Historical overview
OF THE RIVERINE FLEET HEADQUARTERS "MIHAIL KOGĂLNICEANU"

The fluvial forces of Romania have their origin in the flotillas organized by the great rulers of Muntenia, Moldavia and Transylvania (Mircea cel Bătrân, Iancu de Hunedoara, Vlad Ţepeş, Ştefan cel Mare and Mihai Viteazul), for the support of land forces (especially by transporting troops and the attack on the riverside fortresses) and for the maintenance of the Danube, as an essential measure in preserving independence and sovereignty. The development of the fluvial forces of the two principalities stands out in the 18th and 19th centuries. the encouragement of Romanian trade on the Danube and the sea, the arrangement and development of ports and the creation of the nucleus of a civil navy, required the establishment and organization of military flotillas in Muntenia and Moldova. In 1830, the two principalities decided to purchase the first battleships (armed kayaks). By establishing these units, the conditions were created for the organization of a military navy, a process that will be finalized during the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. between the years 1859 and 1861, action was taken to unite the flotillas from Moldova and Muntenia and organize a common naval structure. The Union of the Principalities opened a series of military reforms.
On October 22, 1860, by the High Order no. 173 of ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the two naval components of Romania and Moldova were united in the Danube Flotilla Corps, with the residence in Ismail and forces deployed in a series of towns along the Danube: Chilia, Galati, Brăila, Giurgiu and Calafat. in 1864, the Flotilla was equipped with ships, launching at Giurgiu, the first ship with steam propulsion - "Romania".
Between the years 1877-1878, the Flotilla, which included the gunboat "Fulgerul", the ship "România", the yacht "Ştefan cel Mare", the boat "Rândunica", several barges and coastal artillery batteries served by over 300 sailors, participates in military actions during the War of Independence, succeeding in sinking the Turkish monitors "Duba-Seifi" and "Podgoriţa", installing the mine barrage at Nedeea, being among the first navies in the world to use torpedoes and riverine mines.
After winning Romania's state independence, the military navy developed to meet the new requirements of the political-military situation: the safety of navigation on the Danube, the defense of the borders and Dobrogea. starting from 1883 and up to 1908, through successive naval programs, the composition of the Flotilla included gunboats, riverine monitors and riverine gunboat, torpedo boats, etc. The provision of new ships raises problems related to their basing in the port of Galati. Starting from this situation, the decision was taken to create a military port in Ţiglina. Simultaneously with the construction of this port, other related objectives were also built: ammunition, mine, torpedo warehouses, barracks for crews and the buildings necessary for the Arsenal. In line with its development, the Romanian Navy has experienced repeated organizational changes. A first more important restructuring dates back to the year 1886, when the Law for the organization of the Flotilla and the port service was voted by the Parliament, on the basis of which the War Flotilla Command was established.
In 1896, King Carol I promulgated the High Decree no. 1093 for the organization of the Flotilla and the Instructions for implementation, which established a new organizational structure. Thus, the Sea Division and the Danube Division, the crew depot, the fixed and mobile defense of the ports, the naval schools, the Navy Arsenal were created.
On 04/01/1896, the "Table of distribution of Flotilla officers by corps and services in the year 1896-189T with number 1299 of 03/13/1896, the first state of organization of the Danube Division, entered into force.
In the following years, new measures were adopted for the proper functioning of the naval forces. Thus, by the Law for the organization of the Military Navy of May 28, 1898, the name of the War Flotilla was changed to the Military Navy, formed by the two large units: the Danube Division, with the command in Galaţi and the Great Division, based in Constanţa. between 1906-1907, the Danube Division was equipped with eight riverine gunboat built in Great Britain and four monitors, built in Trieste and assembled at the Naval Arsenal in Galati: ”Mihail Kogălniceanu” "I.C. Brătianu", "Alexandru Lahovary”, "Lascăr Catargiu" who formed the Danube Squadron.
