In 2006, the two largest patrol boats of the Austrian Armed Forces, Niederösterreich and Oberst Brecht, were decommissioned due to their age and then donated to the Museum of Military History.
As unique objects they are of particular importance for the documentation of Austrian military history in the Cold War.

Museum care by veterans of military and civilian shipping

The two patrol boats were handed over to "Marinekameradschaft Admiral Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand" (Admiral Archduke Franz Ferdinand Naval Comradeship) for museum care on 16 November 2006.
In addition to maintaining and keeping the boats in working order, the focus is presenting them to the public. At their place of origin, the old DDSG shipyard in Korneuburg, the boats are available for inspection not only from the outside but also from the inside. The entire interior is open to visitors, including living quarters and engine rooms.
"Marinekameradschaft Admiral Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand", in existence since 2004 and registered since 12 May 2005, is a group of practically-oriented ship enthusiasts and veterans of military and civilian shipping. A military-political association recognised by the Austrian ministry of defence, it is active at this branch of the Museum of Military History. 
Boat maintenance and their operation is financed by membership fees and donations.

Operating on the Danube

Niederösterreich was active along the entire Austrian Danube River between the Federal Republic of Germany and Czechoslovakia. After political change in the East, she travelled to Bratislava in May 1998 and to Budapest in August 1999.
On 1 August 2006, the flags of the patrol boat squadron were lowered for the last time in the port of Kuchelau.
On 15 November 2006, Niederösterreich and Oberst Brecht were transferred to Vienna's Handelskai port. On the following day, the boats were officially handed over to the Museum of Military History and into the care of "Marinekameradschaft Admiral Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand”.

Patrol boat Oberst Brecht was built in 1957/1958 in the Korneuburg shipyard (construction no. 553).

It was the first new boat of the Austrian Armed Forces to be built after the end of Allied occupation in 1955. The number 601, which is clearly visible on the ship's side, is the authorisation number of Vienna Municipal Department 58 (A 601).

Designation 602 was given to an emergency assembly of two old Wehrmacht boats, the number 603 remained empty in the register and was probably reserved for the planned sister ship of Niederösterreich (to be named Vienna). Niederösterreich received number 604 and the following numbers were allocated to the flotilla of the Austrian Armed Forces, which was gradually expanded with M 3 and M 80 motorboats.

The namesake: Colonel Brecht

Colonel Friedrich Brecht-Labrès was born on 11 December 1908 in Innsbruck and died on 10 April 1958 in Vienna. He is buried in Klosterneuburg-Kierling. He was head of the Austrian Pioneer Inspectorate and the Department for Armaments Technology.

The steel boat named after him was given to the Austrian Armed Forces on 14 October 1958 and subsequently used for a variety of purposes: in addition to the usual patrol trips, it was used to push 25-ton and 50-ton army ferries, as towing and training boat, or to survey river profiles.

In 2003/04 the boat was modernised and given a new silhouette including camouflage paint.

Technical data

Displacement:
10.83 tons (operational)

Overall length 
12.30 m

Overall width
2.51 m

Draught
0.80 m

Height with top light
3.30 m, plus 1.90 m antennas 

Steel hull strength
4 - 6 mm

Maximum speed
27 km/h

Distance travelled with one tank of 500 l
300 km

Armament
1 x 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, 1 x 84 mm recoilless rifle, 4 x assault rifles, 2 x smoke grenade launchers

Crew
4 - 6 depending on mission, sailors were also trained as gunners

Engine: originally two Gräf & Stift 6-cylinder diesel engines with 8,276 cc each. Replaced in 1986 in Korneuburg by two new MAN diesels of the same size with 2 x 145 hp at 2,200 rpm. 2 four-bladed propellers with 70 cm diameter, turning outwards. 

Patrol boat Niederösterreich 604 (construction number 690) was built in the Korneuburg shipyard after plans by Swiss company Maierform S.A., Geneva. It was built between 1968 and 1970 as a multi-purpose boat in aluminium construction.

The Austrian Armed Forces received the ship on 16 April 1970.

The army's original requirement was for 12 units to protect all Danube power stations and bridges.
For financial reasons this was reduced to nine boats, which were to be named after the federal states. In the end there were only six but they were able to fulfil more roles:

• militarily equipped boat with weapons,
• disaster boat with additional bridge, cranes as well as pushing and towing capability,
• travelling boat for representative trips for politicians.

After the change of government in 1970, the further expansion programme was halted while the crews intended for the boats were already in training.

Technical data

Displacement
73.06 tons (operational)

Overall length 
29.64 m

Overall width 
5.41 m

Draught
1.10 m

Height with mast extended
8.11 m, plus antennas

Aluminium hull strength
9 - 12 mm

Armour
8 mm VOEST special steel

Engine
two 16-cylinder turbocharged Mannheim AG Diesel with 44.32 litre displacement each

Maximum speed
41 km/h (consumption of 2 x 150 litres of diesel per hour)

Armament
1 x 20 mm Oerlikon automatic cannon (firing rate 900/min, operational firing range for area targets 2.3 km); 1 x 12.7 mm heavy machine gun (firing rate 600/min, operational firing range for area targets 1.5 km); 2 x 7.62 mm machine guns; 2 x 84 mm recoilless rifles, 8 x assault rifles, 8 x smoke grenade launchers

Travel distance with full tanks (9.3 t): 1,700 km
Crew: 9 - 12 depending on mission. 10 berths on board, mess, galley, toilet.