4-day plan for NATO troop deployment

December 13, 1995
Web posted at: 3:15 p.m. EST (2015 GMT)

From CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pentagon sources told CNN Wednesday that NATO plans to move about 4,000 troops into Bosnia within the first four days after the peace treaty signing in Paris on Thursday. Included will be up to 2,000 U.S. troops scheduled to be taken by helicopter into Tuzla.

Pentagon sources said 1,000 to 2,000 U.S. combat troops will fly into Bosnia before the transfer of authority from the United Nations to NATO, which is expected to take place Monday.

Those troops will be in addition to some 1,400 troops already scheduled to be on the ground as part of the advance teams of "enabling forces." Pentagon officials caution the troop deployment schedule may be somewhat 'overly optimistic' considering the delays already caused by bad weather.

Here is a rough schedule of the events beginning Thursday, according to Pentagon sources.

Thursday, December 14:

About 1040 GMT -- Peace treaty is signed in Paris (11:40 a.m. in Paris; 5:40 a.m. EST)

Friday, December 15:

NATO's political arm, the North Atlantic Council, approves the deployment plan. The supreme allied commander, Gen. George Joulwan, holds a news conference. This becomes "G" day, on which the rest of the schedule is based.

Saturday, December 16:

This is most likely the day that U.S. soldiers from the Third Division, 325th Battalion in Vicenza, Italy (750 troops total), will begin flying into Tuzla, weather permitting. These are airborne light infantry troops who will provide security for the U.S. base in Tuzla.

Sunday, December 17:

The U.S. ground commander, Maj. Gen. William Nash, may leave for Tuzla from Germany or Hungary, weather permitting.

Monday, December 18:

Transfer of authority from the United Nations to NATO takes place. Some "blue helmet" U.N. forces change helmets and berets as they become part of the NATO force.

U.S. Army engineers begin construction of a pontoon bridge across the Sava river to allow U.S. forces to begin driving in from Hungary. The Army claims the bridge can be built in as little as four hours. The Nordic Brigade, already in the Tuzla sector, is assigned to provide security for the U.S. troops along the route from Hungary to Tuzla.