Fortuna Rou 1973

[john sefton]

FORTUNA ROU M33. Minesweeper ex BERNAU M343. Built in 1973 by Veb Peene Werft Wolgast (DDR) - Uruguay 1994. 1 p50. SG2177MS (LB25/27. T Broadley)

[aukepalmhof]

Uruguay 1994 1.50P sgMS 2182

[john sefton]

She was built as a patrol and minesweeper under yard No 268 as one of the Typ. 89.240; Kondor Class II (project 89.200 by the VEB Peenewerft, Wolgast, East Germany for the Volksmarine (East German Navy)
03 August 1972 launched as the BERNAU. Named after Bernau a town near Berlin in the former DDR.
Displacement 437 ton standard, 471 ton full load, Dim. 56.8 x 7.7 x 2.4m.(draught).
Powered by two diesel 40D engines, Soviet type, 2942 kW, speed 18 knots.
Range 2000 mile by 15 knots.
Armament: 6 -25mm MG.
Crew 30.
01 December 1972 commissioned.

Stationed by the 4th flotilla of the Volksmarine (East German Navy) at Rostock/Warnemuende- base Hohe Duene.

She sailed with the fast patrol boat WISMAR (P6170) and the patrol vessel ERNST THAELMANN, this ships were part of the 4th Kuestenschutzschiffsbrigade, (4.KSSBr)
From July 27th to 30th, 1973 on visit (day of the soviet naval warfare fleet) to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in Russia.
03 Oktober 1990 she was transferred to the Bundesmarine.

08 November 1991 BERNAU sold to the Uruguayan navy with her sisterships VALIENTE ex EILENBURG (typ-nr. 89.241), in service 22.12.1972; TEMERARIO ex RIESA (typ-nr. 89.242) in service 03.02.1973 and AUDAZ ex EISLEBEN (typ-nr. 89.245) in service 24.05.1973.

source: Weyers Flotten Taschenbuch 1994/96 , Mehl/Schaefer/Israel :Vom Kuestenschutzboot zum Raketenschiff Militaerverlag der DDR, Berlin 1986, Navicula

Following the fall of Communism, a number of former East German Volksmarine ships were purchased by Uruguay from the new German Government. In 1991, the Uruguay Navy received the minesweepers ROU 31 TEMERARIO, ROU 32 VALIENTE, ROU 33 FORTUNA, and ROU 34 AUDAZ. These ships were named after privateers of the Uruguay Independence era.
FORTUNA was named after the corsair ship La FORTUNA, one of the first ships of the Uruguay Navy.
On November 17th. 1817 are issued corsair rights to Juan Murphy, official of La FORTUNA, with document signed by José Artigas. This date is considered as founding of the National Navy in Uruguay, and 11/15th. is celebrated every year as "National Navy Day"
More is given on La FORTUNA: viewtopic.php?t=16300
ROU FORTUNA (33) under Uruguay flag was used mostly as a coast patrol boat.
2014 Was she decommissioned, her fate is not given but most probably scrapped thereafter.
Uruguay 1994 1.50P sgMS2182, Scott1551b.