The Dutch contribution to the Rapid Reaction Force (RRF)
On 7 June 1995, the Dutch government decided to contribute the following to the Franco‑British Rapid Reaction Force (RRF):
- a reinforced Netherlands Marine Corps mortar company;
- a Royal Netherlands Army mortar-locating radar unit;
- 6 staff officers.
The Dutch contingent in the RRF was commanded by Major Ingo Piepers of the Netherlands Marine Corps and formed part of a Multinational Brigade (MNB). A reconnaissance party travelled to Bosnia on 17 June. Most of the Dutch contingent (125 service members) departed from Split on 11 July. Out of necessity, these service members stayed elsewhere in Croatia before the RRF received permission to deploy on Mount Igman to the southwest of Sarajevo.
Sarajevo under fire
NATO aircraft and the RRF conducted a joint retaliatory operation in response to a mortar bombardment of Sarajevo carried out by Bosnian Serbs on 28 August. The shelling resulted in many fatal and non-fatal casualties. For 2 weeks, NATO aircraft and the RRF targeted Bosnian Serb positions around Sarajevo (Operation Deliberate Force).
The Dutch marines fired mainly at Serbian artillery positions around Sarajevo. The situation quietened down after the 2-week period. With the assistance of the RRF, relatively normal daily life was gradually restored in Sarajevo. On 20 December 1995, the RRF, and therefore also the Multinational Brigade (MNB), became part of NATO’s Implementation Force (IFOR).