History

During the Croatian War of Independence

Croatian War of Independence

The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...

, the Croatian army lacked proper light armoured personnel carrier. The Croatian Ministry of Defense

Ministry of Defence (Croatia)

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia is the ministry in the Government of Croatia which is in charge of the nation's military. The ministry was established in 1990.-Ministers:-References:...

 asked local firms to provide a solution for a light, fast and reliable armoured personnel carrier which could be produced quickly and in large quantities, without the need to import parts from abroad due to the UN Arms embargo which was imposed on Croatia at the time.

A local firm from Rijeka

Rijeka

Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...

 developed a basic armoured personnel carrier based on the HV 4x4 TK-130 T-7 military truck. The Army ordered 50 LOV-1 vehicles in 1993/94, with the first vehicle being delivered in late 1994.

A total of 72 vehicles were manufactured in various configurations, today only 45 vehicles remain.

There are long term plans to replace the LOV-1 with Patria AMV and Iveco LMV

Iveco LMV

Iveco LMV is a 4WD tactical vehicle developed by Iveco, and in service with several countries.After its adoption by the Italian Army under the name VTLM Lince , it won the “FCLV” competition of the British Army as the Panther and has been adopted by the armies of Belgium, Croatia, Norway, Russia...

 counterparts, but the LOV-1 is currently set to remain in service with the Croatian Army for the short term.

Versions

• LOV-Z - Reconnaissance and scout vehicle armed with a 20mm RT-20 heavy sniper rifle
  RT-20 (rifle)
  The RT-20 is a Croatian anti-materiel sniper rifle developed by Metallic in Rijeka in the mid-1990s and marketed by RH-Alan. It was developed to shoot the thermal sights on Serbian M-84 and T-72 tanks. The name itself is actually an acronym of the Croatian word Ručni Top 20 , or "Hand Cannon 20mm"...
  
   and M79 Rocket Launcher
  M79 rocket launcher
  The 90 mm M79 Manual Rocket Launcher nicknamed "Osa" is a light, reusable, and effective rocket launcher system made of fiber-reinforced plastics. It consists of the launcher, a CN-6 Sighting piece, rocket and the carrying case for the rocket. While primarily intended as an anti-tank weapon,...
  
   ATGM
• LOV-ABK - Nuclear and Biological vehicle
• LOV-RAK 24/128 mm - Equipped with a light RAK 24 128mm Multiple Launch Rocket System MLRS and M2 Browning machine gun.
• LOV-UP1 - Artillery observer vehicle responsible for directing artillery fire and spotting enemy artillery positions, vehicle is equipped with GPS and LLLTV, Thermal viewing camera, laser range finder, and ground artillery radar.
• LOV-UP2 - Artillery command vehicle.
• LOV-ED - Electronic warfare vehicle.
• LOV T2 - Light Armoured Personal Carrier - entered service in 1997.

Combat history

The LOV-1 saw action in the Croatian War of Independence, particularly in Operations Flash

Operation Flash

The Serbs in western Slavonia took part in the organized rebellion against the government of the Republic of Croatia that had just proclaimed independence in June 1991, by proclaiming the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia in August 1991...

 and Storm

Operation Storm

Operation Storm is the code name given to a large-scale military operation carried out by Croatian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to gain back control of parts of Croatia which had been claimed by separatist ethnic Serbs, since early...

.