Marasesti-class
Summary
| Origin country | 🇷🇴 Romania |
| Category | Destroyer |
| Subtype | Missile destroyer |
| Manufacturer | Mangalia |
| Year commissioned | 1944 |
| Units | 111 MARASESTI |
Description
The NMS Mărășești was a Romanian Navy Vifor-class destroyer with a notable service history. Its origins trace back to before the First World War, with Romania ordering four ships from Italy as part of the 1912 Naval Program. Initially named Vârtej by Romania, the ship was requisitioned and renamed Nibbio by Italy after it joined the war in 1915. The destroyer engaged in combat in the Adriatic Sea before being re-purchased and renamed by Romania in 1920.
In its design, the Vifor-class destroyers were meant to be well-armed and fast. The vessel's armament was planned to include three 120 mm guns, four 75 mm guns, five torpedo tubes, and a capability to carry mines. The Italian service saw a change in the armament to three 152 mm and four 76 mm guns and the addition of torpedo mounts, which increased the destroyer's firepower.
Concerning operational history, the ship, during Italian service as Nibbio, engaged Austro-Hungarian ships and provided escort during bombardment operations in 1918. As Mărășești, under Romanian control, its role during the Second World War was primarily limited to escort duties due to the powerful Soviet Black Sea Fleet. It was involved in the evacuation of Axis troops from Crimea and the port of Sevastopol during Soviet encirclement. Following Romania's switch of allegiance in the later years of the war, the Soviet Union seized the vessel along with other Romanian ships.
Post-war, the destroyer served in the Soviet Navy briefly before being returned to Romania, where it underwent a name change to D11 in 1952 as part of a fleet reorganization. Finally, in 1961, Mărășești was discarded and subsequently scrapped.
Throughout its service, Mărășești operated predominantly under the Romanian flag, except for its stint in the Italian Navy during World War I and brief Soviet service after World War II. Its operational history saw transitions through significant European conflicts and changing allegiances, ultimately ending with its decommissioning and scrapping in the early 1960s.
Technical specifications
| Marasesti | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 5795 tons |
| Range | 5000 km |
| Crew | 146 members |
| Width | 9.5 m (31.2 ft) |
| Length | 94.7 m (310.7 ft) |
| Propulsion | 4 61 D diesels with a power of 32,000 hp total - 2 propellers |
| Armament | 8 SS-N-2 (II 4) + 4 76mm AK-276 guns + 4 30mm AK-630 guns + 6 533mm TLTs + 2 LR RBU 6000 + 2 Alouette III helicopters |
| Maximum speed | 34 knots |
Photo of Marasesti class
