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Royal Yugoslav Navy

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1921–1945 maritime warfare branch of Yugoslavia's military
Not to be confused withYugoslav Navy.

Royal Navy
Kraljevska mornarica
Краљевска морнарица
Active1921–1945
CountryYugoslavia
TypeNavy
RoleCoastal defence[1]
Size41 combatants
19 auxiliaries
150 seaplanes (1941)
Part ofRoyal Yugoslav Armed Forces
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Commander of the NavySee list
Notable
commanders
Dragutin Prica
Insignia
Naval ensign (1922–1941)
Naval ensign (1918–1922)
Military unit

TheRoyal Navy (Serbo-Croatian Latin:Kraljevska mornarica;Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic:Краљевска морнарица; КМ), commonly known as theRoyal Yugoslav Navy, was thenaval warfare service branch of theKingdom of Yugoslavia (originally called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes). It was brought into existence in 1921, and initially consisted of a few formerAustro-Hungarian Navy vessels surrendered at the conclusion ofWorld War I and transferred to the new nation state under the terms of theTreaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The only modern sea-going warships transferred to the new state were twelve steam-poweredtorpedo boats, although it did receive four capableriver monitors for use on theDanube and other large rivers. Significant new acquisitions began in 1926 with a former Germanlight cruiser, followed by the commissioning of twomotor torpedo boats (MTBs) and a small submarine flotilla over the next few years. When the name of the state was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929, the name of its navy was changed to reflect this. In the late 1920s, several of the original vessels were discarded.

Throughout theinterwar period, elements of the fleet conducted visits to ports throughout theMediterranean, but few fleet exercises occurred due to budget pressures. In 1930, the Maritime Air Force was divorced fromRoyal Yugoslav Army control, and the naval air arm began to develop significantly, including the establishment of bases along theAdriatic coast. The following year, a British-madeflotilla leader was commissioned with the idea that the KM might be able to operate in the Mediterranean alongside the British and French navies. In the same year, five locally-builtminelayers were added to the fleet. A hiatus of several years followed, and it was not until 1936 that any further major acquisitions were made, with the purchase of eight German-built MTBs. Over the next two years, the fleet was significantly strengthened by the acquisition of three French-designeddestroyers, marking the high point of Yugoslav naval strength. On the eve ofWorld War II, the navy consisted of 611 officers and 8,562 men, operating 41 combatant ships and 19 auxiliaries.

While the KM was largely captured byItalian forces during theGerman-ledAxisinvasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, a few of its vessels, aircraft and their crews escaped and served in the Mediterranean underRoyal Navy control during the remainder of World War II. When the Italianssued for peace in September 1943, most of the remaining vessels were taken over by the GermanKriegsmarine or theNavy of the Independent State of Croatia. Towards the end of the war, theAllies transferred acorvette to Yugoslav control. At the end of the war, the few remaining vessels were transferred to the control of the newFederal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. As the post-warYugoslav Navy drew its lineage from the naval forces of the wartimeYugoslav Partisans rather than the KM, few of the customs and traditions of the KM survived in the successor force.

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]

In mid-to-late 1918, asWorld War I drew to a close, theAustro-Hungarian Empire began to break apart, and local committees began assuming responsibility for administration from the central government. In October 1918, the self-proclaimedNational Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was established inZagreb, and later that month there were discussions between theAustro-Hungarian Navy and representatives of the National Council regarding the future of the Austro-Hungarian fleet. There was even an exchange of delegates between the National Council and the Austro-Hungarian naval staff in Vienna. By the end of that month, the "sailor's councils" that had been formed aboard Austro-Hungarian warships at the main base ofPola had decided that they would leave their ships by 1 November, regardless of the political discussions that were ongoing. On 30 October, the Austro-Hungarian naval staff directed its commanders to hand over all naval and riverine vessels to representatives of the National Council. The following day, the EmperorCharles ordered the handover of all naval vessels, establishments and fortresses to the National Council. By 4:30 pm that day, the orders had been carried out. The National Council appointed Rear AdmiralDragutin Prica as the Navy Commissioner and CaptainJanko Vuković de Podkapelski as fleet commander.[2]

