Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor met with first female commander of Croatian Navy warship
After the opening of extension of Sv. Duje Gat in Split city port on Saturday, 3 July 2010, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor met with Lt. Junior Grade Antonija Didovic, who from 1 July 2010 has been assigned as the Commander of the “King Petar Kresimir IV” missile gunboat, and thus became the first female commander of one warship of the Croatian Navy (HRM).
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said she was extremely happy and proud of Lt. Didovic and that she would like to sail with the ship under Lieutenant Didovic command.
Lt. Didovic has been a member of the Croatian Navy since 2005, after completing the Basic Officer School in Split. She spent two years on duty of the Marine Platoon Commander and she served two years as a Deputy Commander of the “King Petar Kresimir IV” missile gunboat. Lieutenant Antonija Didovic was born on 4 September 1980 in Korcula. She finished naval high school in Dobrovnik and then the Faculty of Maritime Studies – navigation in Dubrovnik. During her education, she received a Rector’s Award for the best success in four-year nautical studies in academic year 2002/2003. During the officer’s training, she was praised for the successes achieved and the attitude towards the execution of tasks.
She is the first officer in the history of the Croatian Navy from its formation until today that fully mastered all the necessary skills and knowledge, and thereby acquired the ability to become the first female commander of an elite Croatian Navy warship – “King Petar Kresimir IV” missile gunboat.
“King Petar Kresimir IV” missile gunboat was built in Kraljevica shipyard and was commissioned to the Croatian Navy in 1992. The ship is 53.63 meters long and equipped with 8 RBS-15 missiles, one 57 mm cannon and a stern gun 6 X 30 mm. Top ship speed is 36 knots. Crew has 36 members.