Steamboats on the Danube

Although the Austrian-based DDSG was, by the end of the 19th century, the dominant company in the shipping trade, a new organisation was formed in 1896 based in the Hungarian part of the Habsburg empire which was to become a significant player in both the freight haulage and passenger businesses. The MFTR took over the fleet of the Hungarian Railways (MAV) in 1914 and was eventually became MAHART, a company which continues to exist in the Danube freight business.

Steamers acquired from MAV in 1895 were the Lukacs Bela, and later Csoka, Rakosi Matyas, Csongrad

Steamers built in 1896-7: Deak Ferenc, later Dunagyongye; Ersebet Kiralyne; Szechenyi Istvan andFerencz Jozsef

Later new vessels were built (1916-1928) and these were the:

Zita Kiralyne, later Vercse, Szent IstvanIV Karoly, later Sas, St Imre, Felszabadulas, Szoke Tisza

Ferencz Ferdinand Foherczeg, later Rigo, Leanyfalu, Kossuth Joszef Foherczeg, later Varju, Dozsa Gyorgy, Jozsef, DomosSzent Gellert, later Tancsics, Szoke TiszaSzent Laszlo, later Petofi

Later purchases (1939-1941)

Domos, earlier LedaBacska

The bigger boat, known as BKA (bronirovannyie katera, or armored cutter) 1124, had two turrets initially taken from T-26 tanks and mounting 45mm guns. The boat displaced 42 tons, was 25 meters long and had 12mm of armor on its “citadel” protecting the engines and other vitals. While drawing more water than a half-meter, it still could operate in very shallow waters as it only drew 0.80 meters.

The smaller version, known as BKA 1125, only drew 0.5 meters and displaced 29 tons. These were only slightly shorter (22.6 meters) but had less armor protection.

Series production began in 1935 at small shipyards along the Soviet Union’s inland rivers,

By the time of the 1941 invasion of Germany, 85 boats had been delivered with 68 more under construction. They went into action very early, with boats of the Danube flotilla inflitrating Romanian defenses to land troops on 24 June and routing Romanian marines defending the Danube delta.