Yugoslav Navy

The Yugoslav Navy ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Југословенска ратна морнарица, Jugoslavenska ratna mornarica, Yugoslav War Navy), was the navy of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1992. It was essentially a coastal defense force with the mission of preventing enemy landings along Yugoslavia's rugged 4,000-kilometer shoreline or coastal islands, and contesting an enemy blockade or control of the strategic Strait of Otranto.

In 1990, it had 10,000 sailors (including 4,400 conscripts), including 2,300 in 25 coastal artillery batteries and 900 marines in one light naval infantry brigade. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the navy's equipment and watercraft were claimed by emergent Croatian Navy, Montenegrin Navy, Serbian River Flotilla, and Slovenian Navy.

History

The Partisans had operated many small boats in raids harassing Italian convoys in the Adriatic Sea during World War II. After the war, the navy operated numerous German and Italian submarines, destroyers, minesweepers, and tank-landing craft captured during the war or received as war reparations. The United States provided eight torpedo boats in the late 1940s, but most of those units were soon obsolete. Two ex-Royal Navy W-class destroyers were bought in 1956.

The navy was upgraded in the 1960s when it acquired ten ''Osa''-I class missile boats and four ''Shershen''-class torpedo boats from the Soviet Union. The Soviets granted a license to build eleven additional Shershen units in Yugoslav shipyards developed for this purpose.

In 1980 and 1982, the navy took delivery of two Soviet ''Koni''-class frigates. In 1988 it completed two additional units under license. The ''Koni'' frigates were armed with four Soviet SS-N-2B surface-to-surface missile launchers, twin SA-N-4 surface-to-air missiles, and antisubmarine rocket launchers. The Yugoslav navy developed its own submarine-building capability during the 1960s. In 1990, the main combat units of the submarine service were three ''Heroj ''class patrol submarines armed with 533 mm torpedoes. Two smaller ''Sava'' class units entered service in the late 1970s. Two ''Sutjeska'' class submarines had been relegated mainly to training missions by 1990. At that time, the navy had apparently shifted to construction of versatile midget submarines. Four ''Una''-class midget submarines and four ''Mala''-class swimmer delivery vehicles were in service in the late 1980s. They were built for use by underwater demolition teams and special forces. The ''Una''-class boats carried five crewmen, eight combat swimmers, four Mala vehicles, and limpet mines. The'' Mala ''vehicles in turn carried two swimmers and 250 kilograms of mines.

The navy operated ten ''Osa'' I-class and six ''Rade Končar''-class missile boats. The ''Osa'' I boats were armed with four SS-N-2A surface-to-surface missile launchers. In 1990, domestic ''Kobra ''boats were scheduled to begin replacing the Osa I boats. The ''Kobra ''was to be armed with four SS-N-2C launchers or eight Swedish RBS-15 antiship missile launchers. Armed with two SS-N-2B launchers, the ''Končar''-class boats were modeled after the Swedish ''Spica'' class. The navy also operated fifteen Shershen-class torpedo boats and eleven Yugoslav-built units.

Patrol boats were operated primarily for antisubmarine warfare. The inventory included three ''Mornar''-class corvettes with antisubmarine rocket launchers and depth charges. The'' Mornar'' class was based on a French design from the mid-1950s. Seventeen ''Mirna'' inshore patrol boats and thirteen older'' Kraljevica'' submarine chasers also were available.

The navy's mine warfare and countermeasures capabilities were considered adequate in 1990. It operated four Vukov Klanac class coastal minehunters built on a French design, four British inshore minesweepers, and six 117-class inshore minesweepers built in domestic shipyards. Larger numbers of older and less capable minesweepers were mainly used in riverine operations. Other older units were used as dedicated minelayers. The navy used amphibious landing craft in support of army operations in the area of the Danube, Sava, and Drava rivers. They included both tank and assault landing craft. In 1990, there were four 501-class, ten 211-class, and twenty-five 601-class landing craft in service. Most of them were also capable of laying mines in rivers and coastal areas.

The coastal artillery batteries had both surface-to-surface missiles and guns. They operated the Soviet-designed SS-C-3 and a truck-mounted, Yugoslav-produced Brom antiship missile. The latter was essentially a Yugoslav variant of the Soviet SS-N-2. Coastal guns included over 400 88 mm, 122 mm, 130 mm, and 152 mm artillery pieces obtained from the Soviet Union, the United States, postwar Germany, and Yugoslav manufacturers.

