Deyan Svrzikapa
Deyan Svrzikapa | |
|---|---|
 Svrzikapa in 2009 | |
| Born | 3 October 1981 Zovahr, Makedon |
| Died | 9 June 2010 (aged 28) Western Ruvelka |
| Allegiance |  Syara |
| Service/ | Syaran National Army |
| Years of service | 2005-2010 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 4th Battalion, 311th Mechanized Brigade, 31st Mechanized Infantry Division, XIII Corps, 6th Army |
| Battles/wars | Zemplen War |
| Awards | see below |
Deyan Svrzikapa (3 October, 1981 - 9 June, 2010) was a Syaran tank ace during the Zemplen War.
An ethnic Makedonina, Svrzikapa was born in 1981 and was comissioned into the Syaran National Army in 2005 as a Junior Lieutenant. Svrzikapa served as an armored commander, commanding a platoon of tanks during the early part of his career. Following the outbreak of the Zemplen War Svrzikapa was promoted to Captain and given command of Theta Company, 4th Battalion of the 311th Mechanized Brigade. He took part in Operation Aspis in September 2008, where he destroyed a number of Ruvelkan armored vehicles during the Battle of Balatonalmádi. During Operation Polyandreion Svrzikapa destroyed more than a dozen Ruvelkan armored vehicles, but lost his tank to an anti-tank mine. In December 2009 Svrzikapa was promoted to Major and given command of 4th Battalion, a position he retained for the duration of his service. Svrzikapa and his crew were killed in June 2010 during Operation Homefront when his tank was destroyed by an anti-tank missile from a Ruvelkan HH3 Attack Helicopter.
Although the Syaran Army did not formally track tank aces, Svrzikapa racked up a large unnofficial record of kills during his service, ranking him among the highest of Syaran tank aces. Throughout the war Svrzikapa was credited with the destruction of 27 Ruvelkan tanks, 51 other armored vehicles, and the capture of more than 800 Ruvelkan soldiers. Svrzikapa's success, coupled with his extensive service during the war, made him a well known figure within his division and was awarded several times for his performance. The Syaran Army's armored training course in Cuprasi was renamed the Deyan Svrzikapa Training Facility in 2015 by a vote of Syaran soldiers and veterans.