The torpedo-boat ‘Druzki’

The torpedo-boat ‘Druzki’ is an evidence of the first big success of the Bulgarian Navy.

After the stablishment of the Bulgarian Navy on the Black Sea (1897) the supply with new warships begins. From 1904 till 1908 6 identical torpedo-boats have been built in the shipyard in France: ‘Druzki’, ‘Smeli’, ‘Hrabri’, ‘Shumni’, ‘Letyashti’ i ‘Strogi’.

At the beginning of the Balkan War (1912-1913) the torpedo-boats have to gueard the region of Varna bay. On the 7th of November, the Navy receives an information for movement of Turkish transport ships. The same evening, commander Dimtar Dobrev leads a detachment of 4 torpedo-boats to a fighting campaign. A little after midnight, they notice a silhouette of a large enemy ship, which was 32 miles away from Varna. ‘Letyashti’, ‘Strogi’ and ‘Smeli’ attack, but the torpedo shots are unsuccessful, The last one is ‘Druzki’ that attacks from a distance of 100 meters. A deafening explocion shows that Bulgaria possesses and efective navy.  ‘Hamidie’ is taken out of order and does not participate in the war actions till the end of the war. During the artillery firing a piece of shell breaks through the second funnel of ‘Druzki’. The hole is being kept as an evidence of the first success of the Bulgarian Navy.

During the First World War, the torpedo-boats carry out reconnaissance and defensive missions, lay deffensive mine-fields, carry landing troops in Dobrudja during the autumn of 1916.

During the Second World War they convoy ships and defend the mide fileds,

The torpedo-boat ‘Druzki’ is opened as a ship-museum on the 21st of Nivember, 1957.

• Varna Naval Museum
• The battle of Kaliakra

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_torpedo_boat_Drazki
• Crew Image – created: between 1907 and 1920 date – QS:P571,+1950-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1319,+1907-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1920-00-00T00:00:00Z/9- BASA-1735K-1-516-1.JPG – Bulgarian Archives State Agency