In November 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence, there was a three-day confrontation between three tactical groups of Yugoslav Navy ships and coastal artillery, and a detachment of naval commandos of the Croatian Navy.

Organisation

Navy

Minor surface combatants operated by the navy included about 80 frigates, corvettes, submarines, minesweepers, and missile, torpedo, and patrol boats in the Adriatic Fleet. The entire coast of Yugoslavia was part of the naval region headquartered at Split. The naval region was divided into three smaller naval districts and the Danube Flotilla with major bases located at Split, Šibenik, Pula, Ploče, and Kotor on the Adriatic and Novi Sad on the Danube. The fleet was organized into missile, torpedo, and patrol boat brigades, a submarine division, and minesweeper flotillas. The naval order of battle included four frigates, three corvettes, five patrol submarines, 58 missile, torpedo, and patrol boats, and 28 minesweepers. Navy had a support of one antisubmarine warfare helicopter squadron based at Divulje on the Adriatic for coastal operations. It employed Soviet Ka-25, Ka-28 and Mi-14 helicopters, and domestic Partisan helicopters. Some air force fighter and reconnaissance squadrons supported naval operations.

After the collapse of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (the final dissolution of Yugoslavia), the 108-th missile brigade for coastal defense, the 88-th fleet of submarines, the hydrographic Institute of the navy in Lepetani and the naval testing center were disbanded in 2007. Seven missile systems Frontier-E from the 108-th missile brigade and five missile boats class Osa were sold to Egypt, property of the naval testing center were transferred in the technical testing center of the Serbian army, naval base in Tivat Arsenal was sold to Canadian businessman Peter Munk for 3.2 million euro.

Marines

The 12th Naval Infantry Brigade (Mornarička Pešadijska Brigada) were the marines of the Yugoslav Navy until 4 February 2003 when it became part the Navy of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The 12th Naval Infantry Brigade was headquartered in the 8th Naval Sector at Split but was later moved near Kotor, a coastal town in Montenegro. A small detachment was located at Novi Sad on the Danube. The brigade consisted of 900 to 2,000 men in two or three battalions. As a multi-ethnic unit, the brigade was broken up during the Breakup of Yugoslavia, and it saw little action. The largest remnant eventually moved to Montenegro. There is a naval special forces detachment (''Pomorski odred - Specijalne snage'') In the Montenegrin Navy — perhaps this is composed of residual members of the 12th Naval Infantry Brigade.

Equipment

Sea Fleet

Frigates:


*
**RF-31 ''Split'' (since 1993 ''Beograd'') – Withdrawn from operational use by VCSG, scrapped in August 2013.
**RF-32 ''Koper'' (since 1993 ''Podgorica'') – Withdrawn from operational use by the Yugoslav Navy (RMVJ) in 1995. Partially cannibalized for parts in 2007 and sold to Yugoimport SDPR for further cannibalization, finally scrapped in 2008 at Tivat Arsenal.
*
**RF-33 ''Kotor'' – Remained in operational use by Navy of Serbia and Montenegro and after its dissolution by Montenegrin Navy. Withdrawn from service in 2019, to be sold.
**RF-34 ''Pula'' – Remained in operational use by Navy of Serbia and Montenegro and after its dissolution by Montenegrin Navy. Withdrawn from service in 2019, to be sold.

Submarines:

*P-801 ''Tara'' - Formerly called ''Nebojša'', the only Yugoslav Royal Navy submarine that survived the 1941 German invasion. Withdrawn from service in 1954.
*P-802 ''Sava'' - Withdrawn from service in 1968.
*P-901 ''Mališan'' - Former Italian midget submarine CB-20. Withdrawn from service in 1959.
*
**P-811 ''Sutjeska'' - Withdrawn from service in 1980.
**P-812 ''Neretva'' - Withdrawn from service in 1981.
*
**P-821 ''Heroj'' – Heavy maintenance stopped during 2004, withdrawn from operational use. On display at the Naval Museum in Tivat.
**P-822 ''Junak'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ mid-90s. Scrapped for reclaimed iron at Tivat Arsenal.
**P-823 ''Uskok'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in 1998. Sold and scrapped for reclaimed iron to Izmir, Turkey, in 2007.
*
**P-831 ''Sava'' – Withdrawn from operational use by VSCG in 2004. Towed to Turkey in March 2010, where she was cut up for scrap.
**P-832 ''Drava'' – Heavy maintenance stopped during 1996, withdrawn from operational use by the VSCG. Cut up for scrap metal at Tivat Arsenal in June 2008.
*
**P-911''Tisa'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in 1997. To go on display in Belgrade
**P-912 ''Una'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in 1997. On display at the Naval Museum in Tivat.
**P-913 ''Zeta'' – On display at the Pivka Military History Park in Pivka, Slovenia since 2011
**P-914 ''Soča'' – Remained in Croatia during events of 1991. Modernization completed in 1996. In operational use by the Croatian Navy as until 2004, when she was withdrawn. Currently awaiting sale at Lora Naval Base in Split, Croatia.
**P-915 ''Vardar'' – Heavy maintenance stopped in 2003, withdrawn from operational use by the MVSCG. Scrapped in July 2008 at Tivat Arsenal.
**P-916 ''Vrbas'' – Withdrawn from operational use by MVSCG in 2005. To go on display in Kumbor, Herceg-Novi.

