Led by Hungarian or Austrian sponsors against the Ottomans, šajkaš troops were ethnic Serbs, who enjoyed special military status.

Their name Šajkaš was derived from the small wooden boat known as chaika (Šajka), a type of galley operated by sail or oars manned by 30 and 50 men, commanded by an officer, a helmsman, an armourer, a drummer, two bowman, and up to 36 oarsmen.

The modern day traditional Serbian šajkača hat is believed to be derived from the 18th-century Banat based Frontier Šajkaši Battalion uniform.

[4] During the World War I flotilla protected lines of communication between Belgrade and Obrenovac, assisted in the transport of Serbian troops in Syrmia, mined waterways and performed reconnaissance.

The fleet included the monitors' group, a number of auxiliary vessels, a proper naval base and a detachment of ships on Lake Ohrid in Macedonia.

The Yugoslav River Flotilla took an active part in War in Croatia in 1991, conducting patrol and combat missions on Danube, particularly during the Battle of Vukovar.

Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav People's Army became the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro in 1992 and during that transition the River Flotilla remained part of Navy.

[8] Members of the River Flotilla were deployed throughout the country (Koceljeva, Šabac, Lazarevac, Lajkovac, Lučani and Loznica) to combat flooding: mainly in the evacuation of citizens and the reinforcement of bulwarks.

To supplement these vessels, the flotilla has procured a number of small civilian craft, including one Premax 39 multirole fast combat boat built domestically by Yugoimport SDPR.

The minesweepers of this class are capable of transporting 100 troops, 24 mines, and are armed with 4x MTU-4 S Strela 2M surface-to-air missiles and 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun.

The ships of this class have a steel hull with a fibreglass superstructure and are capable of carrying 30 troops, armed with twin M71 20 mm anti-aircraft guns.

Due to an increased requirement for inland waterway transport, a detachment of assault boats were moved from the Adriatic coast to the "Brodotehnika Shipyard" in Belgrade for complete overhaul before commencing service in the River Flotilla in 1995.

Used to degauss river vessels up to a length of 50 m, it can transport 80 troops and is armed with 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun and 4x MTU-4 S Strela 2M surface-to-air missiles.

Built in 1984 at "Brodotehnika Shipyard" in Belgrade under development code RSRB - Rečna stanica za razmagnetisanje brodova (Vessel Degaussing River Station).

[15] The River Flotilla regularly conducts live-fire and manoeuvre exercises with both domestic and international military, public safety and riverine forces including, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania.

The aim of the exercise series is to enhance bilateral cooperation and improve the application of tactics, techniques and procedures of both river units while building mutual trust.

[26][27] Iron Cat 2017 - held near Banoštor, Serbia included training in the blockade and control of inland waterways due to migratory and terrorist threats in the region.

[28][29] Iron Cat 2016 - held in Budapest, Hungary included training in protection of cargo ships from attack, securing and blockade of the river.

[30][31] Iron Cat 2015 - tactival live fire exercise held at the Serbian artillery training ground "Titel" on the Tisa River.

[32][33] Iron Cat 2014 - tactical live fire exercise held at the Hungarian Defence Forces Várpalota range in Hungary included joint minesweeping activities.

[35] Iron Cat 2012 - tactical live fire exercise at the Hungarian Defence Forces Várpalota range included shooting ground-based targets on the using the 20mm PAV-1 and PAV-4 autocannons.