Riverine Units Assets

The first armaments and ships of the River Flotilla were of trophy origin. Most of the vessels used in the Flotilla were the product of the domestic shipbuilding industry, whether they were built or reconstructed. The ships were mainly built in shipyards in Belgrade, Apatin, Novi Sad and Mačvanska Mitrovica.

The first ships of the River Flotilla had no artillery weapons, so in the final operations for the liberation of the country they were used exclusively for transporting. The main weapons were 6.5 and 8 mm machine guns. With the introduction in the River Flotilla of the river monitors, armored and patrol boats, artillery weapons were mounted on them: machine guns 12.7 mm and cannons 20, 40, 76 and 105 mm, which significantly increased the firepower of the unit and enabled its effect on the forces on water and land.

Multi-purpose river ships, type 331, class "Neštin", were built at the "Brodotehnika" Shipyard in Belgrade, under the development code S-25 / B-47 and put into operation in the period from March 31, 1975 to June 29, 1979.

For the needs of the Yugoslav Navy River Flotilla, six multi-purpose river ships (minesweepers), type 331 were built.

Multi-purpose ships in River Flotilla of the Army bears the names and designations of the following: RVB-332 "Titel" (in use since March 1, 1977), RVB-335 "Apatin" (since March 16, 1979) and RVB -336 Smederevo (dated 29 June 1979).

The ships are powered by two 191 kW (260 HP) diesel engines, which develop a maximum downstream speed of 28 km/h. The ship's autonomy is 15 days, with a sailing distance of 4,000 km. The material used in the construction of the ships is an aluminum alloy.

Multi-purpose river ship, type 341, class "Novi Sad", was built at the "Brodotehnika" Shipyard in Belgrade, under the designation "S-25N" and was put into operation on April 25, 1999. The state-of-the-art multi-purpose river warship RVB-341 was launched on June 6, 1996, as a modification of the "Neštin" river minesweeper.

The modification of the ship RVB-341 involved greater firepower, smaller physical fields, which allowed for a safer passage across minefields, increased payload and greater hull strength. The modified RVB-341 has a built-in air-conditioning chamber, air recirculation unit and increased crew comfort.

River patrol ship “Jadar”, type 111 (RPČ-111) was built at the “Tito” Shipyard in Belgrade, under the development code "Motorboat A1". Steel and aluminum alloys were used in the construction of RPČ-111. The ship has a total displacement of 29.2 tons, length 24.4 m, width 4.4 m and draft 0.97 m. It is powered by two 162 kW (220 hp) diesel engines, with a top speed of 33 km/h.

It was introduced into the Fleet List and the River Flotilla on May 10, 1956, where it was first part of the River Patrol Boat Detachment from 1956 to 1963, then in the Minesweeper Division from 1963 to 1971 and the River Center from 1971 until transferring to the border service. RPČ-111 was part of the 32nd Danube Border Detachment until the border units were abolished. The vessel was restored to service in the home unit by order of the Navy Command dated 3 March 2006.

River Patrol Ships, type 211 (RPB) were built in 1980 at Belgrade's “Tito” and “Brodotehnika” shipyards. In total, 6 vessels, designated 211–216, were constructed. Steel and fiberglass were used for the construction.

River patrol ships are intended for patrolling and controlling river traffic on inland waterways. They spent most of the exploitation time in units of the Danube Border Detachment, until the disarmament of the Serbian and Montenegrin Army with the tasks of securing the state border. All six Type 211 vessels were handed over to the River Flotilla by order of the Navy Command of January 12, 2006 and the Command of the Novi Sad Corps of August 15, 2006.

RPB-213 "Kolubara", RPB-214 "Morava" and RPB-216 "Timok" have been in operational use since October 2, 2008 as part of the River Flotilla 2nd River Detachment Patrol Group.

The displacement of the river patrol boats is 56 tons, length is 21.27 m, width 7.5 m, height 5.3 m and draft 1 m. They use two diesel engines of 425 kW each, with a maximum speed of 30 km/h. The RBB has a crew of 7 members and the ability to transport 30 soldiers with full war equipment.

Special Purpose Ship “Kozara” (BPN-30) is a multi-purpose ship, originally called the RPB-30 River Auxiliary Ship-Base. It was purchased from Regensburg, Germany in 1961 as a replacement for the command ship RRM-11 “Fruška Gora”.

Built on September 15, 1939 in Linz, Austria under the name "Kriemhild", it sailed under the flag of the German Navy as part of the Black Sea Fleet until the end of World War II, as a command ship for naval and river forces in the Danube, Black Sea and Dnieper sector.

The characteristics of the ship coincided with the expressed needs of  the River Flotilla in the 1960s for a vessel intended for the command post of the unit and the accommodation of members of the headquartes. The Commission of the Navy Command conducted a survey of the ship in Regensburg from 6 to 15 June 1960 and suggested that the ship be purchased. After joining the River Flotilla, the ship was docked in Donja Gradina on May 29, 1961 and was named "Kozara".