Guided Missile Gunboats:

*
**RTOP-401 ''Rade Končar'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the MCG in 2006. Currently awaiting sale at Bar, Montenegro.
**RTOP-402 ''Vlado Ćetković'' – Captured by the Croatian Navy at Šibenik in September 1991. Introduced into operational use as RTOP-21 ''Šibenik''. Located at Lora Naval Base in Split.
**RTOP-403 ''Ramiz Sadiku'' – Heavy maintenance stopped mid-1990s. Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in 2007, scrapped in 2014.
**RTOP-404 ''Hasan Zahirović-Laca'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the MCG in 2006. Currently awaiting sale at Bar, Montenegro.
**RTOP-405 ''Jordan Nikolov – Orce'' – Overhauled and in storage by the MCG.
**RTOP-406 ''Ante Banina'' – Overhauled and in storage by the MCG.

Fast Missile Boats:
*
**RČ-301 ''Mitar Acev''– Captured by the Croatian Navy at Šibenik in 1991. In operational use by the Croatian Navy as the fast patrol boat-minelayer OBM-41 ''Dubrovnik'' until 2008.
**RČ-302 ''Vlado Bagat'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Fate unknown.
**RČ-303 ''Petar Drapšin'' - Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Fate unknown.
**RČ-304 ''Stjepan Filipović-Stevo'' – Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Modernised at Tivat Arsenal in Montenegro. In operational use by Egyptian Navy since 2007, serial 647.
**RČ-305 ''Žikica Jovanović-Španac'' - Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Modernised at Tivat Arsenal in Montenegro. In operational use by Egyptian Navy since 2007, serial 649.
**RČ-306 ''Nikola Martinović'' - Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Modernised at Tivat Arsenal in Montenegro. In operational use by Egyptian Navy since 2007, serial 651.
**RČ-307 ''Josip Mažar –Šoša'' - Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Modernised at Tivat Arsenal in Montenegro. In operational use by Egyptian Navy since 2007, serial 653.
**RČ-308 ''Karlo Rojc'' - Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Modernised at Tivat Arsenal in Montenegro. In operational use by the Egyptian Navy since 2007, serial 655.
**RČ-309 ''Franc Rozman-Stane'' - Withdrawn from operational use by the RMVJ in the mid-1990s. Fate unknown.
**RČ-310 ''Velimir Škorpik'' – Captured in September 1991 at Šibenik by the Croatian Navy and sunk on 12 October 1994 in a live ammunition target practice by the missile boats '' Kralj Petar Krešimir IV'' and OBM-41 ''Dubrovnik'' during operation Posejdon.''Vojna vjezba drill posjedon- Hrvatska Croatia, Jadran Adriatic 1994''
Operation Posjedon video
Torpedo boats:
* /
**TČ-211 ''Pionir''
**TČ-212 ''Partizan''
**TČ-213 ''Proleter''
**TČ-214 ''Topčider''
**TČ-215 ''Ivan''
**TČ-216 ''Jadran''
**TČ-217 ''Kornat''
**TČ-218 ''Biokovac''
**TČ-219 ''Streljko'' - Captured by the Croatian Navy in September 1991 at Šibenik . Heavily damaged, she never returned to service and was sunk as a target by the missile boats ''Kralj Petar Krešimir IV'' and OBM-41 ''Dubrovnik'' on 12 October 1994, during operation Posejdon.''HRM "Vukovar" i "Dubrovnik"''

