WesWorld

Novosti News Service, Bar, Thursday, 1 October 1942

The second of the Project 1942 Kappa destroyer leaders to be built for the Royal Yugoslav Navy was laid down today here, following the launch last month of her yet-to-be-named sister. It is expected that this vessel will be completed sometime late next summer.


Novosti News Service, Dures, Wednesday, 14 October 1942

The initial quantity of Loire et Oliver reconnaissance seaplanes ordered by the Royal Yugoslav Navy were delivered today aboard the French freighter St. Cyr. Following their erection and testing, they will begin training of pilots and crew in anticipation of completion of the Royal Yugoslav Navy’s first seaplane tender, which is expected later this month.

Domestic Ground Ordnance Production

M35 Service Pistol : 480
M29 Service Rifle : 2,700
M28 Machine Rifle : 450
M32 Machinegun : 480
M37 Submachinegun : 4,200
M39 Aircraft Machinegun : 675
M37 Tank Machinegun : 110
M35 Mortar : 180
M27/31 Mortar : 60
M40 Rocket Launcher : 160
M40 Divisional Gun : 60
M30 Light Antiaircraft Gun : 60
M36 Light Antiaircraft Gun : 60
M40 Field Gun-Howitzer : 60
M32 Hand Grenade : 57,000
Small Arms Ammunition : 13,500,000
Artillery Ammunition : 186,000


Domestic Vehicle Production for Royal Yugoslav Army

Skoda 6ST 4-ton Truck : 90
Zastava M40 0.25-ton Truck : 225
Zastava M41 1.5-ton Truck : 225
LT.38 Light Tank (gun tank) : 6
Assault Howitzer on LT.38 Chassis : 6
Anti-tank Gun on LT.38 Chassis : 30
Lazar Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle : 30
Nemanja Armoured Car : 30


Aircraft Deliveries

Bucker Bu181 : 15
Soko Jastreb : 48
Soko Zmaj : 28
Ikarus IK-4 : 3

Novosti News Service, Bar, Friday, 16 October 1942

The first of the Project 1942 Theta escort sloops, Ciklon and Uragan, were completed today at the shipyards here and were formally commissioned into the service of the nation. Speaking to the assembled crowds Crown Prince Petar expressed his personal appreciation for the dedicated efforts of the workers of the Adriatic Shipyards in meeting the needs of the Royal Yugoslav Navy. The ships immediately embarked on their post-construction trials and will spend the next six months working up to full operational capability.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Tuesday, 20 October 1942

The Defence Ministry announced that it has given approval for construction of the LT.43 light tank, a private venture proposal of the First Yugoslav Factory for Wagons, Tools and Bridges. Derived from the LT.38 light tank – produced under licence for several years – the LT.43 design will feature increased armament and a more powerful engine. Production is expected to commence sometime late in 1943.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Friday, 23 October 1942

The State Aircraft Factory has been authorised to proceed with construction of an initial batch of fifty Type 222 Vihor basic training aircraft to replace the Royal Yugoslav Air Force’s current inventory of Miles Masters obtained from Great Britain, It is hoped that the first aircraft will be delivered some time before June 1943.


Novosti News Service, Bar, Sunday, 25 October 1942

Two additional Project 1942 Theta escort sloops were launched today, bringing to four the number of such vessels currently under construction. It is expected that additional vessels of this type will be constructed next year.

Novosti News Service, Bar, Tuesday, 27 October 1942

The light destroyer Medjugorje was declared operational today following completion of her post-construction trials and working up period. She joins her sisters as part of the nation’s front line of defense.


Novosti News Service, Cuprija, Thursday, 29 October 1942

The latest section of the Autostrady A1, linking this city with Jagodina was formally opened today by His Majesty King Aleksandr, in a ceremonial motorcade which made the journey from Jagodina in little more than two hours. It is hoped that next year the autostrady will be complete to the Bulgarian border; sections are presently under construction but the nearing winter will close work very soon.

Novosti News Service, Bar, Saturday, 31 October 1942

Work was completed today on the Project 1942 Beta seaplane tender, which was formally christened Ikarus. She immediately embarked upon trials and should enter service early next spring. The first air squadron of the Royal Yugoslav Navy is already training on its new French-built floatplanes and it will soon take up station with the Ikarus at its station, Durres.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 9 November 1942

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 16 November 1942

General Dusan Simovic, Chief of the Defence Staff, has announced his retirement effective 31 December of this year. General Simovic has served in that capacity for the past six years, overseeing the reorganisation of the armed forces and their modernisation – particularly supporting the growth of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force and the Royal Yugoslav Navy. He will be most remembered for the reform of the Army, which has transformed from a swollen mass of foot soldiers to a mobile combined armed force featuring tanks, mobile artillery and full supporting services, backed by a nation in arms. A successor is yet to be named.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Wednesday, 25 November 1942

His Majesty King Aleksandr has appointed Lieutenant General Ljubomir Stefanovic succeed General Dusan Simovic as Chief of the Defence Staff. General Stefanovic has previously served as commander of the Seventeenth Infantry Division and lately as the Senior Officer of the Royal Yugoslav Army’s contingent in the League of Nations’ Afghan Field Force. The formal change of leadership ceremony will take place some time next month.

Novosti News Service, Zagreb, Monday, 30 November 1942

A national convention held here last weekend has led to the formation of the Navy League, an organisation dedicated to strengthening the understanding and interest of the Yugoslav people for the importance and duties of the navy, and to pursue that aim by the dissemination of the information through the written and spoken word. The newly elected chairman of the Navy League, Vasilije Petkovic, called for the establishment of a national subscription to fund future construction of vessels for the fleet, and indicated that the League would soon begin publication of a periodical for its members.

Novosti News Service, Pancevo, Thursday, 3 December 1942

The Utva Aircraft Factory here has announced that it has received an order from the Royal Yugoslav Air Force for an initial quantity of the firm’s Type 224 “Galeb” basic training monoplane. These aircraft, delivery of which is expected to commence some time in 1943, are intended to replace the Air Force’s licence-built Bu181 “Bestmann” trainers, manufactured by the State Aircraft Factory. Testing of the “Galeb” prototypes is proceeding at the factory’s aerodrome.


Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Friday, 11 December 1942

Bowing to growing sentiment in Parliament, the Government announced today that it would augment the planned naval construction programme with a third destroyer-leader of the Project 1942 Kappa type and a further four escort sloops of the Project 1942 Theta type, making a total of eight such vessels for the Royal Yugoslav Navy. In response, Vasilije Petkovic, chairman of the newly formed Navy League, promised that the League would raise more than sufficient subscriptions to fund the third destroyer-leader.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 14 December 1942

The Defence Ministry announced a number of personnel changes today. Among them, Colonel Oton Elbinger, late of the Third Pandur Battalion, has been assigned to command of the 45th Infantry Regiment at Karlovac.


Novosti News Service, Mostar, Tuesday, 22 December 1942

The Soko aircraft works has received approval to commence low-rate initial production of its Orao fighter aircraft. It is expected that the first machine to production standards will emerge from the factory some time next month, though substantial production is not expected before summer.