ROMANIAN NAVY - Post WW2

[dorupantos]

This is Romanian Navy in modern era , aftert WW2. I'll prezent you photos of the ships in duty and retired ships after cold war .

[dorupantos]

"Regele Ferdinand" (ex Coventry) F221, "Regina Maria"(ex London)F222 and "Marasesti" F111 are the romanian navy frigates today . King Ferdinand is the flag ship of the romanian navy . All these ships are named after heroic destroyers of Romanian Royal Navy from ww2 . Photos with KING FERDINAND and QUEEN MARIA .

[steve roberts]

Hi Duropantus,Glad to see your country making use of our County class destroyers.Is the modern submarine a russian Kilo Class? Regards Steve.:)

[dorupantos]

The romanian frigate "Marasesti"-F111 first time designated cruiser cariing hellicopters and named "Muntenia" by the wish of dictator Ceausescu, became destroyer and after 1990 it was declassified to frigate . Marasesti was manufactured in Mangalia shipyards with soviet armament .

[dorupantos]

is kilo class but is not so modern .

[dorupantos]

Tetal 2 class corvettes "Eustatiu Sebastian"-264 and "Horia Macellariu"-265 build in Romania .

[designeraccd]

Several of your Navies ships have been used in our mystery quiz, for example I used the class you just posted. Stumped the players for a while! Thanks again for all the fine photos! Also our resident retired USCG participant used your avatar frigate. She may not be overly well known but is very distinctive looking to my designers' eyes! DFO :D

[dorupantos]

Tetal 1 class corvettes "Eugen Rosca"-263 and "Petre Barbuneanu"-260 .

[dorupantos]

Tarantul class corvettes "Pescarusul", "Zborul" and "Lastunul"

[dorupantos]

Romanian submarine Delfinul named after the romanian royal navy ww2 sub Delfinul .

[dorupantos]

Romanian navy's minelayers and minesweepers .

[dorupantos]

Osa 1 class rocketlauncher boats and Epitrop class torpedoboat of Romanian Navy .

[dorupantos]

Corvettes-support ships "Constanta" and "Agigea" .

[harry.gibbon]

Hi there Dorapantus,

Excellent collection of pics, thanks for posting and sharing them with us.

It certainly provides the answer how it is that UK can run down its Navy.... with you guys in NATO there are more than enough ships to go around for both of us:)

Little h

[dorupantos]

Romanian navy ships in Cold War .

[dorupantos]

These are the Romanian's Navy Danube fleet heavy and light monitors today .

[dorupantos]

Small patrol and military divers boats .

[mik43]

Another excellent set of pix, once again well done

Mik

[dorupantos]

Dedication to Steve Roberts , a great submariner, pics of DELFINUL (the Dolphin) .

[steve roberts]

Thank you very much for that.I will download them into my submarine file. Many Regards. Steve.:):)

[dorupantos]

Frigate "MARASESTY" at Navy Day in Constanta .

[colombamike]

@ dorupantos

Guys,
very great & major contribution for the Romanian navy in this forum !
Many thanks for sharing this big lot of picture !;)

Best regard
:)

[dorupantos]

Here are two of Romanian,s Navy tugs . The biggest is "GROZAVUL"(The Formidabble) and is a high-sea tug able to rescue any ship in trouble and the other is the tug "VITEAZUL"(The Brave).

[dorupantos]

Sorry! GROZAVUL will come soon .

[dorupantos]

Pics of Romanian Navy day in Constanta -harbour .

[dorupantos]

I hope this foto of tug GROZAVUL has mothing to do with copiright law .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy museum in Mangalia .

[dorupantos]

In the first picture is a HUCHUAN class torpedoboat (Chinese project but built in Romania under license ) with underwater wings who served in Romanian Navy . Today they were converted in ''Fast boat for divers" .

[dorupantos]

HUCHUAN fast atack boats .

