Silba-class landing ship-minelayer

The Silba-class (also referred to as the Cetina-class in some sources) is a class of landing ships-minelayers built for the Yugoslav (JRM) and Croatian Navy (HRM) during the 1980s and 90s. The three strong class was built at the Brodogradilište specijalnih objekata shipyard in Split with slight differences in armament configuration between the last two ships. By the time the Croatian War of Independence started, one ship was in service with the JRM while another was being completed.

The one in JRM service was relocated to Montenegro where it would be commissioned with the Navy of the new FR Yugoslavia. The second ship that was captured unfinished was completed by Croatian forces and entered service with the HRM, followed by a third one that was laid down by Croatia in 1993. The two ships commissioned with the HRM remain in active service, providing assistance to civilian institutions aside from their regular military tasks. The fate of the first ship in the class remains unknown.

Development and building
The Silba-class was developed by the Brodarski institut (BI) from Zagreb as a replacement for a large number of aging barge like landing craft based on German World War II designs (Marinefährprahm and Siebel). All three ships were completed at the Brodogradilište specijalnih objekata (BSO) in Split, Croatia. The first one, Krk (DBM-241), was commissioned with the JRM in 1990 just before the war. The keel for the second ship that was to be named Rab (DBM-242) was laid down the same year.

As the Croatian War of Independence started, unfinished Rab was captured by Croatian forces. It was completed and launched as Cetina (DBM-81) on 18 July 1992. A third and final ship was launched on 17 September 1994 as Krka (DBM-82).

Description
These ferry-like ships feature a roll-on/roll-off design with two loading ramps located on the bow and the stern. Measuring 49.69 m in length, they have a 10.2 m beam with a 2.6 m draft. Propulsion consists of two Burmeister & Wain Alpha Diesel 10V 23L VO which enable them a maximum speed of 12.5 kn and a cruising speed of 12 kn. Traveling at their cruise speed they have a range of 1200 - 1400 nmi with a 12 day endurance. The ships are manned by a crew of 32.

Armament configuration differs between the first two ships and the last one; DBM-241 and DBM-81 are armed with two AK-230 CIWS mounted on the sides, a single quadruple 20 mm M-75 on the stern and a single quadruple MTU-4 9K32M Strela-2M (SA-7b "Grail") launcher. The interior features two mine rails that can be used to carry up to 152 different naval mines. DBM-82 was completed with a different gun armament; in place of the AK-230 DBM-82 has two 20 mm M71 guns on the sides and a single Bofors D70 40 mm on the bow. The ship was also completed as an auxiliary water carrier with a capacity of around 230 tons of fresh water. Due to this capability which the other ships lack, the amount of mines DBM-82 can carry is reduced to a maximum of 114.

Service
At the start of the Croatian War of Independence DBM-241 was relocated to Montenegro where it later entered service with the SR Yugoslav Navy. DBM-242, now redesignated as DBM-81 was launched as Cetina and entered service with the Croatian Navy 19 February 1992 with Ivo Raffanelli in command. For the remainder of the war, Cetina was engaged in transporting troops and equipment along the coast, including supply runs for Croatian forces during Operation Maslenica in 1993. The same year the ship participated in testings of the new naval mine MNS-M90. DBM-82, the third and final ship of the class, was commissioned with the Croatian Navy on 9 March 1995 with Jerko Bošnjak in command.

According to publications and news reports, DBM-241 was reported operational as late as 2005. An article published in October 2012 reported that the Egyptian Navy bought DBM-241 a year earlier. Although the advance was paid, the official handover of the ship has not happened by the time the article was published. As of March 2014, the official website of the Armed Forces of Montenegro does not list DBM-241 among its fleet and the ships status remains unkown. The two Silba-class in Croatian hands continue to see service the Navy Flotilla performing traditional naval tasks as well as support missions for civilian institutions such water supply and transporting firefighters.