TheItalians were extremely uneasy about the rise of a new naval power in theAdriatic Sea, and on the night of 31 October, twoRoyal Italian Navy personnel penetrated the base at Pola and setnaval mines under the keel ofSMS Viribus Unitis, the 20,000-long-ton (22,000-short-ton)dreadnoughtbattleship which was also Vuković'sflagship. When it exploded, the ship sank, with the loss of 400 crew, including Vuković. As Prica was ill, the National Council appointed Captain Metodije Koch as Navy Commissioner and promoted him to rear admiral on 2 November. TheArmistice of Villa Giusti between the Allies, the United States and Austria-Hungary was signed on 3 November, and came into force the following day. Its naval provisions included a requirement that Austria-Hungary hand over the bulk of its naval vessels to Allied and United States control and disarm the remainder. Included in the handover were 42 modern warships andsubmarines. Italy immediately began to occupy the former Austro-Hungarian coast and offshore islands, and demanded the handover of the vessels then under the control of the National Council. Koch requested authority to retain control over fourdestroyers, but this was denied by the Allied Naval Council. Later that month, the Italians convinced the Allied Naval Council to force the remaining crews off most of the vessels.[3]

On 1 December 1918, the newSouth Slav state, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (KSCS, later Kingdom of Yugoslavia) was created, joining the Kingdom of Serbia with those South Slav lands formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Later that month, the Serbian Ministry of Army was dissolved, and a newMinistry of Army and Navy was created. By January 1919, there were a total of 35 former Austro-Hungarian vessels in port which had a total of 600 Yugoslav crew members aboard. The National Council dissolved the Navy Commissioner's office in February and Koch was appointed as the head of the Navy Department within the Ministry of Army and Navy. During that month, the Italians finally disembarked all remaining crew from former Austro-Hungarian vessels, leaving the nascent KSCS Navy without any ships. In April, Koch's office was moved to the capital,Belgrade. The final fate of the former Austro-Hungarian vessels was determined by the Allied powers during theParis Peace Conference, which also decided territorial disagreements between Italy and the KSCS. While the territorial questions inDalmatia were largely decided in favour of the KSCS, Italy was more successful in denying the KSCS most of the former Austro-Hungarian fleet. The unrealistic demands of the KSCS in this regard contributed to their lack of success. For example, in April 1919, the KSCS asked for control over fourcruisers, 17 destroyers, 27 ocean-goingtorpedo boats, and 20 submarines. Rebuffed, in May 1920 the KSCS reduced its claims to two ageing cruisers, six destroyers, 24 torpedo boats and four submarines. Even this more modest demand was rejected.[4]

a black and white photograph of several ships at a dock
Eight 250t-class torpedo boats were transferred to the Navy of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in March 1921

In October 1920, the question was finally settled when theTreaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye provided for the transfer of the obsoletecoastal defence shipSMS Kronprinz Erzherzog Rudolf, eight250t-class torpedo boats, four olderKaiman-class torpedo boats, the repair shipCyclop, the water carriersNajade andNixe, the salvage vesselGigant, three tugs, the yachtDalmat, fourhulks, fourriver monitors (Bosna,Enns,Körös andBodrog), one motor launch, three river tugs, 16 small tenders, and a significant number of coal and oillighters. All of these vessels were formally taken over by the KSCS at the beginning of March 1921.[5][6] As the only modern sea-going vessels left to the KSCS were the 12 torpedo boats,[7] the new nation had to build its naval forces from scratch.[8]

Establishment

[edit]

Many former Austro-Hungarian naval personnel were incorporated into the new navy, 90 per cent of whom were ofCroatian orSlovene ethnicity. The remainder wereSerbs, or non-Slavs such asGermans. Their former ranks were recognised and, initially at least, rank insignia and regulations were adopted from the former Austro-Hungarian Navy. By 1922, the KM consisted of 124 officers and about 3,000 men. The number of officers had more than halved since the end of 1919, largely due to disillusionment. To fill the looming shortfall, around 20 graduates from each of the 1921 and 1922 classes of theYugoslav Military Academy in Belgrade were sent to the KM. In 1923, the new Naval Academy atGruž accepted its first class of 40midshipmen, who were to undergo a three-year training course. All entrants to the Naval Academy had to be between 17 and 20 years of age, and graduates of high school or similar nautical school. Two specialist schools forpetty officers were established, one atŠibenik for deck crew, and a machinist's school atKumbor in theBay of Kotor. Mine andtorpedo training was conducted atĐenovići, as was pilot and air observer training. A gunnery school was established atMeljine in the Bay of Kotor. Šibenik was also the home of the main coastal radio station, thesignals school and the basic and specialist training school for seamen.[9]

a black and white photograph of a boat on a river
The river monitorVardar underway