High quality steel was used for the base of the ship's construction. The sailing distance is 6,120 km at economical speed with a 45-day autonomy. Originally, the ship had a displacement of 600 tons, length 67 m, width 9.5 m and draft 1.2 m. It was powered by two 294 kW "RV6-M-345" diesel engines, with a top speed of 21 km/h. In 60 years, the ship had a total of 16,850 operating hours; the average exploitation was 280 hours per year. Today, the ship is powered by diesel-electric propulsion composed of a diesel engine "Caterpillar" and an electric motor "Končar" designed to power two propellers, with a total power of 800 kW, with a speed of 26 km/h.

“Kozara” had a 47-members crew for much of its exploitation, but with organizational changes over the decades of service and the introduction of modern equipment, the number of members gradually decreased. Since the reorganization of the unit carried out in 2008, the number of crew members is 30, with changes and adjustments to the structure of the staff deployed in accordance with the requirements for the exploitation of newly built devices.

The ship's armament was changed by first installing three 20 mm M-55/III three-barrel cannon. The combat kit used to be: 10,800 20 mm rounds, 70 R-1 mines, or 50 KMD-2-500 (s) mines. The built-in light rocket systems for the air defence of the ship caused the reduction of the ship's artillery weapons, so today there is a three-barrel 20 mm cannon on the bow.

“Kozara” has the ability to deploy and accommodate 250 soldiers with personal weapons and equipment. It is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation-information system, facilities and devices.

At the shipyard "Apatin", from November 2009 to September 2013, the docking of "Kozara" was carried out, with the modification and general overhaul of the ship. Modification of ship systems within the general overhaul of BPN-30 “Kozara” encompassed all ship systems: from propulsion and power, through internal and external ship communication systems, to equipping with the most up-to-date navigation and information system. The ship has been equipped with new equipment for steering, anchoring and mooring of the ship, navigation and signal lights, drainage system (waste and technical water), fire protection system, new drinking water tanks of a total of 22 tons.

The special purpose ship “Kozara” is the first surface warship with diesel-electric propulsion in Serbia and the region.

The main purpose of the ship is to serve as a command post and base for the accommodation and stay of members of the River Flotilla in all three missions. In addition to the function of the command ship BPN-30 “Kozara” also serves for protocol honors and receptions for the highest state and military officials, as well as for training in navigation and shipping of all personnel of the river units, shipping schools and professional institutions.

The auxiliary river ship PRB-36 "Šabac" was built in the Belgrade shipyard "Brodotehnika" in the period from September 10, 1981 to April 9, 1984, under the development code RSRB-KB. On April 20, 1984, the ship was introduced into the fleet list of ships in operational use in the River Flotilla.

Aluminum was used to build the ship. The displacement is 115.8 tons, length 32.20 m, width 7.05 m, height 3.30 m and draft 1.335 m. The PRB-36 "Šabac" is powered by two 192 kW diesel engines, with a top speed of 22 km/h. The sailing distance is 1,326 km, with 10-day autonomy. It has the ability to deploy 100 soldiers with full war equipment and is served by 17 crew members.

The armament of the PRB-36 “Šabac” consists of two M-71/I 20-mm single-barreled cannon and a four-barrel light air defence missile system “Strela-2M”.

The ship is equipped with: navigation radar "Decca 1216A", depth gauge "D-14", gyro "S-12", radio teleprinter device "RTU-100/M", radio transceiver "RUP-12M", radio “Marconi”, radio telephone “UKT FM 66/17” and equipment and devices for controlling and de-magnetizing ship magnetism.

The river motor oiler, RPN-43, was built at the “Tito” Shipyard in Belgrade in 1955. The oiler is intended to replenish vessels with fuel along inland waterways. The full displacement of the ship is 90 tons, and it has the capacity to load 45 tons of fuel, with 3 tons of its own stocks. The ship is powered by an 81 kW diesel engine that can produce a speed of 17 km/h. The length of the boat is 21 m, width 4 m and draft 1.38 m.

The RPN-43 river motor oiler was a part of the River Flotilla since September 15, 1955, initially in the organizational structure of the Auxiliary Ships Detachment, then in the Auxiliary Squad of the River Flotilla Command. Since 2008, the RPN-43 river motor oiler has been operated by the River Flotilla Logistics Company.

The RPN-41 river motor oiler was a trophy ship of 47 tones with a single 65 HP diesel-engine.

The RDOK-15 river dock was built in 1921 at the shipyard in Degendorf, Germany. High quality steel was used for the construction of the river dock. Located in the unit since 1944, it was reconstructed at the “Novi Sad” shipyard from July 30 to December 28, 1962. The final reconstruction and adaptation and technical modification work were carried out in 1975 at the Belgrade shipyard “Brodotehnika”.

RDOK-15 is a vessel intended for docking of ships and other vessels used in the River Flotilla up to a length of 32 meters and a displacement of 70 tons. It occupies an important place in the system of maintenance and overhaul of ships of the River Flotilla.

