Coastal batteries of Romania


The coastal batteries of Romania had a significant role to play in the country's naval warfare.

War of Independence

During the Romanian War of Independence, coastal artillery on the Danube played a decisive role in the crossing of Romanian and Russian troops into Ottoman territory. At Calafat, a large concentration of fire power was gathered, comprising the batteries:Carol Elisabeta Mircea Mihai Bravul Renașterea Independența Basarab Ștefan cel Mare
On 7 November 1877, Romanian coastal artillery sank the Ottoman river monitor Podgorice.

World War I

During World War I, the Romanian coastal artillery expanded and diversified. It comprised the batteries:Regele Ferdinand Regina Maria Principele Nicolae Grivița and Rahova Regina Elisabeta Principele Mircea
The Romanian coastal batteries took part, along with the Romanian river monitors, in the Battle of Turtucaia. After the northwards retreat, some were re-assembled at Galați and were successfully used against German positions, again along with the river monitors, causing significant damage.

World War II

Romanian batteries

On 22 June 1941, the Romanian coastal batteries were as follows:Mircea battery at Cape Midia Tudor battery at Tataia Constanța oraș battery Constanța port battery Elisabeta battery at Agigea Constanța VII battery Ștefan battery at Sulina Țepeș battery at Sulina Sulina section Sfântu Gheorghe section

German batteries

In order to boost Romanian coastal defenses, the Germans also built up their own batteries:
  • Tirpitz battery Lange Bruno battery Breslau battery Comorova battery Petru Rareș section
The only time in World War II when the coastal batteries were used in combat was on 26 June 1941, when the Soviet Black Sea Fleet attacked Constanța. The attack was repelled by the Romanian destroyers Regina Maria and Mărășești supported by coastal artillery, the Tirpitz battery damaging the Soviet destroyer leader Kharkov.