Yugoslav gunboat Beli Orao

Beli Orao had a length overall of 65 metres (213 ft 3 in), a length between perpendiculars of 60.08 m (197 ft 1 in), a beam of 8.08 m (26 ft 6 in), and a draught of 2.84 m (9 ft 4 in). She had a standard displacement of 567 tonnes (558 long tons), and displaced 660 t (650 long tons) at full load. She was powered by two Sulzer diesel engines driving two propellers. Her engines were rated at 1,900 brake horsepower (1,400 kW) and were designed to drive her at a top speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). She was armed with two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) anti-aircraft guns and two machine guns. She was ordered for service as a royal yacht for use by the regent Prince Paul during peacetime, and as an escort during wartime.[1] Built by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico at Trieste in Italy, she was laid down on 23 December 1938, launched on 3 June 1939, and completed on 29 October of that year.[2][3]

The ship was used as a presidential yacht by Josip Broz Tito after World War II

When Beli Orao was completed, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia had not yet been drawn into World War II. This changed with the April 1941 German-led Axis invasion of the country. At the time of the invasion, Beli Orao was located at the main Royal Yugoslav Navy fleet base at the Bay of Kotor. She was captured there by the Italians during the invasion, and was put into service with the Royal Italian Navy as Alba. She was quickly renamed Zagabria, and during her service with the Italians her two 40 mm guns were replaced by two Oerlikon 20 mm (0.79 in) L/70 guns. At the time, she was one of the largest gunboats operated by the Italians. Like other Italian gunboats, she was employed only on harbour protection and coastal escort duties. In September 1943, the Italians negotiated an armistice with the Allies, and on 7 December of that year, Beli Orao was returned by them to the Royal Yugoslav Navy-in-exile. She continued in service until the end of the war.[1][3][4][5][6]

After the war, she was renamed Biokovo and later Jadranka,[7] serving as a Yugoslav Navy yacht and also as a presidential yacht for the President of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito. In 1969–1970 she was serving as a dispatch boat.[8] In 1978, she was in private hands, still serving as a yacht.[7]

• Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1969). Jane's Fighting Ships 1969/70. London, England: Sampson Low, Marston and Company. ISBN 978-0-354-00050-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Brescia, Maurizio (2012). Mussolini's Navy. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59114-544-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922–1946. London, England: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-146-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• "Zagabria". Marina Militare. Italy: Italian Ministry of Defence. 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
• Haworth, R.B. (2016). "Bjeli Orao". Miramar Ship Index. New Zealand: R.B. Haworth. 6110710. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
• Jane's Information Group (1989) [1946/47]. Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II. London, England: Studio Editions. ISBN 978-1-85170-194-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Niehorster, Dr. Leo (2017). "Balkan Operations Order of Battle Royal Yugoslavian Navy 6th April 1941". Dr. Leo Niehorster. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
• Willmott, H.P. (2010). The Last Century of Sea Power: From Washington to Tokyo, 1922–1945. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-35214-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)