In September 1923, new regulations were promulgated, dividing the navy into a fleet, a river flotilla, and naval aviation. Later that month a Naval Command was established, based inZemun, near Belgrade.[10] The Navy Department, now known as Navy Section, was then only responsible for purely administrative matters, with Naval Command responsible for all operational questions.[11] The service's initially unrealistic expansion goals of 24 destroyers and 24 submarines were soon shelved, and by the end of 1923 the fleet consisted of eight 250t-class torpedo boats, fourKaiman-class torpedo boats, sixGaleb-class minelayers, fourSchichau-class minesweepers, the water carrierPerun (ex-Cyclop), the yachtsVila (ex-Dalmat) andLada (ex-Quarnero), the training shipVila Velebit, the salvage vesselMoćni (ex-Gigant), and four tugs.Kumbor (ex-Kronprinz Erzherzog Rudolf) had been sold for scrap in 1922, and three of the minesweepers were disposed of in 1924, as were the four hulks. The four river monitors remained in service, asVardar,Drava,Morava andSava respectively. They were supported by two motor patrol boats and three river tugs.[12]

The shore establishments were developed from those inherited from the Austro-Hungarian Navy, and includedTivat in the Bay of Kotor. It was home to the Tivat Arsenal, a naval yard which was expanded to repair and overhaul larger vessels; it included two floating docks, one of 2,000long tons (2,032 t) and one of 7,000-long-ton (7,100 t) capacity. The apprentice school and diving school were also established there, along with the main supply base. A 2000-long ton-capacity floating dock was acquired for the privateYarrow Adriaticshipyard atKraljevica, and a subsidiary of the FrenchAteliers et Chantiers de la Loire shipyard was established atSplit, equipped with two more floating docks, one of 1,800-long-ton (1,829 t), and one of 8,000-long-ton (8,100 t) capacity. The riverine vessels were usually repaired at theNovi Sad subsidiary of the Arsenal, and overhauls were completed atSartid Works inSmederevo.[13]

Interwar activities

[edit]

1923–1929

[edit]
a black and white photograph of a ship at dock
The first major acquisition of the navy was the light cruiserDalmacija (right)

The early development of the navy was hampered by severe budget limitations and a lack of interest from the general staff which consisted of formerRoyal Serbian Army generals with little appreciation for naval matters.Jadranska straža (lit.'Adriatic Guard') association was established to promote public interest in the navy.[14] In 1925, Prica conducted exercises off the Dalmatian coast, involving the majority of vessels.[15] In 1926, the navy was able to make its first significant acquisition, the formerImperial German Navylight cruiserSMS Niobe, which was renamedDalmacija. She was refitted at the Tivat Arsenal prior to commissioning. The following year, two British-builtThornycroftUskok-classmotor torpedo boats (MTBs) were acquired, namedUskok andČetnik, and a base was built for them at Šibenik. In 1927, the first two submarines were purchased, the British-builtHrabri classHrabri andNebojša. Over the next two years, two further submarines were brought into service, the French-builtOsvetnik class, which consisted ofOsvetnik andSmeli. The submarine flotilla was based at Tivat, supported by the depot shipHvar (ex-Solun), acquired in 1927. Between 1928 and 1930, a number of former Austro-Hungarian vessels were discarded, including the fourKaiman-class torpedo boats. In 1929, the salvage shipMoćni was scrapped, and the German-built 740-long-ton (830-short-ton)Spasilac was acquired to replace her.[14]

In late 1928, the naval aviation school was transferred from Đenovići to Divulje near Split, where a new seaplane station was established. In the same year, the 1,870-long-ton (2,090-short-ton) seaplane depot shipZmaj was acquired from Germany.[16] In May and June 1929, a squadron, under the command of Prica and consisting ofDalmacija,Hvar and the twoHrabri-class submarines, visitedMalta,Corfu andBizerte. Also in 1929, the former Austro-Hungarian water carrierNajade, now namedSitnica, was re-employed as an auxiliary for the submarine flotilla, despite its lack of a workshop for repair work.[17] In late 1929, Navy Command and Navy Section were combined as part of the Ministry of Army and Navy, with the navy commander holding the rank of admiral, and his deputy with the rank of vice-admiral. By that time, the Yugoslav fleet consisted of the light cruiserDalmacija, the eight 250t-class seagoing torpedo boats, the twoUskok-class MTBs, four submarines, sixGaleb-class minetenders, one minesweeper, the submarine depot shipHvar, the training shipSitnica, two yachtsVila andLada, and five tugs. The riverine flotilla consisted of the four monitors and the river auxiliarySrbija. In total, the navy comprised 256 officers and 2,000 men, with a naval reserve consisting of 164 officers and 570 men. Less than half of the officers were former members of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, and 49 officers had graduated from the Naval Academy.[16] In October, Prica retired as navy commander and was replaced by Vice-Admiral V. Wickerhauser.[18]

