Romanian minesweeper Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=F-29 Lt. Dimitrie Nicolescu.jpg |Ship caption=Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu (DM-29) during training for the Romanian Navy day in 2018 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Romania |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Socialist Republic of Romania}} {{shipboxflag|Romania}} |Ship name=Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu |Ship namesake=Dimitrie Nicolescu |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= 2 May Naval Shipyard, Mangalia |Ship christened= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=27 December 1988 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=3 June 1989 |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship honours= |Ship homeport=Constanța |Ship identification=*Pennant number: DM-29
|Ship fate= |Ship status=In active service |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class=Musca-class minesweeper |Ship displacement={{convert|800|t|LT|abbr=on}} |Ship length={{convert|60.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|9.54|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|2.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=2 × ALCO V12 diesel engines, {{cvt|2,400|hp|lk=in}} |Ship speed={{convert|17|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= |Ship complement=78 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=
|Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu (DM-29) is a Musca-class minesweeper of the Romanian Naval Forces. Built in 1988, she entered service on 3 June 1989.{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.ro/despre/organizare/divizion_146/nave_div146.php#m3|title=Divizionul nave {{!}} Dragor Maritim 29|language=ro|website=navy.ro|access-date=19 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://marinarii.ro/dragorul-maritim-29-locotenent-dimitrie-nicolescu/|title=29 – locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu|language=ro|website=marinarii.ro|author=Cristian Gregoretti|date=30 March 2020}}
History
Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu was built at the 2 May Naval Shipyard in Mangalia, being launched on 27 December 1988. Currently, she is assigned
to the 146th Mining-Demining Ships Divizion based in Constanța. She is tasked with carrying out research missions, the detection and destruction of naval mines in offshore areas, mining actions and anti-submarine defense, convoy escort, as well as transport of troops and materials.
The ship has participated in various NATO exercises in recent years.{{cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/constanta/dragorul-maritim-avariat-de-explozia-unei-mine-de-2204039.html|title=Dragorul maritim avariat de explozia unei mine, de 33 de ani în serviciul Armatei|language=ro|work=Adevărul|author=Călin Gavrilaș|date=10 September 2022}} Following the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the minesweeper started working on neutralizing drifting naval mines in the Black Sea together with another 10 Romanian ships, two IAR 330 Naval helicopters, six maritime unmanned aerial vehicles, and three detachments of EOD combat divers.{{cite web|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/fortele-navale-cauta-in-continuare-mine-marine-in-deriva-in-marea-neagra-de-la-debutul-razboiului-au-fost-distruse-cinci-dispozitive-2469305|title=Forţele Navale caută în continuare mine marine în derivă în Marea Neagră. De la debutul războiului au fost distruse cinci dispozitive|language=ro|work=Digi24|date=17 August 2023}}
=8 September 2022 incident=
On 8 September 2022, Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu was sent on a mission to destroy a mine reported by the ship GSP Falcon. Once it had arrived in the area and identified the mine, the hydrometeorological 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 the aft area of the ship. The mine explosion caused a small hole on the waterline which flooded the engine compartment. After the hole was fixed and the flooding was contained, Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu was towed back to the port of Constanța on 9 September by the tugboats Grozavul and Vârtosul. No casualties were recorded among the 75 crew members.{{cite web|url=https://www.defenseromania.ro/dragorul-locotenent-dimitrie-nicolescu-a-lovit-o-mina-pe-care-trebuia-sa-o-neutralizeze-nava-ia-apa-la-bord-sunt-75-de-marinari_618083.html|title=După ce a lovit o mină, Dragorul Locotenent Dimitrie Nicolescu a acostat, în siguranță, în portul militar Constanța|language=ro|author=Darius Mureșan|work=DefenseRomania|date=10 September 2022}}
References
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{{Romanian Naval Forces}}
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