Romanian minesweepers on Danube

[Andreas von Mach]

In August 1944 Soviets seized some Romanian minesweeping cutters:
No 53,57 (?) 26,5t
No 81 (?) 40t
No 31-33(1938) 17t
No 37,38 (?) 25t
No 41,42 (1940) 25t

Perheps somebody could give more data about their origins, etc. Were there some more boats as numbers are not continious ???

[Cristian Craciunoiu]

There were two excellent boats buit in Czeh Republic, for electromagnetic sweeping, and several others in the Flotilla. There are some articles on the subject written by cdr.r. Mimica Banceanu, available only in Romanian. There was also a strong German group of small mine sweepers.

[Andreas von Mach]

There is an article
R.Greger "Schiffbauim Protektorat Böhmen una Mähren" in STRANDGUT 52.

There were 4motorboats ordered for the Romanian Navy at
Skoda-Werke AG, Pilsen, Werk Königgrätz
(AS Skodovy Zavod Plzen, Zavod Hradec Kralove)
In March 1943 of 175t material were 20 per cent delivered
Motors were 45 per cent conmpleted
The ships were to be completed in Hradec Kralove
and delivered via railway to Danube.
Planned was delivery at the beginnig of 1945.
2 boats were 1945 completed, all 4 were in 1946 delivered to Romania.

yard Nos 223-226
30t 23,60x3,60x1,00m
2 Skoda Diesels x320ehp = 18kts
armed with 2 MG

Skoda built also 3 tugs for Ioenesco,Bucarest (Yard Nos 220-222)
158t 30,9x5,5x1,52m 1 Diesel 525ehp
#220 HAJDU was 1942 delivered for Hungarian MFTR
and on 13.09.1944 blown up by crew
#221 completed 1945 as Yugoslavian one
#222 completed 1946 as Yugoslavian one

[Cristian Craciunoiu]

Friday, lt.cdr ( r) Banceanu a veteran of the Danube mine sweepers group and cdt. of a Czech made vessel published his war memories in a book: "Puntea de comanda" ( Captains' bridge ) of 464 pages !!! A lot of unknown stories are included.

[Victor]

[quote]Friday, lt.cdr ( r) Banceanu a veteran of the Danube mine sweepers group and cdt. of a Czech made vessel published his war memories in a book: "Puntea de comanda" ( Captains' bridge ) of 464 pages !!! A lot of unknown stories are included.[/quote]

Is it available at the Modelism Int. shop?

[Cristian Craciunoiu]

Unfortunatelly mr. cdr. Mihai Banceanu died Sunday 12th of October 2003 and will be burried tomorow at Ghencea Civil Cemetery, 13.00. Modelism will publish a cv and will remeber him as a friend. God forgive him !
We shall came with further details for the book later.