1930–1940

[edit]
a black and white photograph of two ships at dock
The flotilla leaderDubrovnik (left) at the Bay of Kotor

In January 1929, King Alexander changed the name of the country to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and the navy became the Royal Navy (Serbo-Croatian Latin:Kraljevska Mornarica, Краљевска Морнарица, KM). In April 1930, the salvage vesselSpasilac was added to the fleet, and the following month the submarineNebojša was damaged when she collided with a steamer. In July, the twoHrabri-class submarines andSitnica made aMediterranean cruise, visitingAlexandria andBeirut. The appointment of a chief of the Maritime Air Force in 1930 signified the separation of naval aviation from army control, with a strength of around 1,000 officers and men, of whom about 80 were pilots. Around 120 naval aircraft were in service.[19] In 1931, the fleet expanded significantly with the completion of the British-builtflotilla leaderDubrovnik.[16] The flotilla leader concept involved building large destroyers similar to the World War IRoyal NavyV and W-class destroyers.[20] In theinterwarFrench Navy, these ships were known ascontre-torpilleurs, and were intended to operate with smaller destroyers, or as half-flotillas of three ships. The KM decided to build three such flotilla leaders, ships that would have the ability to reach high speeds and with a long endurance. The long endurance requirement reflected Yugoslav plans to deploy the ships into the centralMediterranean, where they would be able to operate alongside French and British warships. The onset of theGreat Depression meant that only one ship of the planned half-flotilla was ever built.[21] Five locally-builtMalinska-class minelayers were also added to the fleet in 1931. The following year, a new German-built 720-long-ton (810-short-ton)brigantine sail training ship,Jadran was acquired,[16] and Wickerhauser retired and was replaced by Vice-Admiral N.N. Stanković.[22] The 250t-class torpedo boatT4 ran aground and was broken up in 1932.[23]

In 1932, Stanković assured the British naval attaché that Yugoslav naval policy was focused on the defence of her coastline, but he also opined that this task would require significant expansion of the navy, including the acquisition of six cruisers and five more flotilla leaders similar toDubrovnik. In the same year,Dubrovnik sailed to theBlack Sea then visited several ports in the Mediterranean with King Alexander andQueen Marie aboard. During 1932, the Maritime Air Force had bases at Divulje and Đenovići, with two bomber squadrons and one reconnaissance squadron at each base, each squadron consisting of 12 aircraft.[24] In 1934, the British naval attaché reported that the French had significant influence on Yugoslav naval policy. In the same year, the KM comprised 517 officers and 6,461 men, and Stanković retired and was replaced by Rear-Admiral M. L. Polić.[25] In October,Hrabri andSmeli conducted visits to various Mediterranean ports.[26] Despite the fact that a half-flotilla of large destroyers was not going to be built, the idea thatDubrovnik might operate with a number of smaller destroyers persisted. In 1934, the KM decided to acquire three such destroyers to operate in adivision led byDubrovnik.[27] In August 1935,Dubrovnik visited Corfu and Bizerte, the seaplane carrierZmaj along with threeGaleb-class mine tenders also visited Corfu, andHrabri andOsvetnik visited Malta.[28]

In 1936, eight German-builtOrjen-class MTBs were added.[16] Also in 1936, a new naval coastal command was established under the command of a rear admiral. It was headquartered in Split, and included shore-based commands atSelce, Šibenik and Đenovići. By the end of that year, the KM consisted of 27 surface combatants, four submarines, and around a dozen auxiliary vessels, crewed by a total of 487 officers and about 5,000 men. The yachtLada had been disposed of, as had the minesweeperD2.[a] The training shipSitnica had been converted into a second submarine depot ship, and theGaleb-class mine tenders had been reclassified as minelayers. The river flotilla consisted of the four monitors, the royal yachtDragor, two patrol boats—Graničar andStražar, and three river tugs;Cer,Triglav andAvala. However, in 1936 the only vessels ready for war service wereDubrovnik and the four submarines, and the navy was only considered capable of patrol duties and coastal surveillance, minelaying and minor raids against enemy shipping. Despite this, the United States naval attaché observed that the morale and discipline of the navy was very good. He further stated that higher-level commanders appeared discouraged at the poor position of the navy due to its inadequate budget. He concluded that the fleet was in very good condition considering its funding.[16] During 1936,Nebojša andOsvetnik visited Corfu, andZmaj and threeGaleb-class mine tenders also visited Corfu.[31]

a black and white photograph of a ship underway
TheOrjen-class MTBVelebit underway

