EXPERIENCE OF APPLICATION OF MINESWEEPING FORCES OF THE ROMANIAN AND BULGARIAN FLEETS DURING THE WORLD WAR ІІ

The article examines the experience of the Romanian and Bulgarian navies in preparing their forces and resources for mine warfare in the Black Sea during World War II. The aim of the study is to show the organisation and application of minesweeping forces of the Bulgarian and Romanian navies for conducting mine warfare at sea. The research tasks determined by the objective consist in highlighting historical facts and events, summarising the Romanian and Bulgarian sources found, providing the original names of military ships and vessels, and rethinking a number of historical events and scientific propositions by expanding the source base. The research methodology combines critical discourse analysis and the tools of military-historical research. The scientific novelty lies in expanding general knowledge about the development of minelaying and mine countermeasures forces and means of the Romanian and Bulgarian fleets, their combat capabilities for conducting mine warfare in the Black Sea against a stronger enemy during World War II, which is of not only scientific and theoretical but also practical interest. In addition, the topic deserves in-depth study, thorough analysis and generalisation, which will contribute to solving existing problems of state defence from the sea and determining the optimal ways for the further development of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the present stage. Conclusions. Mine warfare remains one of the most complex and relevant problems of naval combat at sea. Even the relatively small naval forces of Romania and Bulgaria placed significant emphasis on preparing for mine warfare in the Black Sea and created corresponding minelaying and minesweeping forces and assets. Their characteristics show that they were designed exclusively for defensive minelaying and mine countermeasures. Both fleets lacked the capabilities to conduct active (offensive) minelaying operations, which limited their participation in mine warfare. As the experience of mine warfare in the Black Sea showed, the fleets of all opposing sides required minelayers. The shortage of these vessels was primarily compensated by the mobilization of civil vessels. The experience of these countries demonstrates that for effective minelaying operations, military ships of other classes should be involved, with appropriate equipment installed during the construction phase. The positive experience of the Romanian and Bulgarian fleets in developing small displacement surface vessels (minesweeping boats) to combat mine threats has proven the potential of this approach, particularly in conditions of limited material resources. Preparation for mine warfare cannot be neglected; it must be undertaken already in peacetime by creating, at a minimum, forces and means for defensive mine laying and mine countermeasures. Such preparedness serves as a deterrent to hostile actions and can ensure maritime protection of critical civilian and military state assets — specifically naval bases, ports, sea lines of communication, and other key facilities. Article received: 10.07.25. Approved for publication: 14.10.25. Published: 27.01.26.