In 1913, the Danube Division participated in military actions during the Second Balkan War, through missions to guard bridges and some objectives in the Sulina, Cernavodă-Feteşti area, as well as troop landings.
In 1916, when Romania entered the First World War, the fluvial naval forces organized in the Danube Squadron gave the signal for Romania's entry into the war, through the attack of a group of three riverine gunboat on the Austro-Hungarian ships in the Rusciuk port, and between 1916-1918 they supported the land troops through direct and indirect fire at Turtucaia, Silistra, Rasova, Flămanda and Topalu.
During the Second World War, the Danube Division fought in the Galati - Isaccea, Tulcea and Chilia Veche - Periprava - Sulina sectors, playing an important role in repelling the Soviet attacks from Chilia Veche and Periprava. in September 1944, the riverside ships, sent to Izmail, are captured by the Soviets. However, the Danube Division will continue to exist, managing to reopen navigation on the river until 1948, with riverine gunboat and dredgers.
On April 1, 1940, the Naval Infantry Battalion was established which, during the Second World War, was part of the Sulina Maritime Detachment, with missions to defend the Delta and the mouths of the Danube.
In 1952, the Danube Division was transformed into the Danube Flotilla, based in Giurgiu, and in 1960, it was abolished.,
On April 1, 1962, the 24th Riverine Brigade was established, with command in the Tulcea garrison, and between the years 1973-1984, the II generation riverine gunboat, the dragoon, the III generation riverine gunboat and various logistical support ships entered service.
In December 1979, the Command of the 24th Riverine Brigade was deployed to Brăila, and in January 1983, the 27th Riverine-Maritime Brigade was established in Tulcea, which also subordinated the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion (relocated to Babadag since 1973).
Between the years 1993-1996, the tradition of monitor ships was revived by launching and entering into service the monitors "Mihai Kogălniceanu", "I.C. Brătianu" and "Lascăr Catargiu", which will constitute the 67th Monitor Division.
On March 30, 1995, the "Mihail Kogălniceanu" Danube Flotilla was re-established in Brăila, composed of the 24th River Brigade and the 27th River-Maritime Brigade, which had under their command units of artillery-carrying ships, dredger ships, logistic units, transmissions, marine infantry and combat divers.
In 2000, the Danube Flotilla changed its name to the "Mihail Kogălniceanu" Riverine Flotilla, and after only 5 years, in March 2005, it was transformed into the Riverine Component and came under the command of the Naval Operational Command. A year later, in May 2006, it restructures and becomes the Riverine Service of the Fleet Command, with a role in coordinating the activity of the 67th Riverine Gunboat Squadron and the 88th Riverine Patrol Boat Squadron, the latter comprising 2 sections, in Brăila and Tulcea. Starting on November 1, 2015, in 155 years of the existence of the Romanian Navy, the Riverine Service is transformed into the Riverine Flotilla Headquarter with river ship squadrons and the 307th Naval Infantry Battalion under its command.
In 2016, the Riverine Flotilla Headquarter took over the historical traditions of the Danube Division and the honorary name "Mihail Kogălniceanu", and the date 04/01/1896 became the anniversary day.
On August 1, 2017, the 131st Logistic Support Squadron, with deployment in Brăila and a section in Tulcea, came under the command of the "Mihail Kogălniceanu" Riverine Flotilla Headquarter.
One year later, on June 1, 2018, as a result of the major changes in the security environment in the extended Black Sea region, but also of the new directions regarding the transformation and endowment of the Naval Forces and the Romanian Army, the 307th Naval Infantry Battalion transforms into 307th Naval Infantry Regiment.
Currently, the "Mihail Kogălniceanu" Riverine Flotilla Headquarters has under its command the 67th Riverine Gunboat Squadron "Commander Virgil-Alexandru Dragalina", the 88th Riverine Patrol Boat Squadron "Admiral Gheorghe Sandu" and the 307th Naval Infantry Regiment "Heraclea", which completes the tactical spectrum of fluvial forces, by covering the amphibious landing field.