 Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu (DM-29) during training for the Romanian Navy day in 2018 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
  Romania | |
| Name | Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu |
| Namesake | Dimitrie Nicolescu |
| Builder | 2 May Naval Shipyard,Mangalia |
| Launched | 27 December 1988 |
| Commissioned | 3 June 1989 |
| Homeport | Constanța |
| Identification | |
| Status | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Musca-classminesweeper |
| Displacement | 800 t (790 long tons) |
| Length | 60.8 m (199 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 9.54 m (31 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 ×ALCO V12diesel engines, 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) |
| Speed | 17knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
| Complement | 78 |
| Armament |
|
Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu (DM-29) is a Musca-class minesweeper of theRomanian Naval Forces. Built in 1988, she entered service on 3 June 1989.[1][2]
Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu was built at the 2 May Naval Shipyard in Mangalia, being launched on 27 December 1988. Currently, she is assignedto the 146th Mining-Demining ShipsDivizion based inConstanța. She is tasked with carrying out research missions, the detection and destruction ofnaval mines in offshore areas, mining actions andanti-submarine defense,convoy escort, as well as transport of troops and materials.[1][2]
The ship has participated in variousNATO exercises in recent years.[3] Following the start of the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the minesweeper started working on neutralizing drifting naval mines in theBlack Sea together with another 10 Romanian ships, twoIAR 330 Naval helicopters, six maritimeunmanned aerial vehicles, and three detachments ofEODcombat divers.[4]
On 8 September 2022,Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu was sent on a mission to destroy a mine reported by the ship GSPFalcon. Once it had arrived in the area and identified the mine, thehydrometeorological conditions worsened and the ship could not launch the onboard EOD diver team. Although safety measures were taken after nightfall, the mine was carried adrift by the storm and hit theaft area of the ship. The mine explosion caused a small hole on thewaterline which flooded the engine compartment. After the hole was fixed and the flooding was contained,Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu was towed back to theport of Constanța on 9 September by thetugboatsGrozavul andVârtosul. No casualties were recorded among the 75 crew members.[3][2][5]
