During the Second World War, the Romania Royal Navy has led many naval
actions in the Black Sea, revealing being the action of 26 June 1941, when, in front
of Constantza, the artillery of Romanian destroyers „Ma ˘ra ˘s ¸ti” and „Regina Maria”,
and of the coastal batteries have rejected the incursion of Soviet ships, „Moskva” –
the Flotilla Ship Commander – were submerged (Fig. 33.10) and the destroyer
„Harkov” damaged. Another very important action was the evacuation of Romanian and German troops from the Crimean Peninsula in the largest naval operation
organized and carried out in the Black Sea, codenamed „60,000 Operation”. In this
period M.H.S. provided hydrographic and hydrometeorological informations for
the combat actions of the Romanian Navy: installation of lighthouses and navigation signals, offsetting compaselor magnetic ships, installation of navigation equipment on ships were not fitted with such devices, hydro-topographic survey for
different points on the coast, and for delineation and marking of wrecks (Ciorbea
1996a, b).
33.2.1 Romanian Navy Hydrographers Heroes
In August 1942 was executed hydrographic survey for setting a new naval base on
Chilia at the Potapov river mouth, using the tug Sm^ ardan from Danube Division. On
August 26, 1942, while the hydrographic survey, the tug blew a magnetic mine
launched by Soviet aviation and sank almost immediately. In this tragedy the whole
crew lost their lives. After 68 years from this event at the Sulina Lighthouse, on the
Fig. 33.9 Old hydrographic Romanian Navy ship Stihi (Source: https://vapoareromanesti.
wordpress.com/2015/04/01/eugen-stihi/)
33 Romanian Hydrography – Over 100 Years of History
557
actions in the Black Sea, revealing being the action of 26 June 1941, when, in front
of Constantza, the artillery of Romanian destroyers „Ma ˘ra ˘s ¸ti” and „Regina Maria”,
and of the coastal batteries have rejected the incursion of Soviet ships, „Moskva” –
the Flotilla Ship Commander – were submerged (Fig. 33.10) and the destroyer
„Harkov” damaged. Another very important action was the evacuation of Romanian and German troops from the Crimean Peninsula in the largest naval operation
organized and carried out in the Black Sea, codenamed „60,000 Operation”. In this
period M.H.S. provided hydrographic and hydrometeorological informations for
the combat actions of the Romanian Navy: installation of lighthouses and navigation signals, offsetting compaselor magnetic ships, installation of navigation equipment on ships were not fitted with such devices, hydro-topographic survey for
different points on the coast, and for delineation and marking of wrecks (Ciorbea
1996a, b).
33.2.1 Romanian Navy Hydrographers Heroes
In August 1942 was executed hydrographic survey for setting a new naval base on
Chilia at the Potapov river mouth, using the tug Sm^ ardan from Danube Division. On
August 26, 1942, while the hydrographic survey, the tug blew a magnetic mine
launched by Soviet aviation and sank almost immediately. In this tragedy the whole
crew lost their lives. After 68 years from this event at the Sulina Lighthouse, on the
Fig. 33.9 Old hydrographic Romanian Navy ship Stihi (Source: https://vapoareromanesti.
wordpress.com/2015/04/01/eugen-stihi/)
33 Romanian Hydrography – Over 100 Years of History
557