility what is especially important during winter conditions which can be very hard.
Communication node comprises of the large hall with devices, power hall, hospital with many beds prepared to work in war conditions, fuel tank, kitchen with
dining hall also prepared for war conditions and room for the crew resting.
All this has been air-conditioned and protected from the nuclear impact.

After leaving the YPA from Željava and destruction of the airport in 1992., this radar site still remains a work.
It was used by the military forces of Croatian and Bosnian Serbs, until the operation “Storm" in August, 1995.

View on Bihac city from serb bunker during wartime

Then they left it in a total panic and they partially destroyed it, so the equipment would not fall into the hands of the Bosnian and Croatian Army.
They used handy tools they had then available (hand grenades, anti-tank mines, burning 10-odd tons of oil in the tank, etc.).
They managed to rip out some electronic printed boards, but unprofessionally set explosives in the form of anti-tank mines did not inflict significant damage.
Afterwards, Fifth corps forces of Bosnian Army occupied this facility and they stayed there until the arrival of Croatian Army who took equipment they found there as a war booty.

The lower video mostly likely shows the situation few days after the capture of the facility, and it was filmed by members of the Bosnian civilian or military police.
We can see damaged polar dome of the S-600 radar, the bigger one, as well as a transmitter of radar in it.
Also, we can see a TV-transmitter which has a Croatian flag, and a noise coming from aggregate makes it clear that the transmitter is definitely working.

Slijedeće fotografije prikazuju demontažu radara i ostale opreme koja se mogla iskoristiti od strane HV-a.


By the arrival of the international peace forces (NATO-IFOR-SFOR) in the Bosnia and Herzegovina this object starts again to function as radio-relay node.
So, Canadians were placed there, first within the NATO, who made this facility functional again in purpose of their own communication needs.
They use to call Gola Plješevica, surely because of the simplicity (because of tripping the tongue), Mt.Gola (Mount Gola).
They were placed here 1995. , and have gone by the end of 2004.
SFOR is 2003 renamed in EUFOR, and Canadians were also part of these forces.

Canadian Army mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina were called "Operation Palladium" (December 1995–December 2004).
...more abouth this here(ENG).
..

Canadians worked here in shifts made up of 5 soldiers, and duration of 6 months.

Their task have been to maintain the radio-relay node (radio re-broadcasting full-RRB) for SFOR needs..

Personal pictures of Canadian soldiers on the AF Zaljava and mt.Gola...thanks to J

...more pic!

They have had bathrooms, satellite TV, Internet, kitchen, exercise room.
Supplying came from the base in the vicinity of Bihać through patrols on regular basis by land or air with the helicopter.
In winter conditions they have used motor sleighs.
RRB crew had at disposal the armored vehicle "Bison" which has been used in the event of the emergency abandoning.

The lower photo and video recordings talk about their residence at the site, about the brutality of weather conditions which are present there,
and also about moments of fun: