The “prototype” of the Bulgarian navy was the Danube flotilla, created on 12 August 1879 in Ruse on the Danube. On this date, Bulgarian flags were raised over the four Russian warships used in the Russo-Turkish war.

The first maritime vessels to have entered service were a gift from Russia – 4 steamships, 7 steam cutters, 1 schooner, 1 barge, 5 rowboats etc. To begin with they had Russian crews but after the formation of the Bulgarian army, the first new recruits entered the navy.

Ruse was also the place where the first navy orchestra was established, and where ship repair work was carried out. Ever since that time serving in the navy has been a privilege and a responsibility which many young people have chosen fore themselves. The reasons – the excellent facilities, as well as the broad range of spheres taught at the Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov naval academy in Varna.

In 2020 the academy was ranked in the prestigious second position by the International Organization of Maritime Universities, second only to the Australian Maritime College. The number of future officers who graduated the academy this year is 17. Before they join the ranks of the Bulgarian army they will receive their first epaulettes as officers at an official ceremony at the seaport in Varna on Bulgarian Navy Day – 8 August.

A special exposition at the Maritime Museum in Varna is dedicated to the day of the Bulgarian navy, tracing the role of the school in the formation and training of the personnel, as well as their talents and their interests outside their missions. The exposition features intriguing exhibits from the museum’s collections, such as wall newspapers, various publications and works of art spanning the period from the 1950s to the 1980s, and also drawings, posters, music recordings inspired by the times. The exhibition “Art and propaganda in the years of the Cold War” is open to the public as of 5 August until the end of October.

Visitors can also see the other parts in the museum, where one of the symbols of Bulgaria’s naval history – the ship “Drazki” (Intrepid) is kept. Having arrived in Bulgaria in 1906, it was integrated into the naval forces three years later when, together with another 5 other torpedo boats it patrolled Bulgaria’s maritime borders.

One of its missions has gone down in history as an outstanding achievement by Bulgaria’s small navy. Dr. Mariana Krasteva, director of the museum, with more:

“During the Balkan war (1912), it was one of the four ships to have attacked the Turkish cruiser “Hamidiye” (which threatened to destroy Bulgaria’s seaside towns of Varna and Balchik – editorial note). “Drazki” was the torpedo boat that carried out the successful attack on “Hamidiye” and neutralized it – with many casualties and serious damage, “Hamidiye” was hauled up to the Bosporus for repairs. But the fact that our ship, with a tonnage 40 times smaller than that of the Turkish vessel came out victor in this unequal battle, had an enormous moral impact on our army and navy during the Balkan war, but also for the generations to come.”

“The ship became part of the museum exposition in 1957 as a symbol of the glory of our naval history, and the only preserved ship of its class in the world,” Dr. Krasteva says. In her words while it was still in service, the ship had a 25-30-member crew, distributed on deck, in the engine room, in navigation, as well as officers.

“It was steam-powered, and the steam engine has been preserved too, though it is difficult of access for the public to see,” Dr. Mariana Krasteva explains. “Its maximum speed was 25 knots – a little under 50 km/h. In its time this was good speed. It was armed with three torpedo tubes and two 47-mm guns.”

Yoan Kolev and Silvia Nikolova

Photos: BGNES, mod.bg, Facebook /@Navalmuseumvarna, Facebook /@nvna.eu, archive