NMS ''Sublocotenent Ghiculescu'' was a specialized ASW gunboat of the Romanian Navy. Initially built as a French warship in late

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, she was purchased by Romania in 1920 and fought during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, sinking two submarines and one motor torpedo boat. After 1 year of Soviet service, she was returned to Romania and served as a survey vessel until 2002.

Construction and specifications

''Sublocotenent Ghiculescu'' was a gunboat of the French ''Friponne'' class. She was built at Arsenal de Brest, being launched in 1917 and commissioned by the

French Navy The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the Navy, maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of History of France, France. It is among the largest and most powerful List of navies, naval forces i ...

as ''Mignonne'' in 1918. She was sold to Romania in January 1920. Like her sisters, the gunboat displaced between 344 and 443 tons, measuring 62.1 meters in length, with a beam of 7 meters and a deep-load draught of 2.9 meters. Power plant consisted of two Sulzer diesel engines powering two shafts, resulting in an output of 900 hp which gave her a top speed of 15 knots. She had a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 10 knots and 1,600 nautical miles at 15 knots. She was armed with two 100 mm naval guns and two 400 mm depth-charge throwers, her crew amounting to 50.

Service

During World War II, her armament was increased. Her two 100 mm naval guns were supplemented by four 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. She also retained her two 400 mm depth charge throwers. She had 3 identical sisters which also served during the war: ''Dumitrescu'', ''Stihi'' and ''Lepri Remus''. ''Lepri Remus'' was fitted with mine rails and converted to

minelayer A minelayer is any warship, submarine, military aircraft or land vehicle deploying explosive mines. Since World War I the term "minelayer" refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines. "Mine planting" was the term for ins ...

. She escorted a total of 17 Axis convoys in the Black Sea. On 1 October 1942, the Soviet M-class submarine ''M-118'' attacked and sank the German transport ship ''Salzburg'', which was carrying on board 2,000 Soviet

prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

. After attacking, the submarine was located by a German BV138C

flying boat A flying boat is a type of seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in having a fuselage that is purpose-designed for flotation, while floatplanes rely on fuselage-mounted floats for buoyancy. Though ...

, and ''Sublocotenent Ghiculescu'' together with sister ship ''Stihi Eugen'' were sent to the scene. The two Romanian gunboats attacked the Soviet submarine with depth-charges, sinking her with all hands. On 18 April 1944, during the evacuation of the Crimea, the Soviet ''Leninets''-class submarine ''L-6'' was sunk with depth charges near

Sevastopol Sevastopol ( ), sometimes written Sebastopol, is the largest city in Crimea and a major port on the Black Sea. Due to its strategic location and the navigability of the city's harbours, Sevastopol has been an important port and naval base th ...

by the ''Sublocotenent Ghiculescu'', aided by the German submarine chaser ''UJ-104''. During the night of 27 April, a convoy escorted by the Romanian gunboat ''Sublocotenent Ghiculescu'', the German submarine hunter ''UJ-115'', one R-boat, two KFK

naval trawler Naval trawlers are vessels built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes; they were widely used during the World War I, First and World War II, Second World Wars. Some, known in the Royal Navy as "Admiralty trawlers ...

s and 19 MFPs (including the Romanian ''PTA-404'' and ''PTA-406'') engaged the Soviet G-5-class motor torpedo boats ''TKA-332'', ''TKA-343'' and ''TKA-344'', after the three attacked and damaged the German submarine hunter ''UJ-104''. ''Ghiculescu'' opened fire with starshell rounds, enabling the entire escort group to locate the two Soviet MTBs and open fire. ''TKA-332'' was hit and sunk.Nicolae Koslinski, Raymond Stănescu, ''Marina română in al doilea război mondial: 1942–1944'', Făt Frumos Publishing, 1997 She was captured by Soviet forces in September 1944 and was commissioned as ''Angara''. In October 1945, she was returned to Romania and served as a survey vessel until 2002.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sublocotenent Ghiculescu World War I naval ships of France World War II naval ships of Romania Ships built in France 1917 ships World War II naval ships of the Soviet Union Gunboats of the Romanian Naval Forces Captured ships