[dorupantos]

BRUTAR class DANUBE MONITORS

The Danube fleet of Romanian Navy consists in three large monitors and five smaller . They are Brutar class-KOGALNICEANU,BRATIANU and CATARGIU , named after the succesfull monitors who fight in ww1 and ww2 and the other (class unknown) named RAHOVA, SMARDAN,OPANEZ,POSADA and ROVINE ,named after great Romanian victories during history . These ships are smaller but in generaly they presents almost same features like Brutar class.
The large monitors were built in1995-1996 in Turnu-Severin shipyard and the smaller in 1985-1993 in Mangalia shipyard .
That's a fact that in the Delta of Danube (the Danube estuary) romanian army could not operate with tanks, the engineers designed ships operating like tanks but on the water . So the armament of this ships consists in 100mm antitanc gun specially designed to pierce any armour, multiple rocketlaunchers ,automatic light cannons and heavy machine guns .The main guns , machine guns and rocketlaunchers are the same used in Romanian ground Army so, they can be suplied from the ground . They also have the name "The tanks of Danube" .
By easy removing some armament they could leave ashore armoured and trucks .
The specialists conclude that this ships are the the most performant batlleships sailing across Danube river .Only Ucraine has similar vessels but they are verry far away with firepower .
The "tank" has 50 m long and 10 m wide .
Displacement 522 tones and 322 tones the smaller .
Uf! I'm exhausted ! Enjoy the pictures !

[ralphster30]

Thank you for the show of Romania.I really enjoyed the photos of the ships.I have a questions for you.
Can you shed any light about the first class of NATO(at the time)named brutar class monitors?It was known as Grivita and was apparently a prototype vessel.It had NO deckhouse and and sported some unique characteristics.It was shorter than the 5 subsequent vessels.
I have been looking for info in order to build a model and have only a few pictures and almost no data to go on.
Thank you

[sourdough]

Very nice pictures! I would be interested to know about their performance such as speed, manuverabiity, draft, type of weather they could operate in or could not operate in (freeboard looks minimal).
Thanks for the pictures, sourdough

[dorupantos]

As I know GRIVITA was a 19' century gunboat see the picture !

[steve roberts]

Hi Doro.Once again some facinating pictures.Your library must be bottomless. Keep them coming.Regards Steve.:)

[dorupantos]

ROMANIA NAVY'S NAVAL AVIATION
The Romanian Navy today has in use helicopters IAR-330 PUMA SOCAT NAVAL built in IAR Ghimbav factory under licence and modernised by the israelians .The helicopter is in similary configuration to those of Romanian Armed Forces including the SOCAT upgrade package and armement .Also NAVAL-PUMA's has flotation gear fitted under the nose . They are used for surveillance, search and rescue and medevac .
The PUMA-NAVAL equiped Romanian's Navy frigates REGELE FERDINAND,REGINA MARIA and MARASESTI and also could land on some corvettes rear deck .
In the past MARASESTI before his declasification from destroyer to frigate opperates with IAR-316 Allouette built also at IAR Ghimbav under licence .

[dorupantos]

Another pics Romanian's Navy Chinese HUCHUAN fast atack torpedoboat with underwater wings (hidrofoil) buit under licence . I was impressed by the speed of this old boats :50 knots (93 km/our )

[dorupantos]

For SORDOUGH !
The monitors have maximum speed about 16 knots , they could opperate all weather , day and night and they are very manoeuvrabils .

[dorupantos]

Some more pics of Romanian's Navy's monitors .

[dorupantos]

I forgott to say that the Danube monitors can opperate also near the Romanian Black Sea Coast (of corse not during great storm )

[dorupantos]

Some nice pictures with romanian marines !

[dorupantos]

For MIK 43 new pics of Romanian's Navy school-ship brig MIRCEA in Constanta-harbour .

[dorupantos]

FOLLOW-UP TO FRIGATE MARASESTI
This is the most loved ship in Romania's Navy . Innitially was designated as cruiser cariing hellicopters (IAR-316 ALLOUETTE) and named MUNTENIA , renamed MARASESTI cruiser, declassificated to destroyer and after an another declassification becomes frigate and for many years the admiral ship of Romanian Navy .
The ship was launched in 1985 and (typical for our countrymens) it have must to disassemble the mast for passing the ship under the bridge of the harbour .
MARASESTI is armed with:
8-TERMIT antiship-missiles
2-RBU Antisub rocket-launchers
4-AK726 76mm guns in two twin turrets(like the predecesor in ww2)-but the second turret has an also history . The turret orderred never cames so the romanians took the same turret from a corvette and acctually the two ships of class BARBUNEANU, one ship has two turrets and other one turret and landing place for hellicopter .
4-AK726 six barreled Gaitling guns
2-ttriple naval and anti-sub torpedoes
Sa-N-5 air defence missiles (unfortunnelly the air defence is poor)
The ship has also facilitties for electronic warfare .
The maximum speed is 27 knots and the ship has a cruiser displacement of 5.790 tones .