**TČ-220 ''Crvena zvezda''
**TČ-221 ''Partizan III'' - Captured in September 1991 at Šibenik by the Croatian Navy, with which she saw service as OBM-51 ''Vukovar''.
**TČ-222 ''Partizan II''
**TČ-223 ''Napredak''
**TČ-224 ''Pionir II''

Patrol boats:
*C-80 class
**PČ-132 ''Kalnik''
**PČ-133 ''Velebit''
**PČ-134 ''Romanija''
**PČ-135 ''Triglav''
**PČ-136 ''Lovćen''
*
**PČ-171 ''Biokovo'' - Damaged off Škarda island by a 9K11 Malyutka missile fired by Croatian naval personnel landed from the armed fishing boats ''Maša'' and ''Nirvana'', anchored at a cove in the island on 10 November 1991; limped to Mali Lošinj.'' Udruga Dragovoljaca Hrvastke Ratne Mornarice - Zadar'' Later captured by the Croatian Navy. In operational use as OB-01 ''Novigrad''. Located at Lora Naval Base in Split.
**PČ-172 ''Pohorje'' - In Montenegro, used for tourists.
**PČ-173 ''Koprivnik'' - Shelled Šibenik on 17 September 1991, during the Serb assault on the city. In Montenegro, used for tourists.
**PČ-174 ''Učka'' - In service with Montenegro police
**PČ-175 ''Grmeč'' - Evacuated to Montenegro during 1991. Sold to a private owner from Croatia in 2007.
** PČ-176 ''Mukos'' - Heavily damaged on 14 November 1991 off Šolta island by a torpedo launched by Croatian Navy special forces during the Battle of the Dalmatian channels. Abandoned by the JRM and towed by local civilian boats, she was later raised, repaired and put back in operational use by HRM as OB-02 ''Šolta''.
**PČ-177 ''Fruška Gora'' - In Montenegro, used for tourists.
**PČ-178 ''Kosmaj'' - In service with Montenegro police
**PČ-179 ''Zelengora'' - Evacuated to Montenegro during 1991. In 2007, she was sold to a private owner from Croatia.
**PČ-180 ''Cer'' - Shelled Šibenik on 17 September 1991, during the Serb assault on the city. Captured by the Croatian Navy at that port days later. In operational use as OB-03 ''Cavtat''. Located at Lora Naval Base in Split, Croatia.
**PČ-181 ''Durmitor'' - Captured by the Croatian Navy at Šibenik in 1991. In operational use as OB-04 ''Hrvatska Kostajnica''. Located at Lora Naval Base in Split, Croatia.

School ship:

* '' Galeb'' / - Former presidential yacht. Transferred to municipality of Rijeka in 2009 for restoration as museum ship.
* ''Jadran'' - Currently in operational use by Montenegro.

River Fleet

Command ship
*RPB-30 ''Kozara''

Station for degauss
*36 ''Šabac''

River minesweepers
* ''Neštin'' class
** RML-331 ''Neštin'' - In service with the River Flotilla of the Serbian Armed Forces.
** RML-332 ''Motajica'' - In service with the River Flotilla of the Serbian Armed Forces.
** RML-333 ''Belegiš'' - sold to a tourist agency.
** RML-334 ''Bosut'' - Withdrawn and cannibalised.
** RML-335 ''Vučedol'' - In service with the River Flotilla of the Serbian Armed Forces.
** RML-336 ''Djerdap'' - In service with the River Flotilla of the Serbian Armed Forces.
*''Botica class''
**RML-307
**RML-308 - Damaged in combat in the Danube on 8 November 1991 while attempting to stop Czechoslovak towboat ''Šariš'', suspected of smuggling arms to Croatia.''Dunaj''
Ondrejkovics - Sandor de Szlavnicza files
**RML-309
**RML-310

River patrol boats
*''21 class''
**ČMP-21
**ČMP-22
**ČMP-23
**ČMP-24
*''25 class''
**ČMP-25
**ČMP-26
**ČMP-27
*''302 class''
**PČ-302
**PČ-303

Assault boats
*''101 class''
**DČ-101
**DČ-102

See also

* Royal Yugoslav Navy
* Croatian Navy
* Navy of the Independent State of Croatia
* Slovenian Navy
* Serbian River Flotilla
* Military of Serbia and Montenegro

Notes

References

Željko Komnenović. Potop mornarice Crne Gore
*

{{Authority control

Military units and formations disestablished in 1991
Military history of the Mediterranean
1991 disestablishments in Yugoslavia