A second former Royal Navy minehunter has been commissioned into the Romanian Navy, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation announced on 5 August 2025.
Along with sister ship HMS Blyth, Sandown-class mine countermeasure vessel (MCMVs) HMS Pembroke was sold to Romania by DE&S’ Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) – now superseded by the Exports and Sales team within the National Armaments Director Group – which disposes of vehicles and equipment no longer needed by the UK armed forces. The vessel was then refurbished by DE&S’ Ships Support team in conjunction with Babcock International.
Now known as Capitan Constantin Dumitrescu (M271), the minehunter was commissioned into the Romanian Navy during a ceremony at Rosyth in Scotland on 4 August 2025 and will now contribute to NATO’s mission supporting security in the Black Sea.
The former HMS Blyth is now Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu (M270) and was commissioned into the Romanian Navy on 27 September 2023.
Sandown-class MCMVs are 52.5 m long, displace 590 tonnes and have a range of more than 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km) without refuelling. Their main sensor is the Type 2093 towed, variable-depth minehunting sonar.
The Sandown class are being replaced in Royal Navy service by autonomous minehunting systems operating from HMS Stirling Castle: a former Royal Fleet Auxiliary that is being trialled as an MCM mothership.
In the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, drifting mines pose a direct threat to Black Sea states and the region’s sea lines of communication.
“This sale will enable Romania, a key NATO ally, to have a direct, positive contribution to the maritime security of the region,” the DE&S stated.