The RDOK-15 has a displacement of 221 tons (load displacement of 347 tons), length 48.4 m, width 16.24 m and draft 1.30 m. It is self-propelled and can tow up to a maximum speed of 21 km/h. The river dock has the ability to deploy 200 soldiers with weapons and equipment.

Landing assault ships, type 411 were introduced into the fleet of ships and operation as landing-assault boats in the 8th Landing Assault Boat Detachment in Kumbor. Originally, landing-assault boats type 601 were intended for use at sea, built from 1975 to 1984 at the “Greben” shipyard in Vela Luka, with a total of 32 vessels. Five vessels were relocated from the sea to the River Flotilla and are now in use with the following markings: DB-411 Bečej, DB-412 Belegiš, DB-413 Taraš, DB-414 Begeč and DB-415 Šajkaš.

Prior to entering service in the Landing Assault Ship Detachment of the River Flotilla, in 1995 the Belgrade Shipyard "Brodotehnika" overhauled and adjusted the vessels for use on the river. Modified for use in river conditions, the ships are intended for fast longitudinal and transverse inland waterways transport.

Landing ships are made of fiberglass. They are characterized by high speed, maneuverability and ability to land on a low, undeveloped coast. The boats have a displacement of 42 tons, length 22.2 m, width 4.8 m, height 7.40 m and draft 1.10 m. They are armed with two single-barrel 20-mm M-71 anti-aircraft cannon and a 30-mm BP-30 grenade launcher.

The landing ships are powered by two 640 kW diesel engines, which deliver speeds of up to 60 km/h. They have a load capacity of 6 tons with the ability to load and transport 80 soldiers with personal weapons and equipment.

River mobile docks are vessels intended to accommodate float units commands and to form a command post along inland waterways.

The mobile floating dock RPP-70 is of trophy origin, with a displacement of 305 tons, length is 61.70 m, width is 11.17 m, height is 6.51 m and draft is 0.45 m. It has the capacity to deploy 150 soldiers with personal weapons and equipment.

Since the beginning of its exploitation, it has been in the equipment of the River Flotilla at the “Ušće” Anchorage in Belgrade, originally as part of the River Yacht “Krajina” of the Guard Ships Detachment.

The mobile dock RPP-71 is of trophy origin, with a displacement of 22.5/50 tons, 20 m long, 6 m wide, 4 m high and 0.60 m draft. It has the ability to deploy 50 soldiers with personal weapons and equipment.

It originally belonged to the River Yacht "Šumadinka" as part of the Guard Ships Detachment at the “Ušće” anchorage in Belgrade, and then to the river border unit with its base in Sremska Mitrovica. From the 14th Border Battalion of the Novi Sad Corps, it was returned to the River Flotilla following orders from the Navy Command on April 10, 2006.

The mobile river dock RPP-72 has a displacement of 164.8 tons, length 41.74 m, width 11.24 m, height 2.4 m and draft 0.45 m.

The dock was built from September 5, 1973 to June 5, 1974, in “Brodoremont” from Bački Monoštor. It joined the River Flotilla on November 1, 1975, as part of the Guard Ships Detachment at the “Ušće” anchorage in Belgrade.

River mobile RPP docks, types 73 and 74 were built in 1980 in Bački Monoštor. They are made of steel and the dimensions of the docks are: 26 m long, 8 m wide, 3 m high and 0.5 m draft. They have no drive but are towed to a maximum speed of 17 km/h, with autonomy of 10 days.

The motor patrol boat ČMP-22 was built in 1979 at the “Greben” Shipyard, Vela Luka and was put into operational use the same year. It joined the River Flotilla on July 5, 2006, after the cessation of the state border security service on the river from the 14th Border Battalion of the Novi Sad Corps.

Boat ČMP-22 has a displacement of 2.64 tons, length 8 m, width 2.95 m and height of 1.5 m. Fiberglass material was used for the construction of the motor boat. The boat is powered by two 130hp Volvo engines with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. He is armed with a 12.7mm Browning anti-aircraft machine gun.

River Dicing Unit of the River Flotilla is one of the units with a tradition and experience of more than half a century. As part of the formation of 1960, the 2nd River Flotilla housed an Underwater Deterrent Company, from which in 1964 the 1st Independent River Diving Unit was formed, named the Platoon of River Underwater Divers. After organizational changes in the River Flotilla, on June 29, 1971, a diving unit called the 93rd River Centre was formed.

At the outset, the basic purpose of the unit was defensive and the unit was used exclusively for light ship work during the docking of the ships. The first recorded dive of river divers of the 93rd River Centre was recorded in a diving diary on June 1, 1972.

The original formation name of the 93rd River Centre was returned to the unit in 2005. With the latest organizational and formation changes made in 2008, the unit was transformed into the 93rd Diving Company and became part of the 1st River Detachment of the River Flotilla.