An item reported that the main base of the Soviet and Hungarian river flotillas was situated north of the winter port of Budapest, Hungary under Soviet command. The facilities consisted of a shipyard, a dry dock, radio station, underground located fuel tanks with motor pumps [total depot capacity around 100 railroad tank cars), garages and barracks. A double barbed-wire fence around the base and a guard numbering around 200 men secured the base. In 1957 started the enlarging and modernizing of the base and winter harbour on the Szúnyogsziget (Gelsen Island), already dating from before the Second World War. Between 1957-1958 was a new canal dug allowing the vessels leaving directly the base without the necessity of turning around in the narrow channel. This base possessed also facilities for repairing and overhauling ships’ engines. The munition depot, partly underground, and enclosed by a fence was located in the woods opposite of Szentendre on the Szentendre Island. BetweenTolna and Fadd was a dead arm of the Danube and where a small base was under construction consisting of a large barracks complex. In November 1985 were some barracks already completed serving as accommodation for a guard unit. The dead arm was now dredged and to able to use her as a harbour was the breadth increased from around 10 to 70 metres. The whole complex was to be enclosed by a barbed-wire fence. North of Dunaföldvar was a barracks complex accommodating Hungarian and Soviet naval troops belonging to the flotilla. The complex was enlarged and modernized in 1958. North of the hemp factory was a small pond being dredged to be used as a new winter harbour although the work was not to be realized before the end of 1959. South of the complex was a quite large munition deport for the flotilla located. Between 1957-1958 was eight kilometres south of Mohács on the right bank of the swampy Mohács island was a new barracks complex built on concrete pillars realized. The personnel which was accommodate on this complex seemed to be just Hungarian excluding Soviet troops. November 1958 were a patrol vessel and five motorboats sighted and around 200 men. There was also nearby a firing range available.
Estimated was a number of 200 vessels stationed at the end of 1958. Although all vessels were Hungary-flagged and marked, half of the monitors was Soviet-flagged and manned. The Hungarian flotilla was commanded by the Hungarian colonel Mihaly Lazar. At the main base were around 2.000-2.500 men stationed of which the half were Soviets. The naval troops were fitted out with Vaci Vizibus Epitö Özem built flat bottomed motor landing craft, each manned with 25-30 men and inflatable rubber boats. The particularly extensively trained naval troops served during three years. End 1958 were 4 monitors and 30 smaller craft stationed and Baja with totally around 1.000 men half of whom were Soviet troops. Summer 1957 started the modernizing and enlarging of flotilla and base including new building of monitors and Soviet vessels coming from the Soviet Union. Obsolete vessels were handed over to the Mahart organisation.
Source
The report was published on www.archive.org, document number CIA-RDP80T00246A048000080001-0. The original date of the report is unreadable but probably 1959.
Hungarian officer
Hungarian non-commissioned officer
Hungarian sailor
Estimated was a number of 200 vessels stationed at the end of 1958. Although all vessels were Hungary-flagged and marked, half of the monitors was Soviet-flagged and manned. The Hungarian flotilla was commanded by the Hungarian colonel Mihaly Lazar. At the main base were around 2.000-2.500 men stationed of which the half were Soviets. The naval troops were fitted out with Vaci Vizibus Epitö Özem built flat bottomed motor landing craft, each manned with 25-30 men and inflatable rubber boats. The particularly extensively trained naval troops served during three years. End 1958 were 4 monitors and 30 smaller craft stationed and Baja with totally around 1.000 men half of whom were Soviet troops. Summer 1957 started the modernizing and enlarging of flotilla and base including new building of monitors and Soviet vessels coming from the Soviet Union. Obsolete vessels were handed over to the Mahart organisation.
Source
The report was published on www.archive.org, document number CIA-RDP80T00246A048000080001-0. The original date of the report is unreadable but probably 1959.
