"Vedete Graniceresti"

[Radub]

I am looking for info on VeGhe-uri. These were motor boats used for border patrol on the Danube.
I had the chance to see one up-close (I even went on board) around 1980/1981 when I spent a 1st of May week-end with my parents in Tatanir on the Chilia channel of the Danube Delta.
I am looking for photos and drawings.
Any information will be most welcome.
Radu

[d1ragos]

I remember I've read something in Modelism about that. I'll check at home on evening and I'll let you knew.

[Radub]

Any help will be velcome.
Modelism did a few articles on Motor Torpedo Boats, but I cannot recall an article on VeGhe-uri. I may be wrong, and maybe you can point me in the right direction.
Radu

[d1ragos]

I think you are right . I'll check it anyway.

[MaxFax]

Maybe this link is useful ?!
http://www.modelism.ro/html/hidroglisor_dunare.htm

[Radub]

Thanks MaxFax, but that is a Tupolev WW2 aerofoil.
Border Patrol Motor Boats ("Vedete Graniceresti" abbreviated to VG - pronounced "VeGhe") are a very specific model of motorboat. In as far as I know, they were a Romanian design
They look, just to give you an idea, like a Vosper or a Komsomoletz MTB.
Radu

[d1ragos]

No.6/2005 of Modelism magasine presents a boat specially made for "Marina Granicereasca" named pr. 0111 C.
These boats have been made as replacement for the VG that you seek Those VG , as per article , were built at SN Viitorul-Braila between 1953 and 1956.
Sorry ....

[Radub]

Thanks D1ragos. The boat in that article is a Shanghai II class patrol boat. The one I remember was about half the size of that, maybe about 20 metres in length. The more I think about it, the more I think it was a Komsomolets. The question is: did the Border Guards use Komsomolets boats? I saw the boat in Tatanir where the Border Guards had a station. The thing that I remember is that the boat was able to dock perpendicular to the river bank. A Shanghai II class patrol boat would simply be too big/unwielding and block the canal.
Radu

[d1ragos]

Yes Radu , it is about the Shanghai II class patrol boats.
My father was in a graniceri unit on the Danube during the time that VG was in service , next week I'll visit him -we are not living in the same town -maybe he remembers something about those boats.

[d1ragos]

Is that the boat you are looking for ?

[d1ragos]

ups ! sory , wait till I'll learn to post images....

[d1ragos]

Hi Radu
I'm in a hgurry now , I'll learn later to post images or links.
I was searcing for "komsomolets boat" using google , do the same and maybe that is what you are looking for. Don't stop only on the first page.

[Radub]

Hi d1ragos,
I am quite certain that the Shanghai II patrol boat is not the one I saw and visited in 1980. I was only 9 at that time but I remember that the boat was quite small.
I am not sure what type the boat was. It was relatively small, between 10 and (no more than) 20 metres in length (so that rules out the Shanghai II patrol boat), it did not have torpedo tubes (so that rules out the Komsomoletz MTB) but it had a turret. The boat was painted grey with green and brown mottles. I twas not a monitor, it was a launch-type boat (salupa). It was very fast. This was in Tatanir on the Chilia channel of the Danube Delta, which is quite shallow.
Radu

[Radub]

Here we go. I found a picture among my photos. This was taken during the Navy Day parade in Galati around 2001.



Does anyone know what this is?
Radu

[Dénes]

"Garda de coasta' + paintjob. Why do they have to mimic the Americans?

Gen. Dénes