In 1936–1937, the fleet was significantly strengthened by the acquisition of three 1,240-long-ton (1,390-short-ton)Beograd-class destroyers, the French-builtBeograd, and the locally-builtZagreb andLjubljana. Naval communication viateletype was established to connect Naval Command in Zemun with bases at Selce, Split, Šibenik and Novi Sad. Split was also connected to Divulje, and Đenovići was connected with the Tivat Arsenal.[16] In 1937, the Naval Command was renamed the Naval Staff, and a Naval Staff College was established at Dubrovnik. Considerable effort was made to bring the fleet to sound seagoing condition, with a refit ofDalmacija.Dubrovnik was considered to be in good repair, but the two French-built submarines needed constant work. The eight newOrjen-class MTBs were found to be unseaworthy in rough conditions, but satisfactory in fair weather.Dubrovnik visitedIstanbul,Mudros andPiraeus in August, andZmaj,Hrabri andSmeli visitedCrete, Piraeus and Corfu in August and September.[32]

In 1938, the navy consisted of 611 officers and 8,562 men. A Balkan Naval Conference was conducted in the same year, during which the Chief of the Naval Staff declared that in case of war, the Yugoslav fleet would concentrate on coastal defence, except for occasional submarine forays. The Maritime Air Force could field a total of 40 aircraft, but only the 12Dornier Do 22s and 12Dornier Do Js were considered to be of any value in modern warfare.Dubrovnik visited Alexandria, Beirut and Corfu in August 1938.[1] In 1939, a new 2,400-long-ton (2,700-short-ton) destroyerSplit was laid down, and two coastalGerman Type IIB submarines were ordered, but due to the outbreak ofWorld War II,Split was not completed and the submarines were never delivered.[33] In 1939, the British observed that the commander-in-chief of the Yugoslav Navy, Polić, was "amiable but ignorant" and had little technical knowledge regarding naval matters.[34] In the same year, the 250t-class torpedo boatT2 was broken up for scrap.[23] In January 1940,Ljubljana struck a reef off Šibenik and sank. She was raised and placed in dry dock at the Tivat Arsenal for repairs.[35]

Prior to the April 1941 invasion

[edit]
See also:Yugoslav order of battle prior to the invasion of Yugoslavia
a black and white photograph of a small ship
AMalinska-class minelayer underway

On the eve of theGerman-ledAxisinvasion of Yugoslavia, the KM comprised 41 combatant ships and 19 auxiliaries, effectively divided into ships capable of offensive and defensive tasks, and ships intended for peacetime training, logistics and minelaying tasks. The former category includedDubrovnik, the threeBeograd-class destroyers (althoughLjubljana was in dry dock being repaired), the four submarines, eightOrjen-class MTBs and twoUskok-class MTBs. Of the submarines, only the two French-built ones were considered fully combat-ready. The latter category consisted ofDalmacija, sixGaleb-class minelayers, six 250t-class torpedo boats, fiveMalinska-class minelayers, and the training and auxiliary shipsJadran,Zmaj,Hvar andSitnica. The Maritime Air Force consisted of 150 seaplanes, of which 120 were combat-capable, the remainder being training aircraft. The combat aircraft were mainly Do 22s, Do Js andDo D types. Although torpedo-capable aircraft were in service, no air-launched torpedoes were available.[36]

There were significant weaknesses in the KM prior to the invasion. One was the failure to subordinate the Naval Surveillance Command to respective sectors of Naval Coastal Command, and another was giving responsibility for two sectors of Naval Coastal Command to what were essentially training establishments.[37]

Naval operations during the invasion of 1941

[edit]

When Germany and Italy attacked Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941, the initial attacks came from the air. From early morning, Italian and German aircraft attacked the naval facilities at Split and the Bay of Kotor.[38] In the afternoon, Italian dive bombers attacked the Bay of Kotor. Their attack damaged a Do J flying boat, but one of the Italian aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, while another two were damaged. Shortly after this more Italian bombers unsuccessfully attacked the Tivat Arsenal, suffering three aircraft damaged in the attack. On the same day, three KM Dornier Do 22s and Rogožarski SIM-XIV-Hs provided air cover while theGaleb-class minelayerJastreb laid a minefield offBudva harbour.[39] The following day, three Italian bombers became lost in cloud and emerged over the Bay of Kotor where two were damaged and one shot down by anti-aircraft fire.[40] On 8 April, there were Italian attacks on the base of the 2nd and 3rd Torpedo Divisions in Šibenik, and three Do J flying boats were destroyed by Italian fighters atJadrtovac. A number of Do 22s and SIM-XIV-Hs also flew reconnaissance missions on that day.[41] The next day, Italian bombers struck a number of Yugoslav naval and seaplane bases along the coast, destroying and damaging several aircraft. One Do 22 pilot located an Italian convoy crossing the Adriatic and despite heavy anti-aircraft fire attacked it twice without result. Another three KM Do 22s raidedDurazzo in Italian-controlled Albania, but were driven off.[42]