[dorupantos]

Weapons of Romanian Navy for antisubmarine fight .

[mik43]

Thanks Doru, greatly appreciated

Mik

[dorupantos]

The Romanians Navy's the last frigates are british type 22 REGELE FERDINAND(kink ferdinand-f221) and REGINA MARIA(queen marry-f222). They have displacement about 5.300 tones and a maximum sped of 30 knots(56km/our).
Armament :
-76/62 otto mellara super rapid gun used like antinaval and antiaircraft gun .
-six antinaval and antisub torpedoes ,the two launchers placed both side of the fireplace .
-SA-N-5 antiaircraft short range missile .
-Two IAR-330 PUMA NAVAL aircraft carried .
Too bad that british doesn't sold this ships to Romania with Royal Navy's antiship missiles and with antiaircraft defence missiles at least Falckland's War .
Some photos of REGINA MARIA and at background KING FERDINAND .

[dorupantos]

For my british submariner !

[dorupantos]

FOR SORDOUGH and RN monitors !
Two pics and an adress to understand the fire power of the romanian monitors .(i'm so tired from work so i don't remember that in this clip they are fireing also rockets !!!)
See DAILYMOTION-NAVAL ARTILLERY-ROMANIAN NAVY IN BLACK SEA on GOOGLE !

[dorupantos]

Only one pic , sorry !

[steve roberts]

Hi Dopu.Thanks for the photo of the Kilo.She is starting to look her age,but I'm sure isstill an effective weapons platform.Do you know if there are any plans for her replacement? Steve.:)

[mik43]

Well done Terry and especially KC for creating this thread

Mik

[Don Boyer]

DORUPANTOS: A superb collection of photographs of a navy "new" to many of us an ocean away here in America. Very much appreciated by all of us to see these vessels. Dorupantos, you must take great pride in your navy!

I was most impressed with the heavy and light "River Monitors." I think many of us had assumed such vessels had passed into the pages of history after the end of the World Wars with the British Erebus, Roberts and Terrror, yet here are these very heavily armed and well-maintained new versions.

Your photo set on these ships was great, and I am adding these to my collection...I will enjoy surprising many American friends with new "Monitors"...:).

Regards,

[dorupantos]

THANK YOU , COMMANDER !

[dorupantos]

TOWSEND THANKS to the FORUM MODERATOR for adding ROMANIAN NAVY at the main page of the best naval forum i found on net . ROMANIAN NAVY has now his place near the major navys of the world and i hope that romanian and friends from everywhere who had informations or pics regarding RN enroll them in this thread .I also have a little displeassure ! I think also the thread ROMANIAN ROYAL NAVY, more heroic, belongs to ROMANIAN NAVY SHIPS AND CREWS .
Thank you once again , after a verry bad day at work i received the greatest DELIGHT !

[kc]

I also have a little displeassure ! I think also the thread ROMANIAN ROYAL NAVY, more heroic, belongs to ROMANIAN NAVY SHIPS AND CREWS

Any other Romanian threads will be moved to the new section as soon as possible. :)

[dorupantos]

Some nice pics of some corvettes and auxiliarry-ships serving in Romanian Navy .

[dorupantos]

And here are some verry interesting pics of rettired and active ships in Mangalia harbour .

[dorupantos]

Till further notice anyone enjoy historic ships of Romania's Navy (ships who served in the Romanian Royal Navy untill the end of ww2 ) can visit on this forum in Other ships : Romanian Royal Navy ! Unfortunally today's navy and historic navy are separated in two threads .

[steve roberts]

Never mind Duro.You are doing very well.I know you call me "your friend the "Submariner".I should explain my signature avatar.The badge is of HM Submatine Dreadnought.And the motto is a standing joke by submariners of the Branch motto,"We come unseen" Regards. Steve.:D

[dorupantos]

Romanian Coastal Defence Rockets !

[dorupantos]

Crew Of Frigate King Ferdinand

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy Church In Mangalia-harbour

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.A beautiful church and well preserved torpedo boat.I thought the operations room on the KING FERDINAND looked familiar,then I realised she is an ex-British type22. Regards Steve.:)

[dorupantos]

Does annyone know what's this ?

[dorupantos]

The TARANTUL (MOLNYA) class corvettes had a pair of them at the rear of the ship .

