ized ▁into ▁the ▁H V ▁ 7 5 th ▁Independent ▁Battalion ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁and ▁were ▁later ▁rein for ced ▁with ▁elements ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 1 6 th ▁Infantry ▁Brigade ▁to ▁form ▁the ▁ 1 6 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Brigade ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁February ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁The ▁Ar med ▁Bo ats ▁Squadron ▁Dub rov nik , ▁a ▁volunte er ▁military ▁unit ▁of ▁the ▁Cro at ian ▁Navy ▁consisting ▁of ▁ 2 3 ▁vessels ▁of ▁various ▁sizes ▁and ▁ 1 1 7 ▁volunte ers , ▁was ▁established ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁September ▁to ▁counter ▁the ▁Y ug oslav ▁Navy ▁block ade . ▁ ▁Tim eline ▁ ▁J NA ▁advance ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 ▁October , ▁the ▁J NA ▁started ▁its ▁off ensive ▁towards ▁Dub rov nik , ▁moving ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Tit og rad ▁Corps ▁west ▁through ▁the ▁Pop ovo ▁field ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁city . ▁The ▁J NA ▁ 2 nd ▁Corps ▁destroyed ▁the ▁village ▁of ▁Rav no ▁before ▁turning ▁south ▁towards ▁Dub ro va č ko ▁Prim or je ▁area , ▁aim ing ▁to ▁en velop ▁Dub rov nik ▁from ▁the ▁west . ▁The ▁second ▁axis ▁of ▁the ▁J NA ▁advance ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁ 9 th ▁B oka ▁Kot or ska ▁V PS . ▁It ▁origin ated ▁in ▁the ▁Bay ▁of ▁Kot or ▁about ▁ ▁south - east ▁of ▁Dub rov nik ▁and ▁was ▁directed ▁through ▁Kon av le . ▁The ▁advance ▁started ▁at ▁ 5