To prevent a bridgehead being established atZara, an Italian enclave on the Dalmatian coast,Beograd, four 250t-class torpedo boats and six MTBs were dispatched to Šibenik, 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the south of Zara, in preparation for an attack. The attack was to be coordinated with the12th Infantry DivisionJadranska and two combined regiments (Serbo-Croatian Latin:odredi) of theRoyal Yugoslav Army attacking from theBenkovac area, supported by theRoyal Yugoslav Air Force's 81st Bomber Group. The Yugoslavs launched their attack on 9 April, but the naval prong of this attack faltered whenBeograd was damaged by near misses from Italian aircraft off Šibenik with her starboard engine was put out of action, after which she limped to the Bay of Kotor, escorted by the remainder of the force, for repairs.[43] The Italian aerial bombardment of Kotor badly damaged the minelayerKobac, which had to be beached to prevent its sinking.[44]

On 10 April, the 2nd Hydroplane Command at Divulje began to disintegrate, with some pilots flying their aircraft to the Bay of Kotor to join the 3rd Hydroplane Command. One Do 22 attacked an Italian tanker offBari, claiming a near miss that the Yugoslav crew believed to have caused some damage.[45] The following day, Italian dive bombers attacked MTBs of the 2nd Torpedo Division near Šibenik, with the Yugoslav boats shooting down one Italian aircraft and damaging another.[46]

At the start of the campaign, the river monitors had carried out offensive operations by shelling the airfield atMohács inHungary on 6 April and again two days later, but had to begin withdrawing towards Novi Sad by 11 April after coming under repeated attack by German dive bombers. Early in the morning of 12 April, a squadron of German dive bombers attacked the Yugoslav monitors on the Danube.Drava was hit by several of them but they were unable to penetrate her 300-millimetre (12 in) thick deck armour, until by chance, one put a bomb straight down the funnel, killing 54 of the 67 crew. During the attack, the monitors' anti-aircraft gunners claimed three dive bombers shot down. The remaining three monitors were scuttled by their crews later on 12 April as German and Hungarian forces had occupied their bases and the river systems upon which they operated.[47] The crews then gathered on a tugboat and attempted to flee to the Black Sea. While the boat was passing under a bridge near Zemun, it was attacked by Axis aircraft. Several bombs struck the bridge, causing it to collapse on the tug, and killing all but three of the crew.[48]

Aftermath

[edit]
a black and white photograph of the main gun of ship with a group of men around it
Renaming ceremony for the corvetteNada at Liverpool on 11 January 1944

The Italians captured most of the KM in port, includingLjubljana, which had spent the duration of the invasion in dry-dock.[43] However,Zagreb was blown up and scuttled at the Bay of Kotor by two junior officers,Sergej Mašera andMilan Spasić, to prevent her capture. The submarineNebojša and twoOrjen-class MTBs escaped to Alexandria to join the Allied cause.[49] A fourth destroyer,Split, was captured while under construction in the Kotor shipyard, but the Italians were not able to complete her beforethey sued for peace in September 1943. She was completed by theYugoslav Navy after the war.[50] Ten Maritime Air Force aircraft escaped to Greece, with nine eventually making it to Egypt, where they formed a squadron underRoyal Air Force command.[51] The three Yugoslav ships that escaped capture were used to create a KM-in-exile. The force was led by CaptainIvan Kern, who was attached to theYugoslav government-in-exile in London, and operated with the BritishMediterranean Fleet from bases in Malta and Alexandria.[52]

A number of the captured Yugoslav warships, notablyDubrovnik,Beograd and the repairedLjubljana, were employed by the ItalianRegia Marina until the armistice in 1943, whereupon the GermanKriegsmarine, and to a lesser extent theNavy of the Independent State of Croatia, appropriated the surviving vessels for their own fleets.Ljubljana was wrecked on a shoal near theGulf of Tunis whilst in Italian service in April 1943, andDalmacija entered German service with her previous German nameNiobe, but was soon transferred to the Croatian navy asZniam. Beached onSilba island, she was destroyed by British MTBs in December 1943.Dubrovnik andBeograd were not sunk by Allied forces until April and May 1945 respectively.[53]

