Built as a salvage tug by the Polish yard Stocznia Polnocna (North Navy yard), Gedansk for the Deutsche Volksmarine (East Germany).
28 December 1975 launched under the name OTTO VON GUERICKE (A46). One of the Piast class, type 570, two sisterships the Polish LECH and PIAST.
Displacement 1646 ton, dim. 72.62 x 12.03 x 8.55m. Draught 4.23m.
Powered by two 6-cyl two-stroke Zgoda type 6 TD 48 diesel engines 3.800 shp., speed 16.5 knots, twin screws. Three auxiliary engines, 330 kW, and one auxiliary engine with 117 kW.
Radius 5.000 mile.
Armament 8 – 25mm moveable guns.
Crew 47 and did have accommodation for 200 rescued people
29 December 1976 in service.
She was a unit of the 4th Flotilla of the 4th Sicerstellungsschiffsabteiling at Rostock-Warnemuende; base Hohe Duene (High Dunes).
Used as a salvage, fire fighting and rescue vessel for emergencies of navy and merchant ships and crews.
Could be used for diving work, did have a pressure chamber on board, and a dragging winch of make Norwinsch. A 37-man lifeboat, pumps and various fire fighting equipment.
1979 till 1981 sailed together with the school ship WILHELM PIECK (S 41) into the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and used for squadron cruises in the Atlantic.
From July 20 to 24th 1987 together with frigate HALLE (F225) as a unit of the 4th Kuestenschutzschiffsbrigade (Coast Guard) she visited Kotka, Finland.
03 October 1990 out of service under hull No A 441.
October 1991 sold via VEBEG to the Uruguayan Navy.
18 December 1991 commissioned under Uruguayan flag and renamed R.O.U. VANGUARDIA (26).
Under Uruguayan flag, a crew of 50.
Used by the Uruguayan Navy as research and supply vessel for the Artigas base in the Antarctic.
10 January 1993 she arrived for the first time in the base.
The base is situated on King George Island of the South Shetland Archipel, about 3012 km from Montevideo.
The VANGUARDIA carries a meteorological station, which collects meteorological, and ice dates of the area.
Uruguay 1995 $4 sg MS2236, scott 1589c.
Source: many websites. Die Andere Deutsche Marine by Mehl. Schaefer. Erhard Jung.