NMS Ion C. Brătianu: King of the Danube

JamesPond1200 · October 10, 2024, 7:22am

Would you like the NMS Ion C. Brătianu to be added to the game?

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How should it be added?

Tech Tree
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What BR should it have?

3.0
3.3
3.7
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Which configuration(s) would you like to have?

Original Configuration
Post-WW1 Refit
1937-38 Refit
1941-43 Refit
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NMS Ion C. Brătianu: King of the Danube

History:

In the year 1907, Romania undertook a massive modernization program for its navy, seeking to enhance its ability to project power along the Danube River. Perhaps the most important vessel developed during this period was the Brătianu-class of heavy river monitors. Consisting of four ships, each named after a past Premier of Romania (NMS Ion C. Brătianu, NMS Lascăr Catargiu, NMS Mihail Kogălniceanu, and NMS Alexandru Lachovari), the Brătianu-class quickly became an invaluable component of the Romanian river fleet, serving through both World Wars and into the Cold War.

The ships were constructed in pieces by the Austro-Hungarian shipbuilder STT, with the final assembly taking place in the Galați shipyards back in Romania. By 1908 all four ships were launched, and their first combat action would come in 1913 during the Second Balkan War against Bulgaria. They served a multitude of roles, including shore bombardment, troop transport, bridgehead protection, and more. They showed themselves to be highly successful, and continued to do so when the First World War broke out. Once again, they fulfilled a wide variety of duties all along the Danube and its tributaries, using their powerful 120mm cannons to destroy enemy shore positions as well as other riverine craft. They were also able to ferry troops behind enemy lines and then use their powerful armament to provide effective fire support and protect them on their missions.

By the end of WWI, the class would undergo its first major refit, improving its anti-aircraft armament and cutting down the size of the superstructure, reducing its signature. It was in this configuration that they found themselves being used to quell the Soviet-backed Tatarbunary Uprising in 1924. The ships, along with the rest of the Danube Fleet, were moved south to Vâlcov, capturing a large amount of rebels and huge quantities of equipment and resources. This caused a quick end to the uprising, once again proving the usefulness of the Brătianu-class.

From 1937-38, the class would undergo a second refit which was significantly larger in scale than anything previous. Nearly every weapon on the ships were upgraded, bringing the class into the modern era. It is this configuration with which it would begin service in World War II, where its enhanced armament would be invaluable against Soviet navy forces. However, one last refit would occur between 1941-1943, further improving the anti-air defenses. This would be the configuration in which the class would be upon surrender to the USSR in 1944. Two ships, Kogălniceanu and Catargiu, were sunk by Soviet bombers on the same day, while the other two, Brătianu and Lachovari, were handed over to the USSR and put into Soviet service as Azov and Mariupol, respectively, receiving their own refit and weapon modifications.

This would remain the case until the early 1950s, when the two captured monitors were handed back to Romania and the sunken pair were recovered and restored. They became a new class of monitors, numbering M201-M204. The first two, M201 and M202 were Lachovari and Brătianu, returning to active service in their Soviet refits. The other two, M203 and M204, were Kogălniceanu and Catargiu refloated and used as training ships. Now having seen continuous service for more than 50 years, the Brătianu-class would finally be retired and scrapped between 1960-62.

Description:

The Brătianu-class followed a similar construction style to other Austro-Hungarian monitors of the time, specifically the Temes-class. Being a river monitor, it was wide and shallow so as to ensure stability and the ability to navigate any part of the Danube. Powered by coal and cruising at a leisurely 13 knots (15 mph), they focused on the "slow and steady" model. When launched in 1907, the Brătianu-class were the most powerful river monitors on the Danube, as well as the most protected. Armor was generally between 75-70mm all over the ship, dropping down to 40mm in some parts of the turrets and to 20mm over certain parts of the deck. Carrying a crew of 110, the Brătianu-class was decently survivable, being larger and having more crew than other comparable vessels.

The ships were arranged with their three main guns in three single turrets, with two at the forward end (one on either side) and the third in the center of the aft end. This was done so as to always allow two guns to be focused on a target at any one time. In the center was a superstructure holding the crew compartment and the secondary weapons. Initially, when laid down in 1907, the ships featured a main battery of three 120mm Škoda-Krupp L/35 Model 1904 naval guns which fired AP, HE, and shrapnel shells. The guns had elevation angles of -6/+35, giving a maximum range of 10km. These were assisted by a pair of 120mm Škoda L/10 naval howitzers which were exclusively equipped with HE and shrapnel. They had a much shorter range of 6,200m, but could elevate up to +70 degrees, with one mounted fore and one aft. The initial secondary battery consisted of four 47mm Škoda-Hotchkiss L/44 3-pdr naval guns designed to protect against torpedo boats and a pair of 6.5mm Maxim machine guns for everything else.

