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Author Topic: Italian Navy "Vigilanza Anti Partigiana" Anti-Partisan Naval Units  (Read 28923 times)
 
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ptdockyard
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« on: April 05, 2011, 01:26:02 am »

Hello,
Does anyone have pictures of the craft the Italians used to fight Yugoslav partisan boats in the Adriatic?

Here is a response I had to a post a few years ago on Feldgrau:

"moto sailers armed, in 1943, by the Italian merchant navy along the Dalmazia coasts as Vigilanza Anti Partigiana Vessels (VAP with a number). They were simply motor fishery vessels, often of the classic "Bragozzo" type, typical on the Adriatic sea, about 50t, which went on with their usual trade cruises but had on board a squad of sailors at the orders of a NCO and were armed with light machine guns. There was a certain protection (armor or wooden trunks) at the helmsman position and around the weapons. This vessel duty was to escort the coastal traffic protecting it by the not very active partisan boats attacks of from a brief, sudden fire from some remote corner of the littoral.
From this record I have to think that the VAP organization was used, after the Italian armistice, by the Germans. I know for certain that two sailing ships, The "Sant'Eufemia" and the "Zara" were used by RSI sailors and young fascists volunteers after the Armistice at the orders of Commander Tommaso David to fight the partisan boats which had made their appearance in the island around the city. These Italian boats were able, since Sept. until late Oct. 1943, to capture or sink 10 enemy barges. The Germans, then, imposed their departure. "

These last two craft operated by the RSI are of particular interest, although a picture of any of these craft would be great. Were these RSI craft really that effective against NOVJ craft? Histories I have read of the Tiger Fleet indicate is was the other way around, with the partisan boats being very successful against Axis craft.

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ZastavnikDjemo
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« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2011, 02:33:40 am »

Dear ptdockyard,
As far as I know, up to the capitulation of Italy, the Italians used their boats from Guardia di Finanza for their anti-partisan activities, while after the capitulation of Italy the RSI was operating a vast array of commercial vessels, mostly trawlers, converted into anti-partisan ships. However, most of those were under the German command (Deutches Marinekommando Italien). They were not really effective against the Partisan craft, since the Partisans could count on the naval support from the British submarines and MTB's, especially after 1943, when they established their bases on the island of Vis. Overall, on the Yugoslav front, the Italian navy has had 8 PT boats, 4 armed commercial boats, 3 armed tugs, one gunboat, one armed artillery raft, seven torpedo-boats, fourteen patrol boats, 39 minesweepers, 32 anti-partisan ships (and most of those were converted trawlers), and one aerial reconnaissance squadron (183rd).
Source: the Yugoslav military encyclopedia (volume 6 - Nauloh-Podvodni, pp. 374)
The most well-known anti-partisan ship was the NB-11 "Crvena Zvezda", which was very well-armed, and which was previously known as the "Bianca Stella", which was captured by the NOVJ  in 1944, and which sunk on 1 of April 1945, after hitting a mine.  
« Last Edit: April 05, 2011, 02:45:59 am by ZastavnikDjemo » Logged
ptdockyard
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« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2011, 02:08:56 am »

Good information Thank you!

Here is what I think is a VAP


http://www.lapiazza.rn.it/piazza/modules/news/print.php?storyid=770


Here are a few actions that involved Italian VAP boats in 1943

7.February-anti-partisan ship NAP 2 attacked, killed commander of Metkovic port
4.May- anti-partisan ship NAP 19 was attacked during patrol near Hvar island
13.May- anti-partisan ship NAP 9 was attacked during patrol near Hvar island
12.June VAP 36 attacked in Velebit channel 
28.June-anti-partisan ship VAP 19 attacked from the coast
12.July-in Zarace bay(Hvar island) VAP 17 attacked,1 soldier killed

Does anyone have any further details on these actions or any others involving Italian naval forces and Partisans?
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jadran2
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« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2011, 07:21:27 am »

Here is most detailed study (unfortunately not in English) prepared and published by Vojnoistorijski Institut (Institute for Military History) in 1976 and covering all activities of Italian Army in territories under its command. Period covered January-September 1943. Data based on official documents of Kingdom of Italy in that period (Jan-Sep 1943).

http://www.znaci.net/00001/4_13_3_1.pdf

Besides other military activities, there are specified activities of all N.A.P. = Natante antipartigiano (protupartizanski brod) and V.A.P.  — Vigilanza antipartigiana.

(We can source for you, from the above Study, all actions of N.A.P./V.A.P.)

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ptdockyard
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« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2011, 04:36:40 pm »

Excellent.

I keep seeing the Minelayer Pasman mentioned. Was she a significant participant in Anti-partisan operations?

I would love to get any pictures of the VAP or NAP craft...
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ptdockyard
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« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2011, 05:17:45 pm »

Here is a document that tells of the end of the Pasman. Also a very sad tale on hostages

http://croit.info/maratonist/images/stories/PDF-dokumenti/the_last_journey_20101229.pdf
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ptdockyard
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« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2012, 01:30:10 pm »

There is a partial list of VAP boats here on this forum:

http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index.php/topic,14321.0.html

Dave G
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