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.They look like Chaff dispensers,to fire a cloud of aluminium strips to confuse incoming missiles. Regards Steve.

[Marek T]

Hi Doru.They look like Chaff dispensers,to fire a cloud of aluminium strips to confuse incoming missiles. Regards Steve.More or less so. Actually they fire 82 mm projectiles which somehow act as decoys. Soviet designation for the launcher: PK-16.

[dorupantos]

Manny thanks both of you !

[dorupantos]

The same strange device in a better picture !

[dorupantos]

For DON BOYER and friends freom States , armament of RN river-monitors presented at RN Open Days in Constanta !

[dorupantos]

Dear STEVE , I'm sure you recognize these "devices" . They are antiship and also antisub torpedoes or they are only antiship torpedoes ?

[dorupantos]

Here is a verry rare picture (from 1985 paper) of Romanian Navy's cruiser MUNTENIA (designated initially cruiser hellicopter-carrier) that becomes new destroyer MARASESTI and after declasiffication frigate MARASESTI . You can observe the modernisation of the superstructure of the deck . I think that is the only one ship arround the world that started cruiser and finished frigate !

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.They can be armed with both anti-ship & anti-submarine.Regards Steve.:)

[Marek T]

... I think that is the only one ship arround the world that started cruiser and finished frigate !
Most probably you are right.
That reminds me of similar case, though other way round, when in 1975 US Navy suddenly acquired 26 cruisers - when DLGs overnight became CGs.

[dorupantos]

Dear STEVE ! You know everything ! Here is a picture of the deck of f22 Ferdinand : these are smoke grenades launchers or other thing ? (for antisub grenades they are to small)

[dorupantos]

Also for STEVE !
You asked me why Romania don't buy second hand submarines . We buyed from british second hand two frigates HMS LONDON and HMS COVENTRY . They were full of rockets but british took them to the barber and sold romanians two bald frigates (with only a gun and few torpedoes) thinking probablly that in Black Sea the threat is not so big . Romanians are able to buy second hand submarines without torpedoes, periscope and of corse without engine !

[dorupantos]

Soviet made gatling guns (AK-630) on Romanian Navy's warships used for close air defence .

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.The picture looks like a different type of chaff dispenser.Perhaps if you had asked nicely us british could have left you a rocket or twp on the ships you bought from us.As for the Submarines! You could always try running them with rubber bands!!:D:D:D:D Regards Steve.

[dorupantos]

Or a half of rocket ! Romanians have also great humor but not so stylish humor like british . I enjoy your humor , hope our naval authorities take action and buy real ships !

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.Like the Dolphins.Did you know that the American Navy once trained Dolhins to find sunken test Torpedos,and to place Limpet Mines on ships hulls.Regards Steve.:D

[dorupantos]

As I know (if is not a legend?) americans used dolphins with magnetic mines attached on back to sink ships (also in vietnam )!

[dorupantos]

Turrets of main Romanian Navy SHIPS .

[harry.gibbon]

Soviet made gatling guns (AK-630) on Romanian Navy's warships used for close air defence .



EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE immediately comes to mind:D:D:D

Little h

PS great threads by Doru!!!!!

[dorupantos]

TERMIT rockets on TARANTUL class corvette .

[dorupantos]

Torpedoes , EUSTATIU SEBASTIAN class corvette .

[dorupantos]

Antisubmerine rockets .

[dorupantos]

Oups ! I forgott to attache !

[dorupantos]

Frigates at Romanian Navy Open Day in Constanta in 2008.

[dorupantos]

Another pic of Romanian Navy Museum-yard .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy's tug GROZAVUL .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy minelayers and minesweepers .

[dorupantos]

For my submariner , DOLPHIN at Romanian Navy Open days 2008 !

[dorupantos]

I can die HAPPY !
AMEN!

[harry.gibbon]

Doru,

Your contributions in pictorial form have been fantastic well done, indeed you deserve a good old Bravo Zulu BZ in RN speak!!!!

Now I can look past the 'Dalek' and view some more of those grand pics on this and your other thread.

Thank you Sir

Little h

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.Thanks for the pictures.The old girl still looks good,if even if it is only on the outside!!!:D:D. By the way congratulations,you have been promoted:):):):)...Many Regards Steve.

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy's marines in action . Far frigates Marasesti and King Ferdinand keep watch over the landing .