In early 1944, the Royal NavyFlower-class corvetteMallow was transferred to the KM-in-exile asNada.[54] In August 1945, following the end of World War II in Europe, the British government ordered the navy to disband. Its assets were transferred to the newly constituted post-war Yugoslav Navy,[55] where they continued their service. The post-war Yugoslav Navy drew its insignia and traditions from the Partisan naval forces that evolved from armed fishing vessels operated along the Adriatic coast from late 1942, so few of the traditions of the KM were carried over to the post-war navy.[56] The British government gave the personnel of the KM-in-exile the choice of being repatriated or remaining in exile. Of these, 93 men chose to stay abroad. The British government briefly housed them in military camps before allowing them to move to countries of their choosing.[55]

Organisation

[edit]

Peacetime

[edit]

The peacetime organisation of the KM remained essentially unchanged from 1929 until the invasion of Yugoslavia. The Naval Command in Zemun formed part of the Ministry of Army and Navy, and controlled Navy Headquarters. Navy Headquarters consisted of the staff, archives, main naval radio station and the navy newspaper, and controlled six branches; the fleet, River and Lake Forces, Maritime Air Force, Coastal Defence Command, Naval Surveillance Command, and shore establishments. The exact composition of the fleet varied considerably as vessels were added and disposed of, but from 1938 it usually comprised three torpedo divisions, a submarine division and a training squadron, reaching its maximum strength during the summer training period each year. The minelayers were usually part of the Coastal Defence Command, but were detached to the fleet during naval exercises, as were naval aviation squadrons. The Maritime Air Force consisted of three seaplane commands each of two groups, the naval aviation school and the seaplane depot shipZmaj.[35]

Wartime

[edit]

In case of war or national emergency, the Naval Staff was to become directly subordinate to theSupreme Command. The Naval Staff would command the fleet, river flotilla, Maritime Air Force and Naval Coastal Command. All other naval establishments would remain under the control of the Navy Section of the Ministry of Army and Navy. There were a few exceptions to these general arrangements. For example, the naval detachments onLake Ohrid andLake Scutari were subordinated to the local army districts, and the Naval Coastal Command was subordinated to the Royal Yugoslav Army's Coastal Defence Command. In case ofmobilisation, the navy would need to requisition about 250 sea-going and 25 river vessels.[57]

Logistics and personnel

[edit]
Main bases of the KM

The primary base for the KM was in the Bay of Kotor on the southern Adriatic coast. It encompassed the Tivat Arsenal and several schools and other establishments. Other bases were located at Šibenik in central Dalmatia and Selce in the northern Adriatic.[30] The Yugoslav coastline extended for 560 kilometres (350 mi), and there were over 600 Yugoslav islands in the Adriatic.[10] The main riverine port was at Novi Sad on the Danube.[35] Throughout its existence, the KM struggled with logistical difficulties associated with foreign-made ships and naval armament.[37] The KM grew from slightly over 3,000 officers and men soon after its establishment to a strength of more than 9,000 immediately prior to World War II.[1][16] Ship crews ranged from 240 for the flotilla leaderDubrovnik and 145 for theBeograd-class destroyers, to just five for theUskok-class MTBs.[58][59]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^The naval historian Milan Vego provides conflicting information regarding the fate of minesweeperD2. He states that it was disposed of by 1936,[16] but also lists it as part of the fleet in 1941.[29] Leo Niehorster listsD2 as still in service in 1941, but notes it was being used as a training ship.[30]

