The Yugoslav Monitor Sava: A Tale of War and Peace
Imagine a ship that has seen it all—battles, evacuations, and even being scuttled and raised multiple times. The Yugoslav monitor Sava, formerly known as SMS Bodrog, is such a vessel. Built in 1903 for the Austro-Hungarian Navy, this mighty river monitor has been through more than its fair share of history.
The Early Years and World War I
Launched in 1904, Sava was part of the Danube Flotilla during World War I. Can you imagine the tension as she fired the first shots of the war on July 29, 1914? It marked the beginning of a tumultuous journey that would see her engage in several operations against Serbian fortifications and conduct reconnaissance missions with other monitors.
Operations Against Serb Fortifications
During the early stages of the war, Sava participated in several operations. She was evacuated from its base at Zemun in September 1914 but continued to engage enemy positions until November when French artillery support arrived in Belgrade. The stalemate continued until December 1, when Austro-Hungarians evacuated Belgrade and Sava engaged retreating Serbs.
The Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia
During World War II, Sava served with the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. She was scuttled twice before being raised and refurbished multiple times. In 2015, she was acquired by the Serbian Ministry of Defence and restored as a floating museum, opening in November 2021.
The River Monitor’s Role
Sava was equipped with two 120 mm guns and one 120 mm howitzer. It had improved armor compared to earlier Austro-Hungarian ships. During the war, she escorted convoys down the Danube to Lom, where munitions were transferred to the Bulgarian railway system.
Engagement with Romanian Forces
In November 1915, Sava and other monitors were assembled at Rustschuk, Bulgaria, before returning to the Belene Canal in December. Romanian forces entered the war on August 27, 1916, prompting Sava’s involvement in shelling Giurgiu, Romania.
The Sistow Crossing and Beyond
Sava received five hits during an engagement with Romanian artillery and had to retreat behind Taban Island to repair her damaged turret. She later supported the crossing of Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen’s Austro-Hungarian Third Army at Sistow.
The Post-War Years and Beyond
After World War I, Sava was transferred to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. She was renamed Sava and underwent refit in 1925-26 but by the late 1930s, only two river monitors were being retained in full commission at any time.
World War II and Beyond
In 1939, Sava’s armament was upgraded with a Škoda 40 mm L/67 anti-aircraft gun. She was based at Dubovac when the German-led Axis invasion of Yugoslavia began on April 6, 1941. Sava and her fellow monitor Vardar fought off Luftwaffe aircraft attacks and laid mines in the Danube near the Romanian border before withdrawing to Belgrade.
Post-War Restorations
After World War II, Sava was raised and repaired by Croatia, then served in the Yugoslav Navy from 1952 to 1962. In the post-war period, she underwent various restorations, including a partial restoration in 2019.
A Floating Museum Today
Today, Sava serves as a floating museum along the Sava River in Belgrade. It’s hard to imagine that this ship has seen so much history and yet continues to tell its story through its restored presence on the river.
From a mighty warship to a floating museum, the story of Sava is one that spans decades and continents. It serves as a reminder of the resilience and adaptability of human ingenuity in the face of conflict and peace.
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This page is based on the article Yugoslav monitor Sava published in Wikipedia (retrieved on November 28, 2024) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