[Dave Hutson]

Thanks Doru,

Every picture a gem - you have certainly given us all an insight to the Romanian Navy. I echo Harry's BZ

Dave H

[dorupantos]

Nice pics of RN frigates !

[dorupantos]

Image from Mangalia-harbour with torpedo and missile boats (OSA 1 class) . In left side there is a veteran from WW1 -gunboat STIHI .

[dorupantos]

Another nice pics of gaitling and automatic guns of Romanian Navy ships .

[dorupantos]

Naval exercise in Black Sea .

[dorupantos]

Constanta military harbour .

[dorupantos]

EPITROP-class torpedoboat "VIJELIA"(THE STORM) bassed on soviet OSA-1 class .
Armament : four torpedoes , two gaitlings and SA-N-5 antiaircraft missiles .

[dorupantos]

As ussual I was too fast and I forgott the atachement !

[dorupantos]

Tarantul-class missile-corvette LASTUNUL .

[dorupantos]

Danube monitor LASCAR CATARGIU .

[dorupantos]

Pics of romanian type 22 frigate REGELE FERDINAND (KING FERDINAND).

[dorupantos]

And frigate REGINA MARIA (QUEEN MARRY).

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.I see that most of your last set of photo's are taken in Portsmouth,England....Steve.

[dorupantos]

Yes , STEVE , some photos of Romanian type22 frigates are taken in ENGLAND.
Unfortunelly you sold us veterans from Falckland's War repaint and barbered , like I made reference before !

[dorupantos]

Here is picture taken in Constanta shipyard of another "verry modern" frigate of RN .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy river-monitor in Cold War .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy marins in Cold War during an exercise in Danube Delta .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy POTI-Class corvette during Cold War .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy Marines , today , in action .

[dorupantos]

Monitor BRATIANU and some of the armament of this ship .

[dorupantos]

Maybe someone ask why monitor Bratianu in this picture has not multiple-rocketlaunchers . Romanian Navy Danube monitors were designated for different missions . Depending the type of mission the monitor could be configurated with specific armement : if is a bombarding mission the monitor receives his rocketlaunchers and if its only patrol mission the monitor does't need this sort of armement .

[dorupantos]

On Danube Romanian Navy opperates also with patrol-boats ( they are smaller than monitors and are named in romanian vedeta ).
Like on other Romanian Navy ships , we find the inscription "ONOARE si PATRIE" on front of these ships . That means in English : HONOUR and COUNTRY !

[dorupantos]

ROMANIAN SEAL
Romanian Navy has also a battalion of extra-trained marines similar to american SEAL or british SAS . These fighters are named in Romanian Navy COMBAT-DIVERs . This is an inadequate naming because they could opperate from sea ,air and land , so for better comprehension I named this fighters Romanian SEALs . For performing their mission they are transported by PUMA hellicopters and different ships (I hope in the future they could be transported by submarine DELFINUL).
Romanian Seals are trained especialy like mining-demining divers , paratroopers and land combat .

[steve roberts]

Hi Doru.Beautiful shots of your SEAL's.Your country must be proud of them..Regards Steve.:)

[dorupantos]

Dear STEVE , and this is only for the public !

[dorupantos]

Ceremony at Romanian Navy Day in Constanta .

[dorupantos]

Ships of RN in Constanta at Romanian Navy Day .

[dorupantos]

Thank you for promotion ! In this rhythm I will obligate to ask my reactivation in Romanian Army !!!

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy Danube monitor at the end of Cold War .

[dorupantos]

Verry interresting photo of Romanian Navy Danube flotilla during Cold War !

[dorupantos]

For RALPHSTER 30 ,
At the beggining of this thread you asked me about a Romanian Navy river-ship without deckhouse and unique characteristics , possible a prototype vessel .
Look at the background of the last photo , in the right side , and you find your ship !

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy Danube heavy monitors at anchor .

[dorupantos]

Danube patrol boats .

[dorupantos]

More pics of Romanian Navy frigates .

[dorupantos]

Main armament of frigate"MARASESTI" .

[dorupantos]

Another pics of main armament of frigate MARASESTI .

[dorupantos]

This is not an romanian drednought from WW1 ! It is romanian corvette HORIA MACELARIU : when it starts from harbour you don't need radar to detect this ship !

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy minelayer "Constantin Balescu" .(the sister ship "Amiral Murgescu" was decomissionedfew years earlier)

[dorupantos]

Romanian frigate MARASESTI .