Footnotes

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  1. ^abcJarman 1997c, pp. 92–94.
  2. ^Vego 1982, pp. 342–343.
  3. ^Vego 1982, pp. 343–344.
  4. ^Vego 1982, p. 344.
  5. ^Vego 1982, pp. 344–345.
  6. ^Greger 1976, pp. 53–55, 58–63, 110, 117, 124, 130.
  7. ^Chesneau 1980, p. 355.
  8. ^Novak 2004, p. 234.
  9. ^Vego 1982, pp. 347–348.
  10. ^abVego 1982, p. 345.
  11. ^Vego 1982, pp. 345–346.
  12. ^Vego 1982, p. 347.
  13. ^Vego 1982, p. 348.
  14. ^abVego 1982, p. 349.
  15. ^Jarman 1997a, p. 733.
  16. ^abcdefghiVego 1982, p. 350.
  17. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 183.
  18. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 182.
  19. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 247.
  20. ^Freivogel 2014, p. 83.
  21. ^Freivogel 2014, p. 84.
  22. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 393.
  23. ^abChesneau 1980, p. 357.
  24. ^Jarman 1997b, pp. 453–454.
  25. ^Jarman 1997b, pp. 541–542.
  26. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 544.
  27. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 543.
  28. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 641.
  29. ^Vego 1982, p. 356.
  30. ^abNiehorster 2016.
  31. ^Jarman 1997b, p. 738.
  32. ^Jarman 1997b, pp. 835–837.
  33. ^Vego 1982, pp. 350–352.
  34. ^Jarman 1997c, p. 121.
  35. ^abcVego 1982, p. 352.
  36. ^Vego 1982, p. 354.
  37. ^abVego 1982, p. 360.
  38. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 205.
  39. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 207.
  40. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 213.
  41. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 216.
  42. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 218.
  43. ^abWhitely 2001, p. 312.
  44. ^Cernuschi 2013.
  45. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 220.
  46. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 222.
  47. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, pp. 222 & 224.
  48. ^Adamich 1963, p. 140.
  49. ^Chesneau 1980, p. 358.
  50. ^Whitely 2001, p. 313.
  51. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 229.
  52. ^Adamich 1963, pp. 140–141.
  53. ^Chesneau 1980, pp. 357–358.
  54. ^Chesneau 1980, pp. 358–359.
  55. ^abAdamich 1963, p. 141.
  56. ^Chesneau 1980, p. 356.
  57. ^Vego 1982, pp. 352–354.
  58. ^Freivogel 2014, pp. 84–85.
  59. ^Chesneau 1980, pp. 357–359.

References

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Books

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  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London, England: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN 978-0-85177-146-5.
  • Greger, René (1976).Austro-Hungarian Warships of World War I. London, England: Allan.ISBN 978-0-7110-0623-2.
  • Jarman, Robert L., ed. (1997a).Yugoslavia Political Diaries 1918–1965. Vol. 1. Slough, Berkshire: Archives Edition.ISBN 978-1-85207-950-5.
  • Jarman, Robert L., ed. (1997b).Yugoslavia Political Diaries 1918–1965. Vol. 2. Slough, Berkshire: Archives Edition.ISBN 978-1-85207-950-5.
  • Jarman, Robert L., ed. (1997c).Yugoslavia Political Diaries 1918–1965. Vol. 3. Slough, Berkshire: Archives Edition.ISBN 978-1-85207-950-5.
  • Novak, Grga (2004).Jadransko more u sukobima i borbama kroz stoljeća [The Adriatic Sea in Conflicts and Battles Through the Centuries] (in Croatian). Vol. 2. Split, Croatia: Marjan tisak.ISBN 978-953-214-222-8.
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987).Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece, and Crete, 1940–41. London, England: Grub Street.ISBN 978-0-948817-07-6.
  • Whitely, M. J. (2001).Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: U.S. Naval Institute Press.ISBN 978-0-87021-326-7.

Journals

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  • Adamich, Z. V. (1963)."Royal Yugoslav Navy In World War II".Proceedings.89 (1). Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute:138–141.ISSN 0041-798X.
  • Cernuschi, Enrico (2013). "Le operazioni navali contro la Jugoslavia, 6–18 aprile 1941 (Parte 2a)" [Naval Operations in Yugoslavia, 6–18 April 1942 (Part II)].Storia Militare (in Italian) (242):20–39.ISSN 1122-5289.
  • Freivogel, Zvonimir (2014)."From Glasgow to Genoa under Three Flags – The Yugoslav Flotilla Leader Dubrovnik"(PDF).Voennyi Sbornik.4 (2). Academic Publishing House Researcher:83–88. Retrieved25 October 2014.
  • Isaic, Vladimir (March–April 1999). "Yugoslav Naval Strike: Dornier's Merkur Seaplane in the Military Role".Air Enthusiast (80):72–75.ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Ledet, Michel (April 1993). "L'aéronautique naval yugoslave des années 20 à Avril 1941" [Yugoslav Naval Aviation from the Twenties to April 1941].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (2):2–12.ISSN 1243-8650.
  • Ledet, Michel (April 2002). "Le Heinkel HE 8".Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (109):30–38.ISSN 1243-8650.
  • Vego, Milan (1982). "The Yugoslav Navy 1918–1941".Warship International.XIX (4):342–361.ISSN 0043-0374.

Websites

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