Romanian minehunter Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu

Service history

With the Royal Navy

HMS Blyth was deployed to the Middle East on Operation Aintree by the Royal Navy in 2007 and 2008, together with her sister ship, , to test the class capabilities in the hot climate and maintain force operational capability in the region. Crews from other Sandown-class vessels were rotated through the two ships.

Blyth was based at as one of four minehunters of 9th Mine Countermeasures Squadron supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary on Operation Kipion until 2020, when she was replaced in theatre by .

On 27 November 2020 the Royal Navy announced that the commanding officer of Blyth had been awarded the MBE for his leadership in Gulf peacekeeping efforts.

On 10 February 2021, the Royal Navy announced that Blyth was being re-deployed to link-up with the Dutch-led NATO force operating in the North Sea. Blyth (together with Ramsey) was decommissioned in a joint ceremony at Rosyth on 4 August 2021. Following a refit by Babcock both vessels were initially earmarked for the Ukrainian Navy to "enjoy a fresh lease of life in the Black Sea". However, in October 2022 it was reported that plan had subsequently altered to transfer both ships to the Romanian Navy instead.

On 28 September 2023, the Royal Navy confirmed that Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels, Blyth and HMS Pembroke, had been sold to Romania, one of the UK's NATO allies, by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA), which disposes of vehicles and equipment no longer needed by UK Armed Forces.

With Romanian Navy

Ex-Blyth was officially taken over by the Romanian Navy during a ceremony that took place at Rosyth on 27 September 2023. She was renamed Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu, a name also carried by the World War II gunboat , and received the pennant number M270. The crew of 40 sailors under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Denis Giubernea, continued training, evaluation, and certification activities until 15 November when the ship departed Rosyth for Constanța. Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu arrived in the port of Constanța on 19 December 2023. She joined up with the 146th Mining-Demining Ships Divizion.

On 10 June 2025, Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu transporting a team of explosive ordnance disposal divers, began participating in the fifth activation of the Mine Counter-Measures Black Sea Task Group. Together with another three ships from Bulgaria and Turkey, she maintained maritime traffic safety, ensuring the freedom of navigation. She also participated in the Eurasian Partnership Mine Counter Measure Dive 25 organized by the Romanian Navy between 14 and 22 June. Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu returned to port on 27 June.

References

References

1. (28 September 2023). "@NavyLookout ex-HMS Blyth has been transferred to 🇷🇴Romania with, yet to decommission, @hms_pembroke to follow next year".
2. (29 September 2023). "Romania acquires 2 former Royal Navy's Sandown class minehunters".
3. (11 July 2011). "Sandown Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - Specifications".
4. (21 April 2024). "Reacția NATO la pericolul din Marea Neagră: Imagini de pe vânătorul de mine M270, cea mai nouă navă din Flota României".
5. "Combat Fleets of the World". Naval Institute Press.
6. (March 2007). "The crucible of effort".
7. (13 June 2022). "Minehunter crews mark 15 years of achievement on key Gulf mission". Royal Navy.
8. (29 January 2020). "RFA Cardigan Bay's winter in the Gulf". Royal Navy.
9. "Operational honours for those who led Gulf peacekeeping efforts".
10. "HMS Blyth goes from hot to cold on chilly NATO mission".
11. (12 August 2021). "Rosyth: Royal Navy mine hunters decommissioned at dockyard".
12. (4 August 2021). "Thank you Blyth and Ramsey for your service as minehunters pay off". Royal Navy.
13. (20 October 2022). "Ex-HMS Ramsey and HMS Blyth have been sold to the Romanian Navy".
14. Victor Cozmei. (2 October 2023). "România a preluat primul vânător de mine din clasa Sandown de la Marea Britanie. Ce nume a primit cea mai recentă navă din dotarea Forțelor Navale". [[HotNews]].
15. (28 September 2023). "Two retired Royal Navy minehunters sold to Romania". Royal Navy.
16. (17 November 2023). "Corespondență transmisă de la bordul vânătorului de mine M 270 "Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu"". navy.ro.
17. (18 December 2023). "Sosirea vânătorului de mine M 270 "Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu" în portul militar Constanța".
18. (10 June 2025). "Constanța: Vânătorul de mine 'Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu', într-o nouă misiune în Marea Neagră".
19. (27 June 2025). "Vânătorul de mine M 270 "Slt. Ion Ghiculescu" a revenit în portul militar Constanța".