[marinarii.ro]

For those that are interested to visit the Romanian Navy ships once a year there is a day when any one can visit the ships in their ports ,it's called "The day of open gates" . In Constanta are presented at list one ship per class ,and the training ship Mircea and in Danube ports you may see the entire local navy fleet .Same of the pictures presented already in this topic are made during this occasion , it is one week before the Maritime Day , in 2010 it took place Sunday 15 august (Maritime Day) . In Braila this year at the end of the Maritime Day festivities also couple military ships could be visited ( I been on "open gates day" in Constanta and at the Maritime Day in Braila)
Attached is the bridge of 29 - Nicolescu

[RiverWolf]

Hi, I'm new here, I spent last days reading your posts and today admiring the beautiful pictures reg. RRN/RN. Besides Romanian warships I'm a big fan of wwi & wwii warships (one bonus for Japan :D). My familly has at least 5 generations of sailors who served in Romanian and Greek commercial navy as well as on Romanian warships in ww1. I have a feeling that I'll spend a lot of time on this site.
RiverWolf

[RiverWolf]

Hi Doru,
There were some debates regarding the Muntenia cruiser project. Many people say that it was an original Romanian project.
I found some opinions about Russian Kashin class destroyer used as model for Muntenia.
I looked on several navy sites but Muntenia silhouete is closer to Chinese Lu Hu class destroyer. Considering our good military relations with China is possible to achieve the project from them or, at least, to use it as inspiration source.
It would be stupid to try, only for national pride reasons, to invent the wheel or the warm wather, instead of implementing some verified solutions, adapted to our military needs.

[RiverWolf]

Thank you for the show of Romania.I really enjoyed the photos of the ships.I have a questions for you.
Can you shed any light about the first class of NATO(at the time)named brutar class monitors?It was known as Grivita and was apparently a prototype vessel.It had NO deckhouse and and sported some unique characteristics.It was shorter than the 5 subsequent vessels.
I have been looking for info in order to build a model and have only a few pictures and almost no data to go on.
Thank you
@ralphster30
Indeed, the ship you ask for was the leader of the BRUTAR I class program.
Was named F-94 Grivita, was shorter, with no superstructure. Probably, the comanding post was under the tank turret like the MBT's.
It was followed by F-95 Rahova, with superstructure and longer. Later Rahova became F-176 and leader of BRUTAR II class.
I'm not sure but some sources say that Grivita was scrapped fiew years ago.
Now are active 5 small monitors (large armoured boats), form F-176 to F-180.
RiverWolf

[RiverWolf]

Here is a verry rare picture (from 1985 paper) of Romanian Navy's cruiser MUNTENIA (designated initially cruiser hellicopter-carrier) that becomes new destroyer MARASESTI and after declasiffication frigate MARASESTI . You can observe the modernisation of the superstructure of the deck . I think that is the only one ship arround the world that started cruiser and finished frigate !
I remember this picture from "Scanteia" newspaper. The picture was taken before modifications (because of ship instability). In the picture the missile launchers were one deck upper, also the position of the Gatling AK630 guns was different. Now the missile launchers are on the main deck.

[RiverWolf]

BRUTAR class DANUBE MONITORS

The Danube fleet of Romanian Navy consists in three large monitors and five smaller . They are Brutar class-KOGALNICEANU,BRATIANU and CATARGIU , named after the succesfull monitors who fight in ww1 and ww2 and the other (class unknown) named RAHOVA, SMARDAN,OPANEZ,POSADA and ROVINE ,named after great Romanian victories during history . These ships are smaller but in generaly they presents almost same features like Brutar class.
The large monitors were built in1995-1996 in Turnu-Severin shipyard and the smaller in 1985-1993 in Mangalia shipyard .
That's a fact that in the Delta of Danube (the Danube estuary) romanian army could not operate with tanks, the engineers designed ships operating like tanks but on the water . So the armament of this ships consists in 100mm antitanc gun specially designed to pierce any armour, multiple rocketlaunchers ,automatic light cannons and heavy machine guns .The main guns , machine guns and rocketlaunchers are the same used in Romanian ground Army so, they can be suplied from the ground . They also have the name "The tanks of Danube" .
By easy removing some armament they could leave ashore armoured and trucks .
The specialists conclude that this ships are the the most performant batlleships sailing across Danube river .Only Ucraine has similar vessels but they are verry far away with firepower .
The "tank" has 50 m long and 10 m wide .
Displacement 522 tones and 322 tones the smaller .
Uf! I'm exhausted ! Enjoy the pictures !
One small observation regarding de Danube monitors.
The larger monitors are MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU CLASS and the smaller are BRUTAR II CLASS.
BRUTAR I CLASS had only one ship F-94 Grivita (no superstructure) but, as far as I know, it was scrapped fiew years ago.
I have one question regarding the bigger monitors: on some sources i found they have two pads for SA-N-5 missiles (naval version of Strella 2). On other sources I found two pads for SA-N-4 missiles (naval version of Gecko missile - much longer range). What version is true ?

[RiverWolf]

Maybe someone ask why monitor Bratianu in this picture has not multiple-rocketlaunchers . Romanian Navy Danube monitors were designated for different missions . Depending the type of mission the monitor could be configurated with specific armement : if is a bombarding mission the monitor receives his rocketlaunchers and if its only patrol mission the monitor does't need this sort of armement .
Doru,
I don't think that MLRS's are removed from Bratianu in that picture. Those are the hatches for loading the reserve missiles for MLRS. The MLRS is further to the stern (left&down from the picture).
There are some pictures, posted by you, from the Navy Day. In one of them you can see the entire upper deck of a monitor. You can see first the hatches and, next to them, the armored cover of the MLRS. The MLRS is lowered inside the superstructure of the monitor

[RiverWolf]

DORUPANTOS: A superb collection of photographs of a navy "new" to many of us an ocean away here in America. Very much appreciated by all of us to see these vessels. Dorupantos, you must take great pride in your navy!

I was most impressed with the heavy and light "River Monitors." I think many of us had assumed such vessels had passed into the pages of history after the end of the World Wars with the British Erebus, Roberts and Terrror, yet here are these very heavily armed and well-maintained new versions.

Your photo set on these ships was great, and I am adding these to my collection...I will enjoy surprising many American friends with new "Monitors"...:).

Regards,
Hi Don,
indeed, a splendid tradition of river monitors is continued by Romanian Navy even their mission are a little different from the classic ones.
Their main force are the 2X40X122 mm MLRS. The classic missiles, with 23km range, were replaced with a new version, 40-45km range - depending on warhead (HE, steel balls, preformed elements, cargo).
That means the bigger monitors (KOGALNICEANU class) won't be used for front line combat. Imagine a shell or AT missile direct hit in the MLRS compartment.
For these jobs are more suited the smaller ones (BRUTAR class). Due to their very low profile, special shape, high power & good manoeuvrability they can perform a lot of missions: raids, transport, landing, bombing, recon.
On top of the lowered MLRS they can embark 2 APC/ 2 trucks/ 4 Humvee/ 2-4 canons. If they need to go to the shore for landing the trucks/Humvee/canons, the APCs can just jump in the river, from the very low deck, and swim to the shore.
The special armored&shaped bow allows BRUTAR class to climb the bow on shore, like an aligator, land a tactical team and offer them a good fire support, with the 100mm canon + 10x14,5mm HMG. With his powerful engines, he has no problems in redrawing from the shore once the job is done.
There are some talks about their air defense systems (SA-N-5 Strella missiles, 30mm canons, 14,5mm HMG) not being very powerful. There is a lot to do, from better missiles to radars dectection & fire control, but there are not oceangoing ships. They are operating on the Danube or next to RO Black Sea coast, under protection provided by RO aviation and AD elements of land forces.

[RiverWolf]

DORUPANTOS: A superb collection of photographs of a navy "new" to many of us an ocean away here in America. Very much appreciated by all of us to see these vessels. Dorupantos, you must take great pride in your navy!

I was most impressed with the heavy and light "River Monitors." I think many of us had assumed such vessels had passed into the pages of history after the end of the World Wars with the British Erebus, Roberts and Terrror, yet here are these very heavily armed and well-maintained new versions.

Your photo set on these ships was great, and I am adding these to my collection...I will enjoy surprising many American friends with new "Monitors"...:).