By the end of WWI, several modifications and upgrades had been done bringing the ships to an improved standard. The superstructure has been reduced in order to give a lower profile and present a smaller target, and the three main turrets have been modified to increase their elevation. This gave the main guns an increased range of 11,500m, but that was only the beginning. The main guns also received experimental super-aerodynamic shells which, if used, could extend the range to 13km. By this time, the two 120mm howitzers had been removed, as well as two of the 47mm 3-pdrs. The two remaining 47mm guns were modified to use new high-angle mounts capable of engaging aerial targets, and the 6.5mm machine guns remained. Finally, a 75mm Schneider L/36 M1897 anti-aircraft gun was installed where the forward howitzer used to be. Firing HE and shrapnel shells, it had a maximum range of 8,500m.

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Some images of the new 47mm high-angle mounts.

In 1937-38, a massive overhaul was performed on the class, changing just about every weapon. The main guns were replaced with longer and more powerful 120mm Škoda-Bofors L/50 Mk.4 naval guns – the same ones used on the Regele Ferdinand-class destroyers. These guns could fire AP and HE shells out to 19km. The 47mm guns remained as they were, still in their high-angle mounts. Replacing the 75mm Schneider AA gun, a 37mm Rheinmetall SK C/30 anti-aircraft gun was mounted in its place. While significantly smaller, it was more modern and fired faster, though it was still a single-shot weapon. it had elevation angles of -10/+80 degrees and could fire AP and HE out to 8,500m. Lastly, the two 6.5mm machine guns were finally removed and a single twin-barrel 13.2mm Hotchkiss heavy machine gun mount was added on a pedestal behind the aft main gun turret. These upgrades enhanced both the primary and anti-aircraft firepower, preparing the class for the upcoming Second World War.

Finally, one last upgrade would be made between 1941-43, adding a bit more anti-aircraft defense. The last two 47mm guns were removed and replaced with two more 37mm SK C/30 AA guns, bringing the total up to three. Additionally, a pair of 20mm Rheinmetall FlaK C/38 autocannons were added, dramatically improving the anti-aircraft firepower. These two autocannons featured elevation angles of -11/+85 degrees and a range of 4,900m. They used 40-round magazines of either AP-I or HE-I ammunition and fired at a rate of 480 rpm.

Specifications:

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Displacement: 680 tons

Length: 63.5m

Beam: 10.5m

Draft: 1.6m

Armor: 70mm belt, 75-40mm turrets, 70-20mm deck, 75-70mm pilot house

Engines: 2 Yarrow boilers, 2 triple-expansion steam engines, 2 shafts; 1800HP

Speed: 13 kts (15 mph)

Complement: 110

Armaments:

As Built:

3x 120mm Škoda-Krupp L/35 Model 1904 Naval guns
2x 120mm Škoda L/10 Naval howitzers
4x 47mm Škoda-Hotchkiss L/44 3-pdr Naval guns
2x 6.5mm Maxim machine guns

Post-WWI Refit:

3x 120mm Škoda-Krupp L/35 Model 1904 Naval guns (now with added elevation and improved shells)
1x 75mm Schneider L/36 M1897 Anti-aircraft gun
2x 47mm Škoda-Hotchkiss L/44 3-pdr Naval guns (now in HA/LA mounts to target aircraft)
2x 6.5mm Maxim machine guns

1937-38 Refit:

3x 120mm Škoda-Bofors L/50 Mk.4 Naval guns
2x 47mm Škoda-Hotchkiss L/44 3-pdr Naval guns
1x 37mm Rheinmetall SK C/30 Anti-aircraft gun
1x2 13.2mm Hotchkiss heavy machine guns

1941-43 Refit:

3x 120mm Škoda-Bofors L/50 Mk.4 Naval guns
3x 37mm Rheinmetall SK C/30 Anti-aircraft guns
2x 20mm Rheinmetall FlaK C/38 Anti-aircraft autocannons
1x2 13.2mm Hotchkiss heavy machine guns

Gallery:

Note: Photos include all ships of the class, as images of the class are somewhat hard to come by. Images of the ships in their Soviet configuration are not included.

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