Unveiling the Saga of SMS Körös: A River Monitor’s Journey Through War and Peace
Imagine a ship that could navigate through time, from the Austro-Hungarian Navy to the Yugoslav forces, carrying with it the echoes of battles past. That’s the story of SMS Körös, a river monitor that played a significant role in both World Wars.
The Birth and Early Days
When was SMS Körös born? On 5 February 1892, she was launched into the waters with the promise of serving her nation. Commissioned on 21 April of that same year, she set sail from the shipyards, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
World War I: A Test of Valor
During World War I, Körös was based at Zemun, just upstream from Belgrade on the Danube. The first shots of the war were fired by her sister ship Szamos and herself against fortifications near the Zemun–Belgrade railway bridge over the river Sava.
Can you imagine the intensity of those early battles? Körös, with her two 120mm guns, anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, and armor protection, was a formidable force. She broke through minefields on the Sava near Belgrade in September, pushing upstream to join the fighting near Šabac.
Supporting the Crossings
In October 1915, Körös and her fellow monitors were assembled at Ruschuk, Bulgaria. When Romania entered the war in August 1916, they attacked Giurgiu with shelling that set fire to oil storage tanks and sank Romanian lighters.
How did it feel for Körös to be so heavily engaged during those crucial river crossings? Her stack was hit and damaged, but she continued to provide close support. She assisted SMS Enns when the latter took a direct hit and began to take on water.
The Hungarian People’s Republic
After the Armistice of Villa Giusti signed by the Austro-Hungarians on 3 November 1918, Körös was operated by the navy of the Hungarian People’s Republic between 6 November and 13 December.
The Second World War: A New Chapter
Fast forward to April 1941, when Körös, now renamed Morava, became a flagship of the 2nd Mine Barrage Division on the River Tisza. On 7 April, she withdrew to Senta, where she was attacked by German aircraft.
On the evening of 11 April, Morava anchored at the confluence of the Danube and Sava near Belgrade, along with her fellow monitors Vardar and Sava. Aranđelović took command of the flotilla.
The Final Days
When the scuttling orders came, Morava was among those that were sunk. Around 450 officers and men from the Morava and various other riverine vessels gathered at Obrenovac, armed only with personal weapons and some machine guns stripped from the sculled vessels, started towards the Bay of Kotor in the southern Adriatic.
Bosna was part of the 2nd Patrol Group of the River Flotilla Command. She struck a mine near Bosanski Novi on the River Una and sank in June 1944. In 1945, she was raised and broken up.
Conclusion
From her birth as SMS Körös to her final days as Morava and Bosna, this ship’s journey is a testament to the resilience of those who served on her. Her story is one of valor, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit that defines the human experience in times of war.
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This page is based on the article SMS Körös published in Wikipedia (retrieved on December 29, 2024) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