Regards,

Hi Don,
indeed, a splendid tradition of river monitors is continued by Romanian Navy even their mission are a little different from the classic ones.
Their main force are the 2X40X122 mm MLRS. The classic missiles, with 23km range, were replaced with a new version, 40-45km range - depending on warhead (HE, steel balls, preformed elements, cargo).
That means the bigger monitors (KOGALNICEANU class) won't be used for front line combat. Imagine a shell or AT missile hit in the MLRS compartment.
For these jobs are more suited the smaller ones (BRUTAR class). Due to their very low profile, special shape, high power & good manoeuvrability they can perform a lot of missions: raids, transport, landing, bombing, recon.
On main deck, on top of the lowered MLRS, they can embark 2 APC/ 2 trucks/ 4 Humvee/ 2-4 canons. If they need to go to the shore for landing the trucks/Humvee/canons, the APCs can just jump in the river, from the very low deck, and swim to the shore.
The special armored&shaped bow allows BRUTAR class to climb the bow on shore, like an aligator, land a tactical team and offer them a good fire support, with the 100mm canon + 10x14,5mm HMG. With his powerful engines, he has no problems in redrawing from the shore once the job is done.
There are some talks about their air defense systems (SA-N-5 Strella missiles, 30mm canons, 14,5mm HMG) not being very powerful. There is a lot to do, from better missiles to radars detection & fire control, but there are not oceangoing ships. They are operating on the Danube or next to RO Black Sea coast, under protection provided by RO aviation and AD elements of the Land Forces.

[RiverWolf]

Moderator,
Sorry for double posting. During my writing I had to leave for a while the room and, when I returned, I had to log in again. I believed I have to post again.

[dorupantos]

Hello RiverWolf !
I'm happy you enjoy RN and RRN . First I must read your posts (a lot of posts) . I think I can give a little help regarding Muntenia cruiser in short time .

[dorupantos]

Dear RiverWolf ,
Here is a picture with president Ceausescu looking at the model of MUNTENIA cruiser . If you look with attention it looks a little different . MUNTENIA cruiser was an romanian project with a "little inspiration" from soviet destroyers and possible from other navies .

[RiverWolf]

Doru,
thank you for Muntenia picture. It gives me more details. Yes, there are some differences. Some of them could be seen from the newspaper picture:
The Termit/Styx missile launchers were one deck higher and the AK630 Gatling had a different arrangement.
From your picture I can see that he was planned to have 2x RBU-2500 on the same deck with the second AK726 turret. Also, they look to be more towers+funels but I'm not sure.
The final solution for the front weaponry looks similar with a Russian solution (also a Lu Hu one), with 2XRBU-6000 on the third deck, but the enlarged back superstructure (from torpedo launchers to hangar) looks more like a Lu Hu solution.
I'm talking mainly about superstructure shape and decks; weapon systems could be different or not.
As far as I know we had some problems with Russian who refused to provide us the 2x130mm front turret, as promised. Later, they didn't deliver us the second AK726 turret and we had to remove the stern AK726 turret from a Tetal I class (maybe Barbuneanu) corvette to complete the cruiser.

[MUGURCL]

Hello,

You can see here more than 1000 pictures with roumanian navy ships after wwII:

http://romaniaforum.info/board3-marina-romana-romanian-navy/board409-marina-militara-dupa-1945-warships-after-1945

Sample:

[dorupantos]

THANK YOU MUGURCL !
Verry interesting pictures .

[ralphster30]

I have not been here for a while and didn't even know what sort of postings had occurred.Thanks for the info and photos.I am always looking for as much info I can get on the Grivita as it seems to be the hardest to find data for.

[ludsie]

Great photo's certainly is interesting to see the ex-British frigates and the mods that have been done to them

[dorupantos]

Photos of RNavy's frigate MARASESTI (F-111) .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy's frigate MARASESTI's armament .

[dorupantos]

Frigate MARASESTI during military exercise with land forces !

[dorupantos]

Romanian's Navy frigate MARASESTI fireing missile and launching torpedo .

[dorupantos]

Frigate MARASESTI in Constanta .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy's frigate MARASESTI and school-ship brig MIRCEA at Romanian Navy Day in Constanta .

[dorupantos]

Romanian Navy's corvettes&support ships CONSTANTA & MIDIA .

[dorupantos]

Ship CONSTANTA participated to the launch of the first space rocket of Romania - rocket HELEN . Rocket HELEN was the "child" of ARCA ( Romanian Association of Cosmonautics and Aeronautics ). The rocket was high with a balloon in air and ulterior teh HELEN's engine starts